Agreeing to Disagree

In the article, Iran Vows to Expand its Nuclear Program by Thomas Erdbrink of The Post, reports Iran's intentions to build 10 more nuclear enrichment plants. Enrichment plants are used to increase to amount of radioactive material. Iran has never followed the rules of nuclear conduct laid down by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and the UN security council. Some Iranian parliamentary officials feel that Iran has been more than cooperative and should instead cut international discussions on the subject. However, this is unlikely. By increasing nuclear enrichment plants, there are growing fears that Iran will not use their uranium exclusively for nuclear energy. It could possibly be used for production of nuclear weapons. Even though President Ahmadinejad said he would dramatically increase nuclear power output, the claim is hard to believe. Iran has never been completely successful at developing their nuclear program. Construction for the Natanz nuclear program began eight years ago, but the plant has yet to be operational. All-in-all with Iran pushing for less restriction and Western powers pushing for more conformity, the two sides can only compromise at the moment.

The Article was very well reported and had an elegant flow that allowed the story to grow and progress. It was a nice touch by Erdbrink to end the story one compromise. It was a nice way to look at an alternate perspective to the story that was mainly focused on the disagreements of the two sides. The Lead was very clear and to-the-point; it also included the possible repercussions of this new development.

MJ Frenzy Spreading

In an earlier entry, I discussed an article about the booming California cannabis dispensaries. California is the leading state for legal Cannabis growth and distribution. In the article, At This School, It's Marijuana in Every Class by Tamar Lewin of the NY Times, marijuanna is seen as a possible solution to Michigan's economic depression. With distribution and growth now legal in the state, one developing school is taking full advantage of the situation. Of course there are limits to the state's flexibility. For example, one must be a certified recipient for medical marijuana and have designated provider. The school has been educating a very diverse group of people from various backgrounds on the science behind cannabis growth and preparation. This school is meant to produce a group of people who are capable of distributing Cannabis in a proper way. The school itself isn't any Harvard. In fact, it is limited to a few suburban houses, but the concept is intriguing to many people.

The article was decently written. The lead was catchy and entertaining while still fulfilling its informative purpose. The body contained sufficient detail about the school itself. However, there should have been more detail on the future of the school. How is enrollment? Will it be expanding? The ending was very rough. The last sentence was a quote by a student who said,"...And then I suddenly thought, hey, I really am going to grow medical marijuana.” Wow. Did the student give this statement stoned? The story wasn't very professional and the idea of the school didn't seem to be taken too seriously by the reporter.

Eye-opening story, but mediocre reporting

The article, Trying to Explain a Drop in Infant Mortality by Erik Eckholm of the NY Times, explains the very interesting distribution of infant mortality rates with respect to maternal happiness as the baby is developing. Eckholm gives us the story of Ta-Shai Pendleton's two unfortunate infant deaths while living in a very poor region of Madison, Wisconsin. The story then develops as she moves to a better community in Madison and finally gives birth to a healthy baby girl. Her story heartwarming, but it is not uncommon, especially in the poorer black counties that have a higher infant mortality rate per thousand compared to the white community. Doctors are not entirely sure what effect that environment has on the developing fetus, but they do believe it is connected to the happiness and well-being of the mother. There are greater physical stresses that pregnant mothers have to deal with in the poorer counties. This in turn affects the developing baby. Members of the community, like visiting nurses and supportive church groups, that help pregnant mothers in tough situations may be increasing the babies survivability by aiding the mother.

The article as a whole was okay. I found the topic interesting, not very surprising , but interesting. I think that Eckholm did not report the story as firmly as he should. I'm not saying that he should completely proclaim that babies are dying because mothers are in stressful situations, but he should recognize that there is a connection and there are statistics and examples to support the argument. Of course there are exceptions, but they shouldn't overpower the overall story.

Gun Violence Escalating?

Gun violence seems to be popping up in the news more and more. In an article out of the NY Times, four police officers were ambushed while eating at a coffee shop near Tacoma, Washington. This was very surprising in an area that is usually characterized by its low crime rate. In fact, the organized police squad in the area is only about a decade old. This development is still very new and the suspect(s) have not been taken into custody. Officially, the reason for the ambush hasn't been confirmed, but some officers are already saying that the attack was an act of revenge. No other comment was given as to what the suspects were avenging. Although the four officers were shot and killed, three men and a woman were also hit, but they survived the ordeal. After the attack, the suspect fled on foot and officers are continuing their search for him.

