Victory all around

The New York Times article on the Supreme Court justices' effective moratorium on the administration of lethal injections to death penalty inmates takes a multi-faceted view even though it is based on hypothesis. The lede acknowledges its claim about the importance of a recent decision delaying a lethal injection in Mississippi is "a nearly indisputable indication" of a larger application of the decision, but it never attributes this to any Supreme Court justice, nor can it receive comments from the justices on the Kentucky case they are deciding that is influencing other cases. Still, the article clearly explains the issue at hand--that some particular forms of lethal injection are cruel and unusual punishment--in terms of its constitutionality. In generalizing the story of Berry, the inmate spared in Mississippi, there is less focus on his individual situation than on what it means for others. Because of this, I was not convinced that all the details mentioned about his last day ought to have been included. While I found myself wondering what it would be like to be told you weren't going to die just 19 minutes before you had prepared to do so, including details that said Berry spent the day crying seemed too intimate a detail to appear so shortly after this general discussion of constitutional issues.

This will be my last comment on the Red Sox and the World Series, but I can't resist pointing out The Boston Globe's article on yesterday's parade festivities. The article is a joy to read and helps dull the pain that I missed out on the actual event. Paragraphs like this captured the tone right away:

"All right, Papelbon didn't need a lot of prodding, not in his sunglasses and kilt, not as he
played the air guitar, did a jig, and used a broom over the side of his flatbed truck to pretend
he was rowing down the street."

The article continues to show a range of reactions from different generations, from retired custodians in their seventies who used to pay 50 cents to get into Fenway Park to a three-year-old whose mother will make sure she doesn't grow up "spoiled" and always expecting her team to win.

Blunders all around

From the federal government to Mayor Menino to The Washington Post, everyone's tripping up today.

The New York Times follows up on a story first reported by AP about new complications in the Blackwater USA incident last month with a report that continues to raise questions not only about what happened in Baghdad but also about the role of American civilians in a U.S.-occupied foreign nation. The article begins by pointing out the uncertainty of what kind of immunity has been offered to potential witnesses and what this unauthorized designation means for any kind of upcoming prosecution. There does not seem to be any consensus yet about the legal consequences faced by those involved in the Blackwater incident, but the article raises various possibilities.

One of the many Boston Globe stories on the Red Sox Rolling Rally today has an excellent opportunity to take a jab at the mayor, but graciously declines. The brief article reports on Mayor Menino tripping down the stairs of a stage set up at Fenway Park--while holding the World Series trophy. The article takes great care to describe the Mayor's injury--a hyperextended knee--before reporting that yes, the trophy is in one piece, and you can breathe a collective sigh of relief. Very graceful.

FEMA missed the boat--again--with their feigned press conference last Friday, but The Washington Post also lacks transparency in its reportage of the latest news to follow that story. An article today states in the lede that FEMA's director of external communications was denied a new post because of his involvement in a press conference called 15 minutes in advance on Friday. The article does not expand on the Friday controversy--or even on the latest news of the denied position--until after a long digression about FEMA's missteps over the past year. Correct me if I'm wrong, but is there anyone in America who doesn't know that FEMA was criticized for the way they dealt with Hurrican Katrina? There are probably plenty of people outside the Washington press circles, though, who were not aware that Friday's press conference was a sham. I'm surprised at the way this article was structured, especially coming from The Post.

Red Sox Nation

How much World Series coverage is too much?

There's no such thing as too much coverage. Not when the Red Sox are the victors, at least!

Today's Boston Globe, the culmination of the last week of coverage, is just the beginning of the celebration. Headlines like "They added the exclamation point" and "A new era dawns and it's twice as nice" introduce stories that spend the first couple paragraphs rejoicing in the hometown win and aiming to characterize a new chapter in the history of Red Sox Nation: the post-curse age when Bostonians are starting to get accustomed to victory. "Let's stay together? Team singing new tune" already begins to look at the future of the team (perhaps a bit early?), but its lede engages in the age-old tradition of Yankee-bashing. Boston may get used to victory, but lording that victory over the Yankees will never get old.

In non-sports-related news:

The Washington Post's coverage of the Argentinean presidential election raises plenty of fascinating questions while still giving readers all the necessary information. The article begins by explaining the basic importance of Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner's victory: the passing of the torch from husband to wife. Later, though, it raises the concerns of some that the de Kirchners are trying to alternate terms to keep the couple in power for as long as 16 years. That's a very forward-looking thought for The Post to raise. The article conveys all the sense of scuttlebutt that one imagines the Argentine press would have: a mini-profile of the newly elected president (which raises striking similarities to the Clintons), gossip about her expensive taste in fashion and comparisons to Eva Peron, whom Fernandez de Kirchner supported back in the 1970s.

Transparency is the key to the New York Times article on donations to presidential campaigns from the health care industry. In the second paragraph, the article discloses where it got its numbers. In subsequent paragraphs, while trying to explain why Democrats are receiving more funding from this sector than Republicans, the reporter mentions that health care professionals may be trying to influence future policies. Many of these blanket statements are unattributed as they are first mentioned, but quotes that follow in the article tend to back them up.

What makes up an exciting story?

The New York Times' article on Ivan Pavlov, a Russian lawyer fighting for government information to be made public, has all the makings of a great suspense film. It starts out with a dramatic lede--a man beat up outside his own home by would-be assassins who mean business--builds to disclose a morally-driven higher purpose--Pavlov's attacks on the government--and ends by coming full-circle to show a man now hardened by his experience, toting a gun to protect himself. In between all of this drama, the article does an excellent job explaining the situation in Russia against which Pavlov is fighting and the progress his efforts have made.

An article in The Times of London, on the other hand, manages to say a lot without really saying anything at all. The article, on the alleged blackmailing of an unnamed member of the British royal family, takes a very long time to say--several different ways--that an undercover Scotland Yard officer caught two men who had a videotape of a royal allegedly engaged in a sex act as well as evidence of drug use by said royal. That's it. The Times can't legally name the royal, and apparently they also cannot give any more details about what was discovered. That's fine; it happens sometimes, I'm sure. But given all the intriguing details that are missing, did the story really merit so much space in the Sunday paper?

The Boston Globe crafts an exciting story by covering an exciting event: the first game of this year's World Series and a die-hard fans physiological responses to it. The Globe explains right away that there experiment is not entirely scientifically valid, as they and their MIT students assistant are not technically qualified to track all the fan's physical responses to the game. However, they tell a great story as they conduct the experiment, including such details as the location of Tate's mother's house in Cambridgeport, close enough to hear the fans singing "Sweet Caroline," or how Tate toasted the Red Sox at her own wedding in 2003. It's a fun story and unique coverage of the World Series.

Down and out in California, Boston and beyond

Sometimes newspapers need to keep themselves grounded by looking out for the less fortunate. Coverage of the downtrodden in society is a difficult situation that requires a great deal of sensitivity to pull off without condescension. A few of the major papers attempt this today with varying results.

