Public Affairs Analysis

The link to my Public Affairs Analysis article "Two Families Named McCain":
http://online.wsj.com/article_email/SB122419511761942501-lMyQjAxMDI4MjE0NjExOTY1Wj.html

My Analysis:

The article that I chose for my public affairs analysis was “Two Families Named McCain” from the Wall Street Journal. Within the piece, its author, Douglas A. Blackmon, explored the descendants of presidential candidate John McCain. It focused on the white McCain family and the black McCain family, the descendants of two slaves owned by the white McCain family. Blackmon also interviews Lillie McCain, a now 56 year-old descendant of the black McCain family. This falls within the realm of public affairs writing in that it deals with the social and cultural issue of race. It also has a political aspect as it relates to presidential candidate Senator John McCain.

One strong feature of the article is just the subject in general. It takes a look at the presidential campaign from a whole other perspective. While other articles spend 100s or 1000s of words talking about the candidates’ policies or campaign funding and spending, Blackmon draws the reader in with a more social or cultural piece having to do with McCain. But one of the best parts of the article is that it is not very political at all and has little to do with the actual man running for president. It talks briefly about McCain in the beginning. No doubt this is to grab the reader’s attention. But, the headline took care of that already. Then, the article delves into the history of the McCain family and takes a look at the life of Lillie McCain, a descendant of the black McCain family.

It has always been stressed by Donald Murray that voice is an important element of journalistic writing. To me, I think of voice as how I would hear the story being read out loud by the author. Also, I think of it as how the story reads, and that it can vary between friendly, easy to read or complicated and technical. Voice also has a lot to do with the tone of the article. Blackmon’s writing style or voice in this piece is spot on for the subject matter. He tackles some tricky lineage information with ease. In my opinion, the actual reporting of the voice article reads a bit like a junior high history book. But, I do not necessarily think that this is a bad thing. That type of voice definitely lends itself to the story. The short informative sentences don’t have the readers trying to comprehend too much information at one time.

A second plus for Blackmon is that he remains extremely neutral in the reporting of the story. I don’t feel that his political preference, if he has one, comes across in the article at all. And I think Blackmon isn’t really trying to tell the readers anything but the story of these two McCain families. He treats both sides equitably, which needs to be done in any piece of writing that isn’t an opinion piece. And you can tell he has done his homework in interviewing and researching also which lends to his credibility as a reporter.

While Blackmon’s writing style may appeal to many readers, I think the article lacks a balance between reported material and quotes. In some instances, Blackmon goes four or five paragraphs before using another direct quote. The information in each of the paragraphs is interesting and pertinent though. But, this imbalance may turn readers away as they begin to comb through the somewhat lengthy article. In addition, some of Blackmon’s quotes lack depth. On in particular, given by a former sharecropper on the McCain land, seems very weak. 90-year-old Frank Bryant is quotes as saying “That’s how I remember it” when asked about the white McCain’s treatment of their laborers. To me, it seems as if this would have worked better as a lead in to something else Bryant might have said in the interview. It could have been written something like: And that is how Frank Bryant, a black former Teoc sharecropper, remembers it. Then, he could have used a more substantial quote from Bryant. Even though he is 90 years-old, I am doubtful that the most useful thing Blackmon got him to say was “that’s how I remember it.”

Another example of where some quotes could use some polishing involves a paragraph where Blackmon discusses how Lillie McCain remembers seeing Martin Luther King Jr. speak, how she and her siblings were arrested for protesting, and how their church was burned down by the Ku Klux Klan. While all of this information is interesting and helps link the history aspects of the article together, I would have rather read a direct quote from Lillie McCain about the events of being arrested or seeing Dr. Martin Luther King speak. That way, the paragraph could have been turned into lead-in sentences for more direct quotes. Basically, I think Blackmon could have done less telling of the some parts of the article and let the interviewees tell it for themselves.

All in all, this article’s subject matter puts it at the top of my list of the best articles that take a deeper look within this presidential campaign and its candidates. And it does that in barely mentioning the candidate at all, but providing readers with another way to consider a lot of issues that have been brought up within the campaign, such as race and family history. Still, I feel that Blackmon did a bit too much reporting within the piece. I would have liked some more direct quotes from the people he interviewed. One thing that Donald Murray says is that people like to read about other people. And, in the same sense, I believe that extends to people like hearing what other people have to say about whatever is going on. I think more quotes would have given the article even more depth and perspective. I think it also would have given more insurance to holding a reader’s attention as well as given readers a more personal connection to the people within the story.