The article was very straightforward, but as I mentioned before, it did not include a reason for why anyone would need an act of revenge. I am going to assume that this information was not disclosed by the police as it pertains to an open investigation. The Lead was strong and catchy. Nothing grabs attention better than a good revenge/ambush story and it was a good move to include this motive in the opening statement. The reporters that covered the story, William Yardley and Joseph Berger, should have also mentioned something about the other instances of gun violence in recent history.

Umm...what's your point?

The European Organization for Nuclear Research, or CERN as it is more commonly known, is one of the most foremost scientific centers in the world. It is also the home to the largest piece of scientific equipment on the planet, the Large Hadron Collider. The purpose of the Collider is evident in its name. It sends protons through a 17-mile proton racetrack in the hopes that a pair will eventually collide. According to the article, A Blast at Last at Particle Collider in the NY Times, scientists finally were able to see the product of their investment. The particle collider actually collided protons. The Hadron Collider was always operational, but never before had scientists actually succeeded in colliding protons. The collisions occurred only three days after sending the protons through the Collider. Scientists toasted this speedy development with champagne. It was originally anticipated to take much longer than three days. Proton collisions occurred immediately following the Big Bang.

This article summarized a very scientific process excellently, but what it failed to mention is THE POINT. Why should people care about this study? The article did allude to the Big Bang and how particle collisions were an immediate product of the Big Bang, but it failed to mention the importance. Off the top of my head, I would assume that creationism would be a big issue. How do you make life? There is so much to know based on the products of this study and the article completely missed it.

Good Article, but why the specific focus?

With the Fort Hood Massacre still present in many people's minds, it almost seems like these deadly outbursts by individuals are spreading to the most remote regions of the country. In the article, Police Identify Gunman in Deadly Saipan Rampage in the NY Times, a Chinese national recently killed and injured men, women, and children on the small island of Saipan. The man has been identified as Li Zhongren, an immigrant that lived and worked in a shooting range. In the massacre, two adults and two children were killed, one girl was critically injured, and within the group of Korean tourists that he also fired at, eight were wounded. Zhongren then turned the gun on himself. He was found at a WWII memorial site, by the cliff line where Japanese soldiers committed suicide to evade capture by American soldiers. Police are still investigating, but they believe Zhongeren's outburst was due to personal and financial

difficulties.

The article was very straightforward. For a follow-up article, the lead was strong and concise. This article is a good example of the international cooperation required to attain a story like this. There were contributing reporters from Honolulu, Korea, and Saipan. All their information combined was necessary to get this story. However, I did have one problem with the article. Towards the end, the story seemed to focus on one particular person, but his story was thrown in after a good concluding statement. If it were up to me, I don't think I would include any portion about one particular person. Although he was critically injured, there were others hurt in the incident as well, and the people that were killed seemed to be lumped together.

Semi-Right, Semi-Wrong

Many economists gave the stimulus package wary looks. There was opposition from many republicans who questioned whether infusing the economy with a jolt of cash would spur it from its demise. Although the US economy isn't exactly the gold standard it once was, it is better off than it would have been had the stimulus package not been introduced. According to the article New Consensus Sees Stimulus Package as a Worthy Step by Jackie Calmes and Michael Cooper of the NY Times, unemployment still remains high, higher than the Obama administration originally predicted, but in the big picture the economy is growing. Many analysts actually believe that the package may have been too small. The Obama administration's biggest mistake was probably overestimating the extent of economic development. Their original optimism is probably the source of why so many cannot see the improvement. Nevertheless, it is working to an extent.

The article was very well written and excellently cited. It included sources by Harvard economists, contributors to financial magazines, and by the group responsible for announcing whether the recession is over or not. It was thorough, and gave insight for both sides of the story. Calmes and Cooper used the lead to ease into the story. It was a good way to present two sides of the story- the side for adding more money to the package and the side against the stimulus package altogether. However, it took time to get to the actual focus of the article- that the stimulus package is working. The focus is the important part; the rest we have all heard in countless other articles in countless other papers.

Drama on the UCs

The Board of Regents recently hiked student fees by 35% reports Larry Gordon and Amina Khan of the LA Times. In the article, the Board of Regents made the approval amidst student protests outside the building and around the UCLA campus. The Board of Regents urges the students to not be too downcast about the situation. They want them to turn to financial aid, but the students are far from satisfied. Many fear they will either have to drop out of school or transfer to a community college. Student protestors locked themselves inside a UCLA classroom during the Regent meeting. However, the decision passed with only one veto by a student representative on the board. Once the decision was made, students and UC employees alike began shouting, "Shame on you! Shame on you!" No arrests were made, but the situation is still developing.