I'm not so sure how I feel about this New York Times lede today: "Out of the burning brush, from behind canyon rocks, several immigrants bolted toward a group of firefighters, chased not by the border police but by the onrush of flames from one of the biggest wildfires this week." It seems more than a little degrading to begin an article meant to show how illegal migrants are being affected by the fires by showing them in the role of constant fugitives. The article contains very little suggestion of sympathy--many of the quotes are from government officials and others in San Diego who want to quell illegal immigration. Of course, there's no need for it to show sympathy; the reporting should remain unbiased. But the lede and the focus of the sources seem to suggest a prejudiced view of the situation.

A Boston Globe article today takes a view of the most downtrodden parts of the city that is much closer to the community. An article on Boston officials' plan to canvass parts of Dorchester and Roxbury to ask residents what can be done to improve their neighborhoods and their safety does not right from a lofty perspective high above the problem, as the Times article on illegal migrants did. The article focuses on the details of Mayor Menino's initiative and how his plans will be carried out. Quoting the mayor, known for being an unpretentious "man of the people," also keeps the tone grounded. Still, even this article lacks the opinions of residents of these neighborhoods: how will they respond to the canvassers? Perhaps it is too early to take their opinion; I hope to see a follow-up article once this gets underway, though.

The Washington Post gets my highest accolades today, though, for its coverage of "ghost prisoners," arrested by the CIA overseas and transported from one jail to the next without anyone knowing of their whereabouts. The in-depth investigative piece combines comments from government officials and human rights groups with individual stories of prisoners. It is not overly sympathetic to the plight of the prisoners: the article draws attention to the potential threats certain prisoners were thought to have posed, reminding us that the U.S. government does operate with safety in mind (at least some of the time). This is a great example of the media remembering its role as a watchdog of the government.

Misc.: the MIT of the Middle East and Massachusetts history reenacted, among others

The symbol of the university as a bastion of independent thinking and liberal-mindedness seems a little out of place in the middle of the Saudi Arabian desert. The New York Times does an excellent job drawing attention to the sense of inherent contradiction that underlies the construction of the King Abdullah University of Science and Technology. The article describes the Saudi King's desire to build the M.I.T. of the Middle East and suggests that some social laws would be relaxed on the campus, although many would prevail, with men and women watching lectures separated by partitions. The descriptions in the article suggest a gated oasis, but lest the reporter slip into idealizing the subject, there is also a comment from a professor at MIT who does not see the opportunity to teach in Saudi Arabia to be enticing enough to leave the already-defined Massachusetts university.

An article in The Boston Globe today about Dominican candidates campaigning in Massachusetts provides an interesting contrast to an article I read a few weeks ago about American presidential candidates wooing wealthy ex-patriate voters living in the U.K. The Globe article covers Dominican president Leonel Fernandez's visit to Boston as part of his reelection campaign and examines the many motives Dominicans in Boston had for attending the event he hosted: feelings of connection to their homeland, the desire to tell their family still in the Dominican Republic how to vote or just to enjoy the music and dancing Fernandez arranged. It's an interesting issue, backed up well by statistics and well-chosen quotes that reveal something of the personality behind the speaker.

The Patriot Ledger offers a somewhat quirky story today in an article about the reenactment of Abigail and John Adams' wedding yesterday in Weymouth. The lede sets the scene for a historical narrative, although I think it would have been more effective to begin with the second paragraph (description of the scene), rather than acknowledging up front that this was a performance; a good reenactment should suspend disbelief for a little while, so coverage of the event should do the same.

The Times of London reports on the U.K.'s decision to offer the HPV vaccine to 12- and 13-year-old female students beginning next year. The article does a fine job explaining the risks of the human papillomavirus in causing cervical cancer with plenty of figures to back it up. But the coverage is a bit too objective: in the U.S., controversy surrounded the same decision last year, and other news coverage (including some comments I just heard on the news segment of London-based Virgin Radio) suggests that similar controversy exists in the U.K., too. One interesting bit of information from this article, though: I had no idea British English referred to shots as "jabs." Somehow, I don't think that makes vaccinations sound any more pleasant.

Providing good background information

Considering the multiple articles The New York Times has devoted to the California fires today, I was surprised that their leading article tried to cram in so many different storylines. It begins with a general assessment of the situation today; continues by making comparisons to how the government handled Hurricane Katrina and ends; discusses California-specific bureaucratic issues and brings up possible discrepancies in deriving all the numerical statistics that have been floating around in the media. It just seems to be too much for one article. Also, it refers to the names of the fires but doesn't mention how they are named, which leaves me curious--is it just by virtue of geographic location, or something else? My knowledge of Californian geography is admittedly scarce, but I'm sure I'm not the only Times reader in that situation.

The Washington Post follows a more traditional inverted-pyramid structure in its story on new sanctions imposed by the U.S. on Iran. The article begins by naming the "unprecedented" sanctions and continues in the second paragraph to explain what is so significant--and new--about them. It continues to go into greater detail but it gives the facts before turning to commentary. It's the perfect structure to accommodate a reader who--perhaps exhausted from looking at coverage of the California fires--only wants to skim articles on foreign affairs.

A Boston Globe article on divisions within the Episcopal Church offers a clear and to-the-point outline of changes that have been taking place in local parishes. It attributes the split within one parish to the controversial ordination of a gay priest as a bishop in New Hampshire, and it shows the result of that split as part of a greater trend in American Episcopal parishes turning to affiliate themselves with African-based mission churches. The article presumes no background knowledge on the part of the reader and does not jump to suggest trends in behavior without backing them up. Sounds like responsible reporting, to me.

An article in The Wellesley Townsman on a new book published by a resident of the town is a moving account of her life with her developmentally disabled son. The article describes the difficulties of dealing with fragile x syndrome through the use of quotes from mother Clare Dunsford, transforming an obscure disease into a real-life struggle. The only confusion that stems from the article is from the initial identification of Clare Dunsford--her last name, different from her son's, is used independently without being attributed to her first name, creating a moment of confusion.

In The New York Times today an article written in anticipation of a speech by President Bush shows the proactive stance this administration is now taking against Cuba. The article explains the gist of the speech up front in the lede and gradually fills in the details and tactics the President will use to encourage Cubans to resist a handover of the government from Fidel Castro to his brother Raul. The article wisely waits until the end to include comments from various experts after it has already outlined the text of the speech and its accompanying appearances.

Today's coverage of the recent arrest of a Wellesley College student for stabbing her ex-boyfriend yet again makes me grateful that Boston is a two-newspaper town. The Boston Globe presents little more information than it had yesterday when it first broke the story online and sticks to the facts in a case in which everything, of course, is still alleged. The Boston Herald, on the other hand, revels in its own sensationalism, raising several questions about the lunacy of its coverage. First of all, the headline: "Dumped coed knifes ex." Can a student at a women's college even be called a coed? Why "knifes" and not "stabs?" Oh, I know why: so the reporter can follow that headline with a lede involving the word "slashed." But for all its sensationalism, The Herald actually scoops The Globe. The Herald is the only paper of the two to name the victim, his dorm, the nature and location of his wounds and the means by which the Wellesley student obtained access to campus and entry to his room. It also interviews the victim's parents. The Globe, meanwhile, sticks to the neutral response of Wellesley's head of public affairs. I hate to say it, but The Globe was actually out-reported on this story, even though it presented the facts in a much more respectful and responsible tone.

