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.