Newspaper Feature Analysis

Here's a link to my Newspaper Feature:
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/17/business/17student.html?_r=1&scp=1&sq=Families%20Strain%20to%20Pay%20Tuition&st=cse&oref=slogin

And, my analysis:

While browsing through various online newspaper sites, I came across the article “In Downturn, Families Strain to Pay Tuition” from nytimes.com. This article, by Jonathan D. Glater, takes a look at how the current economic crisis is affecting one particular group of people – college kids as well as their parents and families.

Glater’s article was of interest to me because, well, I am a college kid and see in my own circle of friends how the economic crisis is affecting their school, their funding, and their debts. And I found this article most interesting because it took a look at our economic crisis from a unique perspective. In a way, it was like the article about the Indian call center that showed the crisis from the eyes of a specific group of people. I think it is important to write feature stories that show how the economic crisis is affecting different segments of the population because only then will everyone be able to see how truly devastating it is. People will then become more aware of how this crisis is affecting everyone, not just some people. Also, breaking the article down into different perspectives could also break a complicated topic, such as this crisis, down into a more understandable form.

As Donald Murray would say, your story needs to have conflict and tension. With any article that has been or will be written about the current economic situation, tension is there no matter how you spin it. With sixteen days until our country chooses it next president, people of all sorts sit in their offices, classrooms, and kitchens unsure of what will happen with our economy. Writers of these articles need not write with tension, the tension is already there. All they need to do is tell the stories of those affected by this crisis. The tension and conflict is apparent. Basically, sometimes you just need to let the story tell itself. And, this is what Glater used to drive his feature story. He simply told the stories of the people the interviewed, and let those stories, rife with tension, drive the article.

Along the same lines, the first sentence in the story grabbed my attention, specifically the first four words: “In difficult dinner-table conversation.” In campaigning for the presidency, both candidates have used some form of that phrase when talking about the struggles average American families face in their day-to-day lives. By using those four words, Glater made me think of what people really are facing nowadays. It also served as a reminder that this upcoming election is one of the most important and historical elections in our nation’s history. I am not sure if Glater was trying to allude back to the election with his opening line, but I think it may resonate as well with other readers who have been following the campaigns.

Donald Murray feels that the voice of a text is very important. According to Murray, “the good writer seeks a voice that is consistent throughout the story but varies its volume and rhythm to the meaning” (72). I believe that Glater does this within his story. He lets the readers “meet and hear the people in the story” (72). He also used a balanced amount of quotes between struggling families and university officials and other experts. Also, his tone within the rest of the story is one of concern. I believe in his writing style, he is letting everyone know just how distressing this economic situation really is. Glater then tries to explain what exactly is going on with regards to how this crisis is affecting college students and their families. I think by both the interviews and quotes used and Glater’s writing style, this piece’s voice and point is consistent. Both show the tension and struggles of American families trying to send their children to college in the midst of an economic meltdown.

He was able to, as Murray puts it, “(weave) context throughout the story” (72). In between quotes from stressed out families and students, along with quotes from university officials and lending institutions, came explanations of the trouble they are facing, the credit crisis, and different types of student loans. All of the technical or complicated information was broken down into easily digestible paragraphs within the story. Glater did not try and throw all of the facts at the reader at once, which could cause them to become overwhelmed and possibly stop reading the article. Quotes from university officials and lending institutions also, I think, make what is going on within their end of the problem seem easier to understand. I would call what this author did, by weaving quotes and facts together throughout the article, a quote kabob! And, as I have learned, good writers use this form of writing to keep their reader engaged.

This article would have been nearly as effective or engaging if Glater had only used interviews or only reported facts about the problem. His balance between fact and quotes worked nicely with one another. Likewise, the article would not have been as effective if he had only quoted one side of the story. Hearing from all those involved with how the economy is affecting college students gave a more well-rounded edge to the story.

One thing I did notice in the print-friendly version is that some paragraphs of this article run a little long. And in newsprint, those paragraphs might seem to drag on. Some of his sentences are a bit lengthy, causing three-sentence paragraphs to feel much longer than they are. These paragraphs could be broken up into a two-sentence paragraph and a one-sentence paragraph so that not as much information has to be taken in all in one time. Also, paragraphs that contain both quotes and explanations could be broken up. This way the quotes stand out, and the paragraphs as a whole do not seem so long.