Sleeping brains, campaigns and trains

I've always been fascinated by what scientists have learned about sleep: the idea that we process information differently while we sleep is a great argument for getting my requisite eight hours. Today a New York Times article explores recent scientific research that has tried to confirm the theory that sleep is integral to learning. The lengthy article describes the subject in layman's terms but still points out the complexities to the theories, acknowledging early on that it is difficult to determine whether conclusions reached during sleep could also be reached during "moments of quiet contemplation" during the day. Perhaps The Times will take its own advice, sleep on it, and follow up this story with others as the debate continues.

In The Washington Post today, an article focuses on the spouses of the presidential candidates even as it acknowledges the fine line they walk between taking a role in the campaign and keeping out of the spotlight. The article does a good job putting the 2008 election in a historical context by contrasting the role of political spouses today with past First Ladies such as Mamie Eisenhower and Jacqueline Kennedy. The frequent references to Hillary Clinton then--in 1992--and both remind the reading public how far Clinton has come and show how American attitudes may be changing about the role of women in politics. The potential First Ladies have already gotten a great deal of attention for their campaigning on behalf of their husbands and some attention for their personal lives, and I think we can expect to see a lot more over the course of the next year. Despite Elizabeth Edwards's claim that the campaign is not a "two for one" affair, the 2008 election has the potential to become that.

The Patriot Ledger reports on a controversy surrounding the October 31 opening of the new Greenbush commuter rail line with a straightforward, brief news story. The article explains that the Greenbush line is going to be whistle-free at the request of the five towns it will serve. However, reopening a train line that hasn't been used in ages on an evening when children will be out trick or treating poses safety risks, and the article notes comments from town officials who feel it would be acceptable to use the whistles that day as a precaution. Only one quote from a dissenting official appears, but perhaps that is reflective of the overall opinion. However, the story would have benefited from interviewing residents of the neighborhoods through which the train will pass. One would imagine the ban on train whistles came at their request, so it would only make sense to see what they think about the issue.

Home sales and the home team

Over the past year subprime mortgage rates have made the headlines repeatedly, always proclaiming the worse news. Today, The New York Times tracks the new trends that are emerging as a result. The rise in auctions of foreclosed properties in Minnesota is seen as symptomatic of the housing market, and the article examines the pros and cons of this, from allowing others to enter the housing market at lower prices to creating less stable communities filled with tenants in rented properties. It might not be the most exciting of subjects, but the lede starts out with a strong image, and the quotes and recreation of auction conditions keep the reader’s interest as the article continues.

The International Herald Tribune prints an article with another perspective on the housing market. After reports this past week suggesting that the British real estate market could hit a crisis similar to that in the U.S. right now, an article today draws attention to a social niche exempt from this. The uber-rich who dream of a country estate—complete with private driveway—are not deterred from seeking their “trophy” homes. The article seems to have been written with these buyers in mind. It gives only a bare minimum of information about the housing market before delving into descriptions of lavish country homes with celebrity ties. It seems to be more a real estate sales pitch, but it masquerades as news, proving the consumer-driven trend among 21^st-century newspapers.

The Boston Globe this morning revels in the Red Sox winning the pennant. The front page article on last night’s victory basks in the drama of the Sox’s comeback in the ALCS before getting down to business with the score and major plays of the game. The article captures the tone of Red Sox Nation, with references to recent history—noting the ceremonial first pitch by Kevin Millar of the 2004 World Series-winning Sox team—and less recent history—pointing to the success of recent years as unmatched since the days of Babe Ruth.

Finding the right angle

The New York Times' lead story today on security at the U.S.-Mexican border clearly sets out the new problems arising from stricter border controls. The article lays out the processes causing the problems clearly, but they have reported on the need for passports for all Americans to enter the country before. The strongest point of the article is the inconvenience these security measures are causing for those who live near the border and cross frequently. The story might have been more interesting--and more original--if this had been the focus, instead of just one component of the piece.

The Boston Globe chooses a somewhat original focus for their profile on Hillary Clinton. The article covers Clinton's education, from elementary school through college. Much of the information also appears in book-length biographies that have been published about Clinton, but it is still distinct from her other campaign coverage in the papers. The profile does not give in to melodrama and recreates details through the use of quotes from friends and teachers, which gives it a strong sense of credibility.

While the Clinton profile goes back in history to showcase the foundation of the candidate's values, a Washington Post article on Rudolph Giuliani center its discussion of the presidential candidate's values around a recent event. The article focuses on Giuliani's talk at the Family Research Council's Values Voter Summit. This gives the piece a newsworthy context and also allows for mention of other GOP candidates, such as Mike Huckabee, who was also present at the summit.

Trends in translation

Trends are difficult to track with any real authority, and they become especially difficult to explain to an audience that has not experienced the trend themselves. A few articles today try to explain cultural differences and the trends that spring from them, with varying degrees of success.

Quirky does not begin to describe a New York Times article today on Japanese fashions meant to prevent crime. The article discusses novelty clothing items and accessories that unfold to offer camouflage to the wearer who fears street crime. I had a very hard time wrapping my mind around how they actually worked until I saw the accompanying slide show; these inventions do not lend themselves to easy description, but the author tries his best to explain them. The article's greatest lack, though, was of customers' opinions of the items. Apparently, about 20 people have bought skirts that unfold to disguise the wearer as a vending machine, and I would love to ask them: why? Why on earth would you find this useful enough to spend $800 on it? The topic is undoubtedly novel, but in trying to convey the reasoning behind it, something has definitely been lost in translation.

A Washington Post article on the return of the noose as a symbol of intimidation much more clearly conveys the reasons it inspires fear in a marginalized part of society and would leave an impression even on those unfamiliar with American culture and racial attitudes. The article tracks the recent appearance of nooses as a form of racism and hatred expressed towards African-Americans, following the controversial situation in Jena, La., that brought national attention to lingering racist attitudes. Even if the initial image in the lede lacks significance to unfamiliar readers, later in the article the history of the noose as a symbol of hatred makes the article's point more explicitly. This article also takes the pulse of those affected by the issue, including quotes from members of the communities in which nooses have appeared.

A somewhat less curious trend than vending-machine-skirts appears in a Boston Globe article on the increased popularity of "Boston" as a baby name. The article tries to capture the culture of Red Sox Nation by suggesting that the increase in the popularity of this name followed the Red Sox 2004 World Series victory. While it does share the impressions of the city among parents from outside Massachusetts who are choosing this name for their sons, it fails to tap into the associations naming one's children after the Red Sox would have in the local area. Since much of the Globe's readership is local, it doesn't really have to explain the culture in a way that would be accessible to outsiders, but it still would have been interesting for the article to show the connection between these outsiders naming their sons "Boston" and the Boston natives who obsessively name pets and children after Red Sox players.

Melodramatic or sticking to the facts?

