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.