Is anyone visiting Chicago?

In almost any newspaper or publication, you can find a story about police brutality and another shooting. However we don’t often think about the total effect violence can have on an area, but in his Chicago Tribune piece titled “Can Chicago tourism overcome image of crime, police brutality?” Robert Channick looks at a bigger picture.

Channick doesn’t dance around the point, instead he jumps right in by explaining that in 2016 Chicago might not attract as many visitors as a result of violence. I can appreciate that the subject is important and sometimes those issues need to be stated bluntly.

Channick respects the research that is needed for this issue and supplies data for readers to show the changing atmosphere in Chicago. He explains that a record-setting 51.7 million people visited Chicago in 2015, but already the number for 2016 are down.

Henry Hearteveldt is a travel industry analyst that Channick quotes about the obstacles that Chicago may be facing this year. By using trustworthy sources like an industry analyst, Channick builds the confidence that his readers have in him.

Some readers may appreciate that Channick references that film ‘Chi-raq’ directed by Spike Lee, which talks about the Black Friday protests in Chicago. Channick also points to something President Barack Obama said in a recent town hall. These points, although not particularly important, may have been seen by his audience.

Channick shifts his focus back to the hard data suggesting that Chicago is in trouble. He references a campaign called ‘Choose Chicago’, which was started by Mayor Rahm Emanuel in 2012. He continues to supply numbers and facts on the campaign, which must be focused on the long-run with their goal of 55 million visitors by the year 2020.

Channick keeps his opinion out of the story by supplying quotes from various sources, all of which help shed light on the issue he is focused on. By allowing many people to talk on the issue, it rounds out the picture for the reader. The article feels much more accurate because of how many people contributed to the information.

Channick wraps up the article by talking about the expansion of tourism offices for Chicago in Canada and Mexico. I like that he ends with this because it’s the first time that he shifts his lens to a broader view for readers to think about. Overall, Channick supplies the reader with great sources, good info, and a unique angle about the future of Chicago’s tourism industry.

Here is the article: Chicago's future of tourism

Pot Problems Put Simply

The marijuana legalization efforts have been alive for decades, but only in recent years has the idea of medicinal marijuana actually seemed possible. Many people are aware of the situation that is occurring, but others are in the dark about what may be occurring nationwide in the near future.

In his Rolling Stone article titled ‘What Will Rescheduling Marijuana Mean for the Pot Industry?’ author Alex Halperin gives everyone a good overview of the subject in laymen's terms. He stays away from a one-sided, opinionated rant about pot and instead provides context on what worries the voters and the government--not his opinion.

The focus of the article, is mostly on the Drug Enforcement Agency’s decision to see if marijuana should be rescheduled as a different class drug. Instead of being classified as a easily abused, and very addictive drug, it may be changed to have potential medical benefits and allows research to be performed by labs.

Halperin doesn’t tell readers whether he smokes or not, he doesn’t say whether he would legalize it or not, instead he provides valid and trustworthy sources to give facts about the situation. One source, is a cannabis lawyer who represents a Washington firm, and admits that she isn’t optimistic about the DEA’s pending decision. But he doesn’t stop there, he also allows the other side a chance to speak by quoting a California based therapy company who has a brighter outlook on the issue.

Often when I read articles like this, I get lost in legal jargon and can’t really make out what the issue really is but Halperin doesn’t allow that to happen. He uses clear phrases and simplistic writing to accomplish the goal of educating readers. On top of that, he explains the differences between schedule II drugs and schedule I drugs which will aid readers in the long run.

Overall I felt that Halperin did an excellent job of providing information for readers to draw conclusions with, and used valid sources. He didn’t ignore any angles of the issue, and allowed quotes from people who feel differently on the issue. The only thing that would have really strengthened this article would have been a government quote about the DEA and what they will need to do to reach a decision.

The full article can be read here: Rescheduling Pot

United States and Cuba Reunited

When the United States began normalizing communications with Cuba in recent months, I wanted to find a better angle on the story. I thought about what might influence each publication when writing their story about the U.S. and Cuba relationship, and geographic location played a big part in my decision. I decided that for a different take on Cuba, I would read something that was published close to the action--which is how I found the Miami Herald.