The current US economy is weak and this is pouring over into education. I monitored this story all day and waited to see the reaction of the students. I feel that it is only a matter of time before something gets out of hand, because no one wants to quit and transfer out after giving hours to a school that now doesn't seem to reciprocate your dedication. I am obviously biased on this whole situation. As a reporter, I would have to spend a lot more time interviewing members of the board of regents if I wish to even come close to producing a neutral story. The article did seem weighted towards the students, but as the situation develops I expect there will be more formal statements by the board.

The Boy Shooter

In a world where even the mention of child soldiers is completely radical, there is Carvett Gentles. In the article, A Bullet takes a Toll in the Bronx by Al Baker of the NY Times, the 16-year old, baby-faced shooter took down Tyrone Creighton and Vada Vasquez in the Bronx, NY, in what is believed to be a revenge attack meant to target Creighton. Vasquez was just caught in the crossfire, but is now in a medically induced coma after being struck by a bullet in the head. Gentles was with a group of other young men, and it is suspected that he did the shooting, because he lacked any prior convictions. The reasons for the shooting are not entirely clear, but it is known that Creighton's two brothers are inmates at Riker's Island. The two were involved in a fight that left an unknown individual badly beaten. This may have been retaliation for that event.

The article was pretty straightforward. However, many important facts are missing from the story. Baker seemed to focus more on Vasquez than on Creighton. In fact, no specific names were mentioned in the Riker's island fight which was most likely the cause of this whole situation. The article was an excellent expose on gun violence and the effect that it could have on innocent bystanders.

Wanders a bit, but not bad

In today's technologically connected world, it is hard to find a newspaper that only covers local news. Journalism becomes rigid and stale if it only comes from one source. In order to connect the global community, international stories must be as available as local stories. In the article, In Sri Lankan Politics, not even an opposition astrologer is safe by Emily Wax of the Washington Post, Sri Lankan officials prosecuted an astrologer for predicting the death of the president. This may seem bizarre to Americans, but astrologers are regarded with high esteem in Sri Lanka. Not many important decisions are made without their consultation. Chandrasiri Bandara made the prediction and now predicts his own death approaching before the year 2012. Bandara is the nation's most popular astrologer and his prediction could be the equivalent of inciting a riot. The Sri Lankan government fears that bad things are more likely to happen because he has put the idea out there. Wax used this article to discuss Bandara, but also seemed to put heavy focus on Sri Lankan politics. After the defeat of the Tamil Tigers, a Sri Lankan terrorist group, President Rajapaksa has been accused of many things including: corruption, nepotism, and imposing a dictatorship. The only man right now capable of opposing Rajapaksa is Gen. Sarath Fonseka, who led the armies against the Tamil Tigers. The nation is split and every voice, especially those of astrologers, is heavily scrutinized by the Sri Lankan people and their government.

I like how Wax used the current state of the Sri Lankan government to supplement the astrologer story, but I do not like that the politics took away from the story. If Wax really wanted to talk about the sensitivity of the Sri Lankan government, she needed to portray that better in the lead. Wax then could have used the astrologer story to supplement the report. I suppose the title may not have been as catchy, but I think it is better than diverting half the article away from the highlighted story and into a seemingly separate issue.

Bringing the Law to the People

In the article, New Law to Bar Misuse of Genetic Testing By Employers by Steven Greenhouse of the NY Times, a law passed last year is going into effect this year. The law mandates that no employer or insurer is allowed to request a Genetic History report from its employees for risk of discrimination against that employee. Similar to the way you can't discriminate against a race or gender, this new law seeks to prevent employers and insurers from denying employment and/or coverage. There are of course exceptions to the law; for instance, if an employer accidentally finds out or if the employee has been missing work to tend to an ailing relative.

While reading this article, it got me thinking about the importance of journalism. How would I have otherwise found out about this new law if I hadn't read the article? I most likely would not have known if an employer or insurer discriminated against my genetic background. Journalism is an advocate for the people. It educates people about the world around them so they are better able to see the injustices around them. The overall structure of the article was well put together and coming from someone who isn't particularly well versed in all things political, I actually understood the law and the reasons behind its implementation. It was an informative read and I am interested in knowing how employers/insurers will try to get around it and how employees will try to abuse it.