A New York Times article published online today and slated to appear in tomorrow’s print edition provides up-to-the-minute coverage of the return to Pakistan of former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto and the suicide attack that killed scores of people cheering her on as she processed in Karachi. The article begins with the facts of the attack, appropriately, since its early publication is based on new information. After discussing theories about the identity of the suicide bomber, it turns to the larger context surrounding Bhutto’s return to Pakistan. It does an excellent job outlining the changes in the country to which she has returned from exile and her plans of action for the future.

In contrast to the tragic deaths in Pakistan, a piece of local news in The Boston Globe today turned out to be less disastrous than it seemed. An article on a small earthquake in Littleton reveals that the police switchboard in that town lit up after the quake last night with concerned residents calling to describe a loud noise that sounded to them like a plane crash or an explosion or serious car accident. This seems like an interesting response to have to an earthquake, but it is not mentioned until the end of the article. The beginning of the article notes all the 911 calls without describing the nature of the concerns. By splitting these two facts, the story seems to be distorted. On the upside, I suppose, it avoided an opportunity to sensationalize the news.

The Washington Post, on the other hand, enjoys a bit of scandal in its coverage of French Prime Minister Nicolas Sarkozy’s divorce from his wife, Cecilia. It begins with the clever remark that Cecilia “voted with her feet” this week after splitting from her husband. The article, although it reports that the break-up was mutual and amicable, alternates between subtle interpretations of the divorce as her leaving him and vice versa. One of the earliest quotes in the article describes the news as France’s “biggest soap.” True to this suggested soap opera style, the rest of the article chronicles the moments when the press has aired their strongest doubts that the marriage would last over the course of the last year.

The "So-What" Factor

Sometimes, news stories try so hard to be objective, they fail to provide any sense of perspective as to why the news matters. Today, some stories attain this better than others.

The New York Times’ coverage of the Turkish parliament’s decision to allow an incursion into northern Iraq to counter Kurdish attacks against Turkey presents the facts but neglects to convey the gravity of this situation. The article explains how and why the decision was reached and points out that although the decision allows for an incursion, that does not mean Turkey will actually choose to pursue this option. While the lack of analysis could be attributed to attempts at objectivity, it would be easy enough to provide quotes from officials that draw attention to the complexity of this as a diplomatic situation.

The Times of London, however, gets to the point by revealing the significance of Italian mayor Walter Veltroni’s election to head the new Democratic Party in Italy. By the third paragraph, the reader understands that he ought to care who Veltroni is because he will be the likely successor to Prime Minister Romano Prodi. The article also includes a very nice paragraph profile that reveals Veltroni’s background in the arts and cultural affairs as a novelist and founder of the Rome Film Festival.

The Boston Globe also gets to the point in the lede of its article on Niki Tsongas’s victory in the Massachusetts Fifth Congressional District special election. It states right away that Tsongas is the first woman to represent Massachusetts in Congress in 25 years. The article doesn’t stop there, though: it continues by drawing attention to the closeness of the race, which showed the smallest margin of difference between a Democratic and Republican candidate in that distance in a long time.

Art for art's sake

The difficulty in art reviews seems to lie in the torn impulses of the reviewer to write to the cultured art enthusiast and to attract the art-apathetic to their subject. Several articles in today's papers try to straddle the newsworthy aspects of their artistic subjects with their critical responses to them.


Damien Hirst and The Physical Impossibility of Death in the Mind of the Living. The two phrases are nearly synonymous--although the title of the work may be less familiar to some, the image of the formaldehyde-encased shark it represents is known both inside and outside the art world. How, then, could The New York Times take well-worn subject matter and make it news today? It's all thanks to the Met, where the work has just been installed, on loan from owner Steven A. Cohen. The review in today's Arts section brings up many relevant issues: the edginess of showing this at the Met (despite the fact it was made 16 years ago), the recent replacement of the shark and, of course, the viewer's response to the work itself. However, despite mentioning the theory that Cohen is loaning the work to increase its value, the article never mentions the original $8 million price tag. I also think these monetary motivations of Cohen would have been best left to the end of the article; ostensibly, this is a review of the current installation of the work, so the final paragraph describing the reviewer's personal response to the work would have better served if it had come sooner in the article, and the less relevant concerns about Cohen and his billions could have waited until the end.

A Boston Globe art review today is much more clearly ordered. The review of painter Gail Martin's new exhibition at the Bromfield Gallery begins with the conception of the work, quoting the artist to convey the intimacy of the exhibition's theme, which sprang from her own thoughts on spirituality. It moves on methodically to discuss Martin's approach to the year-long project before seeking commentary from a curator at the Insitute of Contemporary Art on the common origin of art in an artist's spiritual thinking. The review ends, appropriately, with a reflection on the work that hadn't occurred to the artist herself and that offers an ironic twist to her whole intention behind the project, as someone suggests that by trying to comment on all the "stuff" she has, she has left herself with that much more stuff, in the form of her paintings.

The Times of London reviews photographer Mark Seliger's new exhibition in Manchester, England, and also pays particularly close attention to the motives that inspired the work. The review is well-written for a general audience who have no particular artistic expertise. The lede sets the stage for the discussion of the works' relationship to celebrity by showing just how difficult it was for the reporter to get access to the photographer to discuss his celebrity portraits. Later, Seliger's quote on the technical production of the platinum palladium prints he made for the show adds a physical dimension to the reader's understanding of the art, which is discussed in the rest of the review mainly in regards to its production location, rather than the composition of the final photographs themselves.

Women in the news

After reading my first article today on First Lady Laura Bush, I set out to find other depictions of women in today's news stories--were they strong or yielding? Did they do justice to the their subjects? I was surprised at how few stories I found to choose from, but here are few that take femininity into consideration in the midst of their reporting.

The New York Times today discusses First Lady Laura Bush’s increasingly active role in domestic and foreign affairs—does this come as a surprise? The author of the piece seems to think so. The article calls Laura Bush’s recent activism “unusually substantive,” setting the tone for the piece early on as one that seeks to overcome stereotypes. It is an appropriate tone for this story, since, as the article points out, Laura Bush never sought to become a public figure. The article includes many examples of the First Lady’s recent efforts, including personal meetings with the White House press corps and her much-publicized phone call on behalf of the Burmese monks to UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon as well as her upcoming trip to the Middle East to promote breast cancer awareness. Regarding this trip, the article is quick to point out the women’s health issues are well-traversed territory for First Ladies, but Laura Bush’s efforts still show an increased activity given her own personal history in this role. Still, for every preconception the article tries to break down, it weakens that argument with the final quote, which considers the First Lady’s change in contrast to her “Christmas cookie” image. Evoking that domestic trope—home-made cookies—once in an article is already once too much. Couldn’t the story have ended on a stronger, less compromising note?