Author Jonathan D. Glater has a grasp on how to write effectively to engage readers. He lets his interviews’ stories tell themselves which, in turn, allows the readers to relate to those people featured in the article. And his quote kabob writing format allows for his readers to fulfill their need for meaningful quotes while explaining the technical side of the economic crisis in as simplified way as he can. Still, in simplify what is happening to college students and their families, Glater does not take away at all from the importance or severity of their struggles or the economy as a whole. In fact, his tone and voice of concern remains strong throughout the entire piece of writing.

Politico Coverage and the Voter or What I Learned this Election Year

(Posted Sunday, Oct. 19th)

We have been looking at articles from http://www.politico.com/ for a good chunk of the semester so far. Now, admist our technology and Internet addicted society, we repeatedly turn to online forums for political coverage. And, this has never been more true than it is now, during this historic election which is only a mere 16 days away. But, do these politically driven websites give us the information we need to cast an informed vote? This 5 foot tall, blonde democrat's answer: Maybe.

Articles that can be found on websites like Politico's main page definately can be informative when wanting some 2008 election coverage to read. However, with the speed at which new information can be uploaded and added to these pages, what was news yesterday may not be the same type of news featured there tomorrow. (Perhaps this is where the gloriousness of archiving abilities comes into play!)

Still, despite the fact that Politico does cover campaign coverage, no voter should limit themselves to one source of information. Sure, favoring a website or newspaper's site is fine. We all do it. What? You don't? LIAR. Anyway, you need to have a well-rounded wealth of information in order to make the decision that you deem best for yourself. Learn all you can by reading articles (NOT mass emails), watching the debates, researching on your own, talking to mentors, etc.

But, be careful, voters!! Single issue voting, identity voting, or voting based on information in mass emails is not the way to go. That kind of voting not only hurts you, but it hurts society as well. It only perpetuates the idea that our society is a small-minded, me-me-me nation. And, honestly, it makes you look intolerant, close minded and dumb. I don't care how you vote as long as your vote is cast because you believe this person is the best one for the job because of his qualifications and policies and ideas.

You have an obligation to yourself and your children, to be an informed voter!

I already know who I am voting for. I've known for a while. And, the more I learn about the candidates, the more my decision is strengthened.

This is what I've learned this election year:

• Vote!
• Encourage your friends to vote! Annoy the hell out of your friends who aren't registered!
• Don't wear jeans to a political rally in August.
• Take action: Walk door to door or call people to remind them to vote! DO something!
• Your family and friends may surprise you. Some will be good. Some will be bad, almost scary. But, they still love you.
• Learn all that you can, so that when your Republican parents and family harp on you for your decisions, you can articulate yourself as a well informed, issue-based voter.
• Talk to your truly undecided friends and family about why they should vote FOR the candidate you believe in, not why they should vote AGAINST the other.
• Be nice to those who don't agree with you. Otherwise, you're only as good as the ones who believe the bullshit they read in mass emails.
• It's okay to be a Democrat in a family of Republicans who think you're just young, ill-informed and easily swayed by "celebrity." You know yourself. You know you're still a good person with values and intergrity. Take comfort in the fact that you were able to grow into a young adult who is able to make his or her own decisions and stand up for his or her beliefs. You will do great things one day.

Phill Rally Article Reaction

NIKKIE WAS HERE TODAY! NIKKIE WAS HERE TODAY!

Mark Danner seems, to me, to be an accomplished writer. His style and voice within this article flows well throughout the entire piece. I enjoyed and appreciated his imagery and descriptive writing as well. It enhanced the story for me because I was able to imagine what it would hvae been like to attend the event. As Doc said, this article could be hard to place in the categories for types of stories. But, just in reading it, it seemed to have a features story feel to it. It has great color. His writing style was one that you might find in certain novel or creative writing. It is the type of writing I am drawn to that keeps my attention. And, to be able to use this type of writing - with description and color - in political pieces is very cool. In the way he writes this story, I think that most people who start reading the article would finish it completely. One concern I have is that some of the wordiness and length of the sentences may not be appreciated by all readers.

Opinion Analysis

Here is the link to my opinion article:
http://www.sj-r.com/opinions/x282360906/Alice-Armstrong-Teachers-First-Amendment-rights-don-t-exist-in-classroom

And, my analysis:

The editorial/opinion article that I chose to analyze was “Alice Armstrong: Teachers’ First Amendment rights don’t exist in the classroom,” which appeared in the State Journal-Register’s October 6th issue. In searching for an article, I wanted to find a topic that I had some background knowledge in or experience with. This way I would not have to struggle to understand the content and would be in a better position to analyze the article as a piece of writing.