Very Informative, Insight into the difficulties of Foreign Relations

In the past few years, US foreign relations with Japan haven't exactly been great. In the article, Obama agrees to Talks on Location of Marine Base in Japan by Helene Cooper and Martin Fackler, Obama and Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama of Japan have re-opened the discussion to relocate the naval base in Okinawa to a less populated region or out of the country all together. The subject was a very sensitive issue after Robert M. Gates, US defense secretary, had closed off negotiations a month earlier. If the base is relocated, marines may be moved out of Japan as well. While running for prime minister, one of Hatoyama's campaign promises was to negotiate to have the base removed entirely. The base is not a popular Okinawan feature especially after 3 service men raped a 12-year old girl in 2005. The likeliness of the negotiations actually succeeding seem unlikely, but the underlying message to the article is that US/Japan relations are changing.

The article was a great analysis of the changing relationship between two countries that have a mutual dependence on each other. By highlighting one aspect that builds tension between the two, it gives way for analysis of the relationship as a whole. The lead wasn't too wordy and summarized the vital information of the story.

Stifle Journalism and Journalism will stifle you

You would think that someone who was appointed to uphold are constitutional rights would be more mindful of his actions. The article, From Justice Kennedy, a Lesson in Journalism by Adam Liptak of the NY Times, reports on the visit of Justice Anthony M. Kennedy to Dalton High School in Manhattan. This may seem innocent enough. It shows he's a man interested in educating the future generations on the importance of democracy and the law. However, the really shocking aspect of his visit is what came after it. He requested that he look over any article published about his visit so that it could be modified if needed. It was reported that his staff may have been to blame. No one, himself included, wanted anything published that would misinterpret his message. The school's officials didn't seem to be particularly concerned about the matter.

The article was well-written and covered all the basis with interesting input by members of the school administration. It was on an interesting topic that needs to be evaluated. Whenever a public official violates the freedoms of the people, It is the responsibility of the press to point it out, no matter how small the issue. However, the article needs commentary from Justice Kennedy and his staff. If there is an explanation for his actions, both sides of the story need to be covered.

Intriguing Article with Food for Thought

The article, Power Begins to Return After Blackout in Brazil by the associated press, recounts the blackout of a sizable chunk of Brazil and all of Paraguay. The cause of the blackout was never officially confirmed, but experts suggest that a storm may have caused a short circuit in an electrical station that controls power for the Itaipu hydro plant. The power in Parahuay was only knocked out for 20 minutes, but no notice was immediately given to the people of Brazil about when the power would return. Most citizens interviewed did not seem particularly concerned about the blackout. Many drank beers and waited it out. However, serious questions are being raised about Brazil which currently stands to host the world cup in 2010 and the 2012 Olympics.

The article was decent and it was interesting. It was bit anti-climactic, even the lead seemed to down-play the severity of the situation. It should not have mentioned the 20-minute blackout in Paraguay until later in the article. It also should have grouped the possible reasons for the blackout instead of scattering them between paragraphs. The article does succeed in generating reader questions. Will Brazil pull itself together in time for the World Cup, and even more importantly, for the Olympics? The article leaves us on a suspenseful note which foster interest in the subject.

Good Article but Wanders Toward the End

Leave it to a Wellesley woman to blog about all articles about female empowerment. In the article, Women Ascend to Iraq's Elite Police Officer Corps by John Leland of the NY Times, 50 women graduated from Iraq's elite officer police academy. This is a huge step for Iraqi women, who had only been able to secure low level police jobs in the past. The officers were said to be given equal treatment as the men. However, they did not train with them. They also were not given residence on the academy. Some had to commute as early as 4am to attend. Members of the class only had positive comments about their enrollment. No one seems to be to phased by the threats they occasionally received from members of the community who disapprove of female officers. The class was mostly men, totaling about 1,050, but Colonel Twitchell of the US army says that 100 more women will be enrolled in the upcoming class.

The article was fairly strong. The lead was captivating and almost emotional. There was adequate coverage on the conditions the women were subjected to as opposed to the men. However, I would have like to see a little more explanation as to why 1) they weren't given residence on the base 2) why they decided to allow women to enroll in the academy this year as opposed to previous years. The ending was also very weak. It seemed like Leland had run out of things to say and decided instead to stick-in the number of U.S. deaths over the past 3 years to fill the article. It was very random, especially since the article isn't even about the US army.

A Standard News Story

News doesn't have to be completely groundbreaking; sometimes it's just a matter of getting on the T. In the article, Woman Survives Fall into Train Pit at North Station by John M. Guilfoil of the Boston Globe the story basically described one woman's tumble onto the subway tracks at North Station. The woman was intoxicated after a Celtics game and she was about to board the T. She fell onto the tracks, somehow avoided the electric third rail, and was almost hit by the subway. Lucky for her, fellow passengers on the subway signaled the driver to stop before it entered the station. The train actually stopped right on top of her.