In The Patriot Ledger today, little girls are learning not to buy into the belief that their only role is in the kitchen—well, sort of. An article on a Hingham Brownie troop discusses the girls’ efforts to send care packages to South Shore nurses serving in Iraq. The article touches on the educational value of the activity for the girls by explaining how the wife of a soldier told them what it’s like to live in Iraq’s brutal climate and by mentioning their letters with messages to Iraqi children. There is a brief quote testifying that women play an important role in the war, but this message ought to have been further elaborated, since this is where the educational value seems to lie. Still, the girl scouts’ descriptions of their cards and projects show that they have learned something about supporting both their countrywomen and the Iraqi families affected by war.

The Washington Post’s review of Annie Leibovitz’s retrospective at the Corcoran Art Gallery looks at the photographer’s work a consideration of the substance of its technique rather than the superficiality of its some of the celebrity subjects. The reviewer draws a clear line between Leibovitz’s beautifully executed magazine cover photography and the deeply personal photographs of her family that chronicle her own struggles with grief and loss. The effect is to show the multidimensionality of the artist and acknowledge the skill of her work.

Where everybody knows your name...

My favorite stories to read in the Sunday papers are those that give you the feel of going home to a place, even if you’ve never been there. Today, two stories create a strong sense of community and transport readers to local gatherings endemic to two very different cultures.

If I were working for Hillary Clinton’s or Barack Obama’s campaign, I would be on a plane to a beauty parlor in South Carolina right now. An article in The New York Times today shows that it is these women—the black Southerners for whom the beauty parlor is a kind of social epicenter—who are crucial voters and still remain very undecided. The article begins with a conversation with one such woman who highlights the many reasons that leave her and her demographic conflicted about the candidates, from the fact that Clinton they would again get two Clintons for the price of one, so to speak, to their belief that Obama would not be safe, because the country is not ready for a black president. The article reaffirms its main points several times throughout and develops the focus clearly over the course of several conversations in beauty parlors, portraying the voters in a setting in which discussion comes naturally to them. The quotes stay true to local dialect, making them sound particularly genuine, but they also reveal that for many of these women, faith or other intangible influences may ultimately decide their vote for them. The challenge is out there now for both campaigns to give Southern black women tangible reasons to choose their candidate. Good luck to them.

On a completely different note, The Boston Globe today profiles fans of English soccer who gather in Cambridge’s Phoenix Landing pub to watch the weekend matches. The lede creates a vivid picture of the place and develops a sense of solidarity with fans across the pond by drawing attention to the time difference. Rather than wonder why people would be staggering to a pub at 9 a.m. on a Sunday, readers can understand the fans’ devotion by listening to their chants and noticing their different colored team jerseys. The article captures the sense of intense rivalry between fans back in the U.K. by pointing out the uniqueness of gathering so many different teams’ supporters in one place. There are several interviews with fans from all over the world, including Massachusetts, but I would have liked to hear more about what drew the Massachusetts natives to English football.

Politics and immigrants

There’s a certain irony to reading a New York Times article about the irrelevancy of the Web to Iowa caucus-goers online. The article proclaims that old media live on in Iowa, where the age demographic of those who will vote in the caucus are older than in other states. There are plenty of anecdotal examples of Iowa voters who say they prefer television, newspapers, radio and magazines, and a statistic from an Iowa newspaper backs up this claim. The article also questions the campaign managers for several of the presidential candidates, but it does not overdo the questioning by including every candidates’ media strategies in Iowa. The balance results in an interesting article that can be consumed quickly—before readers decide to click onto the next website or blog.

Looking at local elections, The Boston Globe writes about the increasing importance of reaching out to immigrant communities in Quincy’s city council elections. The article starts out seeming surprising: it reports that candidates are bringing Cantonese translators to their debates, but says nine percent of Quincy’s voters are Asian, which seems like a small number. Later, the article reveals that there are 17,000 Asians in Quincy, which is 20 percent of the population, a number that seems more substantial. The article does well to situate this trend in terms of the history of immigrant groups’ adjustment to Massachusetts politics, explaining that it took over a hundred years for Italian and Irish immigrants to elect a politician from their community.

The Washington Post offers commentary on Al Gore’s Nobel Peace Prize, but it seems to present it in the guise of a news story. The article appears in the Politics section, not Opinion, but it suggests that Gore’s Nobel was politically motivated and proposes more directly that Gore’s loss in the 2000 presidential election ended up bringing him more success than Bush’s victory. The article does include quotes from the Bush administration to contradict what the reporter suggests, but the overall tone of the article is clearly biased. I agree with everything it suggests, but this is not a news story and should not be presented as such.

A thoughtful article in The International Herald Tribune raises questions about global issues of citizenship. The story of Mohsin Hamid, a novelist of Pakistani birth, could apply to any Muslim immigrant. The interview with Hamid reveals that he feels more accepted in the U.S. than in Europe, particularly London, where he lives now with a British passport. Given London’s huge Muslim population, this seems surprising, but the article represents Hamid’s situation as indicative of European attitudes in general, which are reluctant to accept foreigners as one of their own.

International criminals, and local stories that charm

Nothing enlivens a crime story like celebrity—as anyone who continues to pay attention to Bobby Brown’s periodic drug-related convictions can attest—but rarely do criminals first gain celebrity status through their crimes. A New York Times story today glamorizes the arrest of an alleged drug dealer from Mexico, who is represented as more diva than druggie. The article on the arrest of Sandra Avila Beltran describes the woman’s attractive appearance, her expensive taste in clothes and her ascension in the world of drug traffickers through a combination of charm and seduction. The focus on the Avila Beltran’s many trysts within the drug world seems to show the bias of a male reporter; it seems as though her family connection to the drug world ought to have received greater emphasis. In the effort to create a compelling narrative, the reporter also shies away from attributing the sources of much of his information, which seems unfair to the arrested—but not yet convicted—criminal. However, a paragraph toward the end of the article that describes Avila Beltran primping before the filming of her arrest reads just like a movie scene, and one gets the sense that Avila Beltran would have no problem with the article’s flattering attention.

A much smaller story—but equally captivating—is that of a French class that has been taught for thirty years in Virginia—to many of the same students. The Washington Post article does not at first seem to promise much: it begins by revealing the striking situation of a French class taught to a now-elderly group of mostly women by the same instructor over the course of 30 years. Then, however, it notes that the classmates are not best friends. They do not see one another outside class, and they still address each other using the formal “vous” pronoun. As a reader, you wonder, at this point, where the story is. But as the article develops, it reveals the importance of the constancy of the class to its members and to its instructor through passing references to the hardships faced by its students and their commitment not to leave the class unless forced by illness or death. It’s a good community story presented in a national paper, one that anyone can appreciate.

In The Boston Globe an article covers a meeting between the parents of a slain teenager and Governor Deval Patrick. While the article has many quotes from the mother of the teen, it notes that Patrick did not stay to speak to the press after meeting with the family yesterday. However, the article also neglects to get the family’s perspective on the effectualness of the meeting.

Another article on Patrick in The Patriot Ledger also lacks important information. An article on the governor’s visit to Quincy to discuss his plans to improve Massachusetts public education mentions controversy involving the children of illegal immigrants paying different tuitions to state colleges but does not elaborate on the situation. The article describes the meeting as a “town-hall style” one, but it neglects to include any points of discussion or questions raised by residents. Was there no one there openly criticizing the governor? Since the article does mention Patrick plans to raise taxes to accomplish his plan, it would come as a great surprise if residents did not have questions about where there money would be going.