This particular article is about how one teacher feels that teachers lose their First Amendment rights when they are at the front of their classroom. The first thing that jumped out at me when reading this article was how the author used first person P.O.V. at the very beginning. This was intriguing because it told me something about the author before she began stating facts and opinions on the article’s main issue. When someone is writing an opinion piece about something, I want to first know a little about who they are, whether they do this with a biographical type of introduction or an anecdotal introduction that then relates to the theme of the piece. You also know that Armstrong is a credible source right off the bat because she states that she is a teacher right away. This is another fundamental thing that I feel should happen at the very beginning of any opinion article. The author needs to state how they are connected to this topic, whether they are directly affected by it or if someone they know is or even perhaps why they care so deeply about this topic to write an opinion article on it. Even if you are not directly involved in something and just feel strongly about it, letting the audience know why will most likely justify your standing with readers. I think in opinion writing, knowing a little bit more about the author lends to their credibility and helps readers understanding their point of view.

In regards to structure and form, the article holds up well. Sentence structure is varied with clear and concise writing. Donald Murray believes that good stories should be reported with concrete information. This is true even for opinion writing. And Armstrong’s opinions are backed up with fact, and lengthy bits of information regarding court cases are summarized nicely. Also, there is a good balance between her supporting examples and her opinion. I think she chose the most pertinent examples and the right amount of them to support her thoughts. In using the most relevant examples, Armstrong is able to show a trend in Supreme Court decisions that supports her main idea.

Armstrong also uses these examples to create tension in her writing as she describes the conflict between teachers and the Supreme Court rulings. Donald Murray suggests that presenting and describing the tension is crucial for a writer, in order to develop a well-written, meaningful story (64).

Murray, also, believes that “we should never forget that people like to read about people” (72). He also states that journalism “presents ideas by . . . showing the people who are affected by them” (72). The main supporting example that Armstrong uses deals with a specific person who was affected by the issue of First Amendment rights in the classroom. Armstrong chronicles Deborah Mayer’s story briefly but also with a good amount of depth to show that this is a real issue that teachers have to deal with in today’s society. In doing this, Armstrong gives readers a real-life example of how this issue is affecting teachers.

In addition, I find it appealing that the article started off with a well-written introduction, a statement of the author’s opinion, supporting facts, and then went back into opinion. Donald Murray would say that Armstrong “(found) a form that gives the reader a satisfying sense of completion, a feeling that everything in the story flows toward an inevitable conclusion” (73). Armstrong’s ability to go through opinion, fact, and back to opinion shows that she was able to connect her thoughts together in a way that flowed. The article was read as one cohesive piece not just chunks of opinion, fact, and opinion again. The ideas in each section related to one another. Armstrong also brought back in the Stepford Wives analogy at the end of the article, which I found to be a nice touch. It brought her point and the analogy/theme full circle.
Murray says that one quality of a good story is “significance,” that “it is (the writer’s) duty to show the significance in the material that first appears insignificant” (71). Armstrong does just that. She goes further than just saying how this topic relates to her and other teachers. She offers opinions on how this could potentially affect not only teachers, but students and, in turn, our nation as whole. This shows that Armstrong is not just thinking of herself when speaking about teachers losing their First Amendment rights in the classroom. She sees how certain problems can have long term implications for various groups of people, not just one. And, this way of looking at things may get other people to agree with or consider her point of view. People will be more likely to consider her opinion when she explains that the problem affects others, including our nation’s children. And, at the very end, she gives people information on what they can do to learn more about this issue. So, there is almost a call to action on the part of Armstrong. This is a strong point because it takes the opinion piece to the next level. Readers now have a way to respond and act on this issue.

This opinion article by Alice Armstrong is superb. She is able to craft a succinct, thought provoking piece by using only the most relevant of supporting examples as well as personal associations to create an over-arching theme or image to relate to her readers. As I see it, Alice Armstrong earns an A.

Gordon Productions

Articles and Markets

http://www.freelancewriting.com/guidelines/pages/

(a) Two markets that I could use for the story I am writing for class are Women's Day magazine and I also might be able to swing it in SKIRT! Magazine as it is a feature on one woman and her experiences and thoughts. Both magazines cover a variety of topics relating to women. My article would fit because it is looking at a current issues from a women/mother's perspective. It could strike a chird with the audience of those two magazines I think.

(b) and (c) Two markets that I could publish in would be APPLESEEDS MAGAZINE and COBBLESTONE because they are history/social studies based children's magazines. I have a writing background and a minor/middle school emphasis in History. So, that works for me too! YAY!!!