Julia O'Malley gave thourough details of where the event was held, and what it looked like outside. But once she got inside she doesn't give any details, expect for the woman who escorted her out. We do not know if she actually got to speak to any of Miller's supporters or not. She does give detail of the pseudo conversation she had with the campaign worker.
O'Malley also gave her opinion of what really happened at the event, even if she doesn't come out and explicitly say so. She was removed from the event because she was a journalist. It was assummed that O'Malley was there to garner information that would harm Miller. Miller's campaign worker never stopped to think that O'Malley might be there to gather information that could have helped Miller's campaign. O'Malley points out that Miller's campaign had a history of this type of behavior, and that they must have a no media policy at all events.
In an update to the story, O'Malley received an apology email from the campaign member, and the campaign invited her to attend a future event. However, O'Malley has her doubts as to how serious the campign is about their invitation. She expresses doubt regarding the welcoming attitude they attempt to express.
Overall, O'Malley gathered great details about what the event looked like, but none about what she saw in the event except for the campaign worker that escorted her out. If she really wanted to talk to voters, I am sure she had time to speak to at least one before she left. This is information that really should have been included in the article. It is an opinion piece, and O'Malley expresses her opinion on the treatment of the media by Miller's campaign, but this is information that was already known. She should have attempted to provide more details about event and then moved into how things changed and her removal from the event. This is not an overt opinion piece, which is refreshing to see. She provides facts and lets the reader draw their own conclusion, sort of.
This story does follow a different format than the one I previously wrote on, and it does need to be mentioned that it takes one skilled in the craft of journalism and the art of writing to be able to change their writing style and be as versatile as Ms. O'Malley is. When she writes she invokes emotion, no matter what style she is writing in. I am interested in following her stories in the future because of the manner in which she gathers detail information and presents it in an interesting manner.
Friday, December 17, 2010
Newspaper Feature
Many stories like the one written by Julia O'Malley go uncovered. O'Malley took the time to ask specific questions with each of these people. She listened to what they said to her in return. Then she took those details and turned them into an article that was well-written and drew people into it.
Personally it left me wanting to know more specific details. I know that she has only so many words to use when writing a news article. If it were a longer story, or the length of a short story there would have been space enough for all the details. This in itself is also a sign of a good writer who has worked hard to master the art.
O'Malley covered a story that involved conflict, but a conflict that was resolved peacefully. The talking took place between the parties involved, not them and every media outlet in the world. Once a resolution was reached then apologies were said and permanent changes made. This is not the story of Don Imus who had to be fired and rehired because of offending comments. There was no press conference calling for their apology. O'Malley got all of these details, and many more, and delivered them to the reader is an manner that creates interest and stirs emotiions.
Murray would say that O'Malley has found her balance with craft and art; she excells at both. She was able to capture the emotions and deliver them to the audience with the feeling attached to them. Many writers do not know how to convey strength and happiness. They want to state it, not describe it. O'Malley used a wealth of quotes and description of actions, and this truly conveyed the feelings of the persons involved to her audience.
O'Malley also wrote about the positive outcomes resulting from the way the situation was handled. She told the reader how the community benefited from the education the DJs received. She also described how their radio show benefited from the manner in which the situation was handled.
O'Malley covered a story that would not have been covered by many other journalists. There is no scandal, nothing was covered up. It was the story of a woman that was offended by comments made by a couple of DJs, and meeting with them and causing these men to see things from another point of view and how their actions affected other people. This is an inspirational story, it makes the reader feel better about society in general.
Overall, O'Malley did a great job listening to the people she interviewed and recording the details of their actions. She wrote the story in an engaging manner, she drew the audience in and held their attention.
Personally it left me wanting to know more specific details. I know that she has only so many words to use when writing a news article. If it were a longer story, or the length of a short story there would have been space enough for all the details. This in itself is also a sign of a good writer who has worked hard to master the art.
O'Malley covered a story that involved conflict, but a conflict that was resolved peacefully. The talking took place between the parties involved, not them and every media outlet in the world. Once a resolution was reached then apologies were said and permanent changes made. This is not the story of Don Imus who had to be fired and rehired because of offending comments. There was no press conference calling for their apology. O'Malley got all of these details, and many more, and delivered them to the reader is an manner that creates interest and stirs emotiions.
Murray would say that O'Malley has found her balance with craft and art; she excells at both. She was able to capture the emotions and deliver them to the audience with the feeling attached to them. Many writers do not know how to convey strength and happiness. They want to state it, not describe it. O'Malley used a wealth of quotes and description of actions, and this truly conveyed the feelings of the persons involved to her audience.
O'Malley also wrote about the positive outcomes resulting from the way the situation was handled. She told the reader how the community benefited from the education the DJs received. She also described how their radio show benefited from the manner in which the situation was handled.
O'Malley covered a story that would not have been covered by many other journalists. There is no scandal, nothing was covered up. It was the story of a woman that was offended by comments made by a couple of DJs, and meeting with them and causing these men to see things from another point of view and how their actions affected other people. This is an inspirational story, it makes the reader feel better about society in general.
Overall, O'Malley did a great job listening to the people she interviewed and recording the details of their actions. She wrote the story in an engaging manner, she drew the audience in and held their attention.
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