A mixed bag: Homeless in L.A., Doris Lessing and the MBTA

A New York Times article on a recent Los Angeles decision not to arrest people sleeping on the street could be a prime opportunity to discuss homelessness in that city--instead, the article is just another report on a city council decision. The article interviews two people who could have provided statistical information on homelessness in L.A.--one from the A.C.L.U. and one from the Los Angeles Coalition to End Homelessness and Hunger--but the only statistic it gives is the amount of housing the city intends to provide in the near future and the number of homeless living on Skid Row. The article does not suggest that this is the only place in the city where the homeless can be found, so why does it not mention an overall estimate of the homeless population? Also, by mentioning Skid Row, the reporter conjures up many mental images and stereotypes from film, literature and history, but the article itself does not convey any sense of what that place is like, or what the people are like who sleep on the street there. The byline says Los Angeles, but this article could have been written from a desk in New York.

The Washington Post's article on Doris Lessing winning the Nobel Prize offers a much more comprehensive picture. The article offers a brief biography, discusses the importance of her writing and provides an answer from the Swedish Academy to why Lessing is only now being honored for her work. It might have focused a bit more on her writing, but the biographical information is also very informative in understanding the experiences that shaped Lessing as a writer.

The Boston Globe offers commentary along with reportage in an article on the introduction of T-Radio to the MBTA. Reporter Noah Bierman seems to speak for Bostonians as a whole with phrases in the first two paragraphs that suggest a nearly audible groan at the prospect that he will have to listen to Top 40 music, trivia and celebrity gossip while waiting for the T. That said, he does collect quotes from several riders who find the idea favorable, or at least are not so strongly opposed to it.

The Canton Citizen airs concerns about changes near a T station farther from the city in the latest article covering the proposed construction of a large-scale retail and housing development in neighboring Westwood, MA, at University Station. While the article seems to have little new to report, it keeps residents updated on the Board of Selectmen's efforts to make sure the town's concerns are heard.

The dollar, the candidate, and the death of a student

A New York Times article today explains why a weakened American dollar can be a good thing. The article quotes various government officials, including the chair of the Federal Reserve Bank, but manages to keep everything in terms that are comprehensible to the average reader with little specialized knowledge of economics. The article explains thoroughly the competitive benefits of a weak dollar and compares the American dollar to the Canadian dollar and the Euro. It might also have been interesting, though, to see a comparison to the British pound, since that has held particularly strong against the dollar for quite some time now.

The Washington Post frames an interview with Senator Hillary Clinton today as an “Interview with the Front-Runner,” and Clinton’s quotes confirm her confidence in her position, as well. As an interview, it sticks strictly to what Clinton had to say, effectively allowing her another platform from which to reach the public. The interview covers a range of topics, but these are all tied together under the headline: “Clinton Cites Lessons of Partisanship.” For a relatively short interview, it might have made sense to focus on something more specific, rather than jumping around and briefly touching on most of the big issues.

The Boston Globe also skirts on the surface of a story today in an article on a Bentley student who died suddenly of meningitis over the weekend. The story begins with a promising lede that gives details of how the 18-year-old ate her favorite meal with her family. The rest of the article maps out a brief timeline of the degeneration of her illness to her death over the course of a couple days, but it lacks anything to testify to the student’s character. There are no quotes from other Bentley students or her friends, and the quote from the college’s director of health services seems to take a very cold, clinical, bureaucratic view of the death as a “headache” that must now be dealt with to make sure no other students are affected by meningitis.

Manners, marriage, and the military

One would think The New York Times, quick to chronicle crazy parents in Manhattan playing the nursery school admissions game, would not be slow to pick up a college admissions trend. But today’s article “Thank-You Note Enters College Admission Game” is old news. As early as five years ago, when I started thinking about applying to college, writing thank-you notes following a college interview was already de rigueur. The article does provide a range of examples supporting its point, but in an age where applicants are known to do crazy things, the most outrageous gestures mentioned here are sending M & Ms in the school colors along with the note or writing it on the college’s stationery. Furthermore, one guidance counselor from Maryland seems to contradict herself, looking for specific thank-you note pointers as if students had to try to make their notes stand out and later quoted as saying she thought just sending a note would suffice to differentiate a student. Clearly, a show of good manners is no longer something that will set applicants apart.

The Boston Globe also considers a resurging etiquette trend in an article suggesting that

more men are seeking the permission of their fiancees’ fathers before proposing. The

article admits that there are no statistics to track the trend and discloses its methods:

talking to bridal stores and engaged couples. It seems to track all sides of the issue,

presenting the opinions of those who think the ritual is a quaint but meaningless traditions

along with those who think it undermines women, although it did not delve into this more

extreme opposition to the practice until the end of the article. Too bad, because it would

probably have been more thought-provoking to read comments from the BU women’s

studies professor than from the young fiancés, whose insipid replies do not provide much

reason for their following this tradition except for the fact that it is a tradition.

There must be something to the tradition, though, because allusions to asking permission

for a woman’s hand in marriage pop up again in The Washington Post today. In his

column on new ethics laws regarding senators and lobbyists, Jeffrey H. Birnbaum raises a

question regarding the ban on lobbyists giving gifts to lawmakers and their aides. What

if, he asks, a lobbyist wants to propose to his girlfriend, a Senate staffer? Birnbaum’s

question is an interesting twist on the interpretation of the law, but apparently it is not a

loophole, since he points out the fiancé would have to ask the permission not only of her

father, but of her employer, too.

While the major papers report on trends in manners today, it’s The Patriot Ledger that

has some of the best news coverage, as it continues to follow the death of Army National

Guard Spc. Ciara Durkin. Today’s article draws out the Durkin family’s close ties to

Ireland, where Durkin lived until the age of nine. The article gives examples of the

extensive coverage of her death not just in her home county of Galway but around the

country, which adds depth to her story and suggests that local Boston media are falling

behind in their own coverage.

Black shep, billable hours, priests and pubs

A New York Times article on the status and treatment of immigrants in Switzerland uses strong images to suggest the tide is turning against foreigners in that country among members of the extreme right-wing political party, the Swiss People’s Party. The description in the lede of that party’s use of an image of the Swiss flag with white sheep kicking out a black sheep sums the whole story up for the busy reader. Later, the description of the short film clip created by the party shows in less abstract terms how they would like to stop immigration.

The Boston Globe reports on the many possible ramifications of one law firm’s decision to end the practice of using “billable hours” in favor of charging flat fees for services rendered. The article discusses the reason for the change from the firm’s perspective and its reception among clients, such as the Caritas Christi Health Care System. It also illuminates reasons why billable hours take such a heavy toll on both lawyers and their clients, using conclusions drawn by Yale Law School.