Florida is known for it’s close proximity to Cuba, and it’s no doubt that Miami has a large cuban population. So, I decided to take a look at “U.S. business relations with Cuba seem to have one speed: slow” written by Mimi Whitefield and see how the story might differ from something I would read in California.

From the beginning I could tell that Whitefield was doing her homework. She starts with a hook to lure in readers with information on cuban companies, and quickly transitions in her next few paragraphs to a quote from a trustworthy source. Whitefield reached out to a lawyer for a Florida produce company, something I see as a great journalistic decision. Not only will a lawyer be trusted as an official source, he will be easy to defend if anyone question his comments.

Whitefield supplies a few more pieces of evidence in support of the speed claims, before shifting her focus and allowing the other side of the argument to enter. She shows good journalistic value in allowing her voice to guide the story, but not to supply the facts. She uses sources from various places to supply the hard data and simply lets the reader decide how to interpret it.

Whitefield does something that I really enjoy seeing when reading publications from across the country, she quotes a professor from a university in another state. She uses a quote from a professor at University of California at San Diego, which lets me know that she was aware that there may be better source outside of Miami where she could get information. With today’s technology, there isn’t much of an excuse for not reaching out to the best source of information for a quote.

Finally when wrapping up her piece, the author provides the reader good background information on Cuba and its political system. The time she takes to do so is important because it gives readers context on the information they just learned. As a result, she has equipped the reader with enough to draw educated conclusions and find a stance among the issue.

You can read her article here: United States and Cuba: Slow

Remembering Mr. Madoff

I’ve always had a fascination with people who run scams, ponzi schemes and pyramid schemes. It’s just something that I know I would have a hard time doing myself, so I am curious when I hear about others who are involved in these devastating plans. I’ll never forget learning about Bernie Madoff, the man who ran a ponzi scheme and stole himself millions that belonged to other hardworking people.

My interest in this topic has led me to read some stories on people who are arrested for this type of thing, or who have risen to infamy as a result of their involvement. One piece, title ‘The Talented Mr. Madoff’, which was published in the L.A. Times stood out to me as a solid example of good journalism.

The scandal involving Madoff, was covered by writers Julie Creswell and Landon Thomas Jr., who did an excellent job of covering all angles of the story. Creswell and Thomas aren’t opinionated or judgemental in their writing about Madoff, which I seem to find can happen when the subjects of the story are easy to dislike. Madoff stole millions from others who had actually done the work to earn it, so it would be easy to write an opinion piece on why he should be put in prison--it would certainly be more challenging to stay objective like Creswell and Thomas.

But that isn’t the only positive that readers can take away from this article. One of my favorite parts of this piece of writing, is the intro that grabs the reader’s attention. It begins by describing Madoff not as a scumbag who plans to rob you of all you’re worth, but as a affable and charismatic man. Many readers would jump right into the heart of the scandal, but Creswell and Thomas paint a picture for the reader before letting the scene unfold.

In my opinion, a strong hook can really bring in an audience and earn reader’s attention, but staying transparent is key. Creswell and Thomas make concessions after stating evidence about Madoff. After quoting an F.B.I former special agent, they admit that he hasn’t met Madoff. So any diagnosis about his personality or habits are purely speculatory and haven’t been confirmed in person. With this, they show the reader that they are aiming to stay accurate and can be trusted as a source on this topic.

After reading ‘The Talented Mr. Madoff,’ I was intrigued and ready to learn more about the subject. For me, that means the authors did their job. They educated me on the subject, supplied evidence and not opinion based facts, and made concessions about their point--all good habits of a hardworking journalist.

You can read the article here: The Talented Mr. Madoff

NFL concedes CTE Connection

For decades men have been putting on pads, jerseys and helmets for an excuse to cause harm to others, we like to call it 'football'. It's long been discussed that NFL players are being damaged internally as a result of the rough play they experience in every game. But until now the strategy from the National Football League has been to deny any and all allegations.

In the New York Times, writer Ken Belson talks about the officials admitting that C.T.E has been linked to playing in the NFL. Belson talks about the lawsuit that