It may not be a story about Obama approving a health care bill or about a massive deployment of troops to Iraq, but it is a story nonetheless. It is only a local story and probably won't make it on CNN or Fox News, but it is raw and dramatic. The story also has a happy ending which I feel is a rare sight in today's world. The structure couldn't be simpler. Guilfoil told the reader exactly what happened in the lead and omitted minor details about the Celtics game and the third rail for later in the article. He sorted his details by importance and came out with a very straightforward article.

The Post vs. The Times Round 2: Army Base Rampage

Fort Hood near Killen, Texas came under fire yesterday afternoon, but not by any foreign enemy or terrorism group. Nidal Malik Hasan, an Army psychiatrist, opened fire on base, killed 12, and wounded 31. A female police officer was the first to exchange fire with Hasan, who was shot four times. The officer was shot herself, but both survived and are in stable condition. Hasan was apparently angry that he was being deployed to the middle east; he holds strong objections to US presence in Iraq. Obama extended his condolences to the families of those killed. People lined up outside of the hospital to donate blood to the victims of the rampage. Both papers felt it necessary to mention that Hasan hails from Virginia, but only the Post mentioned he graduated from Virginia Tech. I'm not too sure that move was in the best taste. The Post also mentioned the incredible pressure that soldiers are under and mentioned suicide statistics for Fort Hood.

Overall, I believe the Post covered the story much better than the Times. The Times seemed to be focused on tugging at people's heart strings rather than reporting the news. A lot of attention was paid to the condolences extended by the president and it reported more on the background of Hasan. This was a nice move, because it allowed the Muslim community to express their opinion on the subject which helps to some what alleviate the tension on this very sensitive situation.

I wonder how he got this story...

In the article, Nation is Facing Vaccine Shortage for Seasonal Flu by Donald G. McNeil of the NY Times, McNeil reports on the shortage of vaccines in the midst of this flu scare. Drug manufacturers have been growing vaccines and more are expected to be shipped in November. However, the amount of flu vaccines administered have increased by more than 33% compared with the amount distributed last year. There is a serious risk of running out and in places like New York, some clinics and hospitals are actually not administering vaccines to healthy people 65 and younger. The American people are being vaccinated for both swine flu and the seasonal flu, but supplies still need to be distributed globally. It is likely that poor countries will only get about 10% of the vaccine stock. Manufacturing flu vaccines have always been a debatable topic for drug manufacturers. The vaccines are not only more expensive to produce but they are also harder to make than other drugs. Vaccines also expire after shorter periods of time. All in all, the problems with continually producing vaccines out-weigh the benefits.

The article was a good starting point for more articles. I want to see how charitable drug companies are being to countries that can't afford to pay for the vaccines. I have been thinking of ways that McNeil could have stumbled upon this story. I would like to think that maybe he was one of those denied a vaccine in NY. This brings me to the topic of finding stories to write about. Its difficult to find an original story that people want to read, because reporters could be fishing for a story that doesn't exist. Overall, the lead was strong and the sources were credible enough to spark my concern.

Gave some of the Facts

The article, With Karzai, U.S. Faces Weak Partner in Time of War in the NY Times, was an interesting article that not only reported on the recent drop-out of Abdullah Abdullah in Afghanistan's run-off election, but also tied in important facts about the progress of the war in Afghanistan. The election was a crucial component in establishing a legitimate government in Afghanistan that the people respect. A respected government faces a smaller chance of its citizen's rebelling or turning over to the Taliban. However, Karzai, the victor of the election, did not always demonstrate the best campaign etiquette which gets his presidency off to a bad start. Now, America has to some how work with Karzai, because the election really was a product of making Afghanistan a democratic state. The Obama administration hopes that Karzai finds a way to rally his people behind him. If he is able to do this, maybe some day soon the Afghan army will be strong enough to handle the Taliban without U.S. help and corruption will cease to be so commonplace in the government.

The article does do a lot of speculation. It makes me hopeful that the US will one day come out of this war because the overall plan of the Obama administration does sound convincing. The article should have discussed the process required to reducing corruption and increasing the Afghan government's standing. The article supplied me with necessary facts about the current state of the US occupation and it did sort of mention the change in leadership style expected of Karzai, but once again no real details were given. The facts were there, but the whole story wasn't nearly close to complete.