The Patriot Ledger covers an unusual event without much special attention: Boston archbishop Cardinal Sean O’Malley’s series of talks held at a bar in Quincy, Mass. The article covers this as it would any upcoming event, giving the relevant details of time and place for those who hope to attend. Interviews with a local priest, the bar owner and a spokesperson for the archdiocese are relevant, but they lack the most interesting responses, which would come from bar patrons or Catholic parishioners.

Too cool for school?

How many ways can you write about the hipster? The New York Times tries another angle this week in an article about the growing incidence of hipsters in an unlikely place: Staten Island’s North Shore. In describing the growing presence of hip young residents in Staten Island, the article skirts what seems to be the main reason for moving there: lower rent. Instead, it focuses on the new residents’ efforts to create a bohemian café culture of sorts. It opens with the standard lede for any mainstream media article on hipsters: a description of the wardrobe. However, the article relies heavily on quotes to make its best points, including the idea of the North Shore as “Williamsburg without the irony.” These give the article the authenticity needed, even as some quotes doubt the very possibility that the North Shore will catch on as the next SoHo or Williamsburg.

The Boston Globe profiles a true character today: “Pirate Professor” Paul Sally. The article shows what Sally would be like if you met him, by including details such as his “salty language” and imposing height and appearance. With an “accent [that] retains a strong trace of Roslindale,” readers can identify with him even more, as a Boston native.

Not all teachers are as beloved as Professor Sally seems to be, and a Washington Post article does some original investigating to make up for D.C.’s weaknesses in public education. The newspaper surveyed students from the class of 2005 who attended a local public high school to see how they have fared since graduation. It introduces the article with an individual story of a disappointed graduate before setting up the results as a form of public service, claiming the school system often fails because it does not have the ability to track graduates in the same way.

The Times of London also covers an educational controversy today in an article about Muslim medical students who refuse to learn about sexually transmitted and alcohol-related diseases because of their personal ethical beliefs. The article covers the range of situations in which medical students demur based on their religious beliefs, but it cannot provide any kind of statistics to support its claims. It also lacks comments from doctors or administrators at London medical schools, choosing instead a more remote source from the General Medical Council.

Crime and politics: the usual suspects

Putting aside for a moment Iraq’s newsworthiness, a New York Times article takes a closer at another unstable nation in the Middle East, as it raises the possibility of Christian factions in Lebanon precipitating another civil war. The article begins dramatically by suggesting that militias are training for war, but it takes four paragraphs before actually explaining why Christians are at conflict with one another. Later, the article goes into more detail, rationalizing the claim by explaining how and where militant factions are training and by giving population statistics to prove Christians’ minority status in that country.

The Boston Globe, on the other hand, missed out on an opportunity to give a story some color with a dramatic lede. An article in today’s paper discusses a gangster shootout that will be reenacted in Bangor, Maine, this Columbus Day after months of “obsessive” planning. Why not include some of the local color and researched historical details in the lede? Some of the details emerge later in the article, such as this quote from an 85-year-old man there for the original event: “He said he remembers watching coins fall out of Brady's pocket when the gangster's limp body was lifted into a basket.” Overall, though, the article disappoints: it’s a gangster story without suspense or excitement.

In a brief article in The MetroWest Daily News today, the reporter overestimates the dramatic potential of a story that has not already been solved and left to history—there is hardly a story to tell. The article reports objectively and with little fanfare that a man shot a gun into the air outside the Tin Pan Alley Grill in Framingham, Mass., but the brief quotes from Framingham police that follow are anticlimactic, as no one seems to have been hurt and the shooter has not been identified. And the name “Tin Pan Alley Grill” has such a nice ring to it, for a crime story…Chalk that up to one missed opportunity for a good crime story.

In The Washington Post, an article on the GOP presidential nominees rests on two underlying assumptions: that the Democratic Party has a clear party image, and that Hillary Clinton is at the forefront of the race among the Democrats. Neither of those assumptions ought to be made at this point in the race. The article clearly shows the complexity of Republican candidates seeking to define themselves apart from President Bush without alienating the party’s most loyal members, but in doing so, it portrays the Republicans’ situation as a unique one. By the same token, shouldn’t the article also consider whether Democratic candidates have found a separate identity from that of just running as the opposing party to the incumbent? The Democratic situation is not the point of the article, but it should be considered at some point. Also, the quote at the end of the article suggests without much subtlety that Clinton will win the Democratic nomination, but this seems like too strong a conviction to end an article on this early in the race.

Paintball, movies, and money: The other sides of the stories

The New York Times uses its well-read status to disseminate important information that is not otherwise reaching people in a story today about the dangers of paintball guns. The article tells the story of a woman killed while watching her son play paintball because of a defect in the equipment. The article presents the human side of the story well, sharing the concerns the woman and her husband had felt before letting her son play paintball in the lede and the remorse the owner of the paintball park felt after the accident, which made him decide to leave the business. The article also explains the details of the defect and how it can be caused by alterations players learn to make themselves from the Internet. The widowed husband in the story said he was looking to raise awareness on the issue, and this Times article, both interesting to read and informative, should do just that.

A Washington Post article today gets at the story behind the story in an article about the child actor starring The Kite Runner. The parallels between 12-year-old Zekeria Ebrahim and his character in the movie are ripe enough to make his biography seem like a human-interest feature story. The article fluidly draws out elements of the plot, for those unfamiliar with the book on which the movie is based, while raising some of the difficulties of filming a movie about Afghani culture. Despite the fact that this film could help him start a life in a new country, Zekeria Ebrahim seems remarkably grounded in the article. The reporter has drawn out his child side by getting him to talk about what he enjoys the most: competitive kite-flying, the sport of choice for Afghani children.

A Boston Globe article also takes a fresh angle in its coverage of Governor Patrick’s plan to allow casinos in Massachusetts. The article suggests that New Hampshire is concerned that it, too, will allow casinos once any start appearing north of Boston. The article foresees how such proposals would fare by interviewing New Hampshire legislators and also looks at the possible expansion of casinos into Maine and Rhode Island.

The Times of London also looks at money matters as the Tory party raises the possibility of taxing non-domiciled residents in the UK on their foreign assets. The article explains everything you need to know to understand the situation: who the “non-doms” are (everyone from the “uber rich” to the average), why they are in the UK (often to avoid paying such taxes), and how they would respond to such a tax (depending on how wealthy they are). Rather than a straightforward article on finance, the story suggests a world of wealth and privilege and exclusivity told straight out of London’s posh Sloane Square.

Getting around the story

Several articles today circumvent obstacles to bring attention to their stories. A little ingenuity goes a long way, it seems.

A New York Times article draws attention to President Bush’s quiet veto yesterday of the expansion of the State Children’s Health Insurance Program. Since the President vetoed the bill ceremoniously, the article used his visit to a Pennsylvania town to discuss the veto with the community as the event around which to base itself. This is a convenient structure for the reporter, as it provides a way to express public opinion through the opinions voiced by the people at the town-hall-style meeting. Towards the end of the article, the reporter did well to mention that the issue would surely resurface among 2008 presidential candidates and that already, the House is trying to drum up enough votes to defeat the veto.

The Washington Post, too, finds a way to circumvent lack of access to a story. The nuns evicted from their Santa Barbara convent, which is being sold to raise money to pay victims of sexual abuse by priests, were not allowed to make statements to the press about their situation. The article shows resourcefulness by quoting the biological sister of one of the Sisters of Bethany, who shared the views of Sr. Angela Escalera. The article also stays focused on the current situation without dredging up a lot of salacious details about the abuse scandal itself. The focus here is, as it should be, on those members of the Catholic community who are now feeling the effects of the scandal: the evicted nuns and the outraged parishioners.

While WHDH-TV (Channel 7) was barred by a Suffolk County Superior Court judge from releasing developing information about the deaths of two firefighters in West Roxbury in August, The Boston Globe reports the news by sharing Channel 7’s coverage. An anonymous source said that autopsy reports reflect that firefighter Paul Cahill had a blood alcohol content level of .27 at his death and Warren Payne showed traces of cocaine in his system when he died while fighting a fire at a Chinese restaurant over the summer. While the article explains that Channel 7 claimed an anonymous source for this information, it does not say how the Globe received the information and the ability to publish it, although it seems they were not alone, as other newspapers (including The Patriot Ledger) are running the story and WCVB-TV aired comments from the families of the victims.

Is that the whole story?

The New York Times provides new information that attempts to clarify the circumstances surrounding the Blackwater shootings in Baghdad. The article includes interviews with multiple eyewitnesses, many of whom were injured in the shootings, who described confusion surrounding the car driven by a man who was shot, accompanied by his mother, that may have led to the following gunfire after he lost control of it. The article describes the events sequentially, which is very helpful in understanding the basics of the confusing situation, and the quotes from eyewitnesses and from the killed Iraqi driver’s family members are moving and add an emotional dimension to the story that has not really come out until now.

A Washington Post article on a proposed gun bill offers a balanced and comprehensive view of the situation. The article quotes the senator who has placed a hold on the bill, Republican Tom Coburn of Oklahoma, as well as the National Rifle Association, which is not opposed to the bill. It also includes comments from a columnist about the ramifications for Coburn among his colleagues—apparently, Coburn is not concerned about being “popular”—and his previous behavior, as he has placed holds on 100 bills.

An article in the MetroWest Daily News is unclear about the purpose of the event it covered. “How art can help business” begins with quotes from Massachusetts Cultural Council director Anita Walker about the importance of art education in schools and ends with a comment from Stuart Danforth about supporting the Danforth Museum in Framingham, where the event was held. The article does not elaborate on Stuart Danforth’s relation to the museum, does not give the title of the event, and does not clearly explain whether the purpose of the event was to push for keeping an arts curriculum in schools or to encourage businesses to hire people with arts backgrounds. Unlike the national news stories today, this local story leaves many questions unanswered.

Providing context

Today's articles raise questions about the amount of context necessary to allow a reader understand the full implications of a news event. Some do it well, while others could stand to do a little more digging before they publish.

A New York Times article on the meeting between the North and South Korean leaders does more than just report the ostensible reason for their visit, it characterizes the nature of the visit in a larger context, as well. The article states after a lengthy but colorful lede about Roh’s reception in North Korea that Kim Jong Il and Roh Moo-hyun are meeting to strike a deal that would lead to North Korea’s disarmament of its nuclear weapons in exchange for economic benefits from South Korea. The article notes the extra efforts by Roh that are a show of good faith between the neighboring countries, such as symbolically walking over the border instead of flying into the airport in Pyongyang. The fact that Kim counters this with a chilly reception legitimizes the analysis presented in the article that perhaps Kim will take advantage of the South’s economic aid without living up to his side of the bargain.

The Washington Post reports on the results of a poll it conducted with ABC News about President Bush’s proposal to fund the war in Iraq with $190 billion dollars over the coming year. The report is a detailed news analysis, and it explains the results well in-text, but also with a graphic. The article mentions early on that Americans have more support for Congressional Democrats than for Republicans, despite overall disapproval of Congress. It would have been informative to offer a comment from a political scientist about why they might be the case. In general, though, the article presents detailed responses, as well as varied comments from average citizens from around the country, that seem to capture public opinion well.

The Boston Globe continues to follow MIT students’ pranks with a seemingly unquenchable curiosity. Today an article reports on an email sent to students by the school’s chancellor, reminding them to keep their behavior in line when hacking. The article defines hacking as “harmless pranks” for those who have not been following the earlier stories. Also as a recap, the article suggests what recent pranks the chancellor might have had in mind when he sent the email, despite the fact that no specific incidents were mentioned in it. Too bad the article could not include quotes from some of MIT’s more colorful students: those quoted took opposing views—one senior seeing the email as a parental scolding and the other appreciating it as trying to uphold MIT’s integrity—but neither one expressed anything that captured the mischievous spirit of hacking. Frankly, they were dull.

A Patriot Ledger article reports that Ryan Bois was finally found psychologically competent to stand trial for the murder of his six-year-old cousin over the summer after two months of psychiatric evaluation. The article recounts the charges against Bois—including a new one not introduced previously, of rape—but it does not suggest a reason for the delay. In the beginning of the story, the emphasis is on the fact that Bois had to undergo further psychiatric evaluation, postponing his arraignment a month ago, but there is not information to suggest why this was the case.

Students and travelers face frustration

A New York Times article on the controversy surrounding the use of an expletive to make a political statement in The Daily Collegian, Colorado State University’s student newspaper, purports to discuss a “free speech issue” among students but neglects to do one essential thing: print student opinion on the decision. The article describes the hearing that will be held for the editor in chief of the newspaper and shares the opinion of the administration. Granted, none of the editorial staff were willing to talk to the Times, but shouldn’t the opinion of average student readers be included? The statement was made to drive them to activism, according to David McSwane, the paper’s editor. This issue is one of students speaking out, so where are the other students who ought to be speaking out?

Well in advance of the holiday travel season, the Washington Post prepares travelers for the worst. Its article on lost and damaged baggage reports that airlines have hit an all-time worst over the course of the last five years. The article clearly sides with the passenger, beginning with a lede that details the frustration all travelers feel when flying. However, by the end of the article, the report includes airlines’ efforts to improve and even names United as the most effective at transporting luggage of all the major airlines this summer. The accompanying graph is a helpful illustration of the increasing trend among lost luggage.

An article in the Boston Globe today profiles a student forced to take a trip for a reason he never imagined: to rejoin his deported father. The article offers a sympathetic look at the U.S.-born, East Boston-raised student at Boston Latin Academy, who must leave the U.S. and move to Colombia, his parents’ native country, where his father was deported to in the fall. The article does not focus too much on the legal aspects of the family’s move—it is possible that that information was too sensitive to the family’s situation to reveal—but it does describe David Arias as a typical American teenager. Details of his feelings of connection to East Boston—originally, he didn’t even want to leave his friends there to attend BLA in seventh grade—and particularly of his preference for speaking English and fears that his Spanish is not fluent enough show a distinction between his generation and his parents’ that is not often made in discussing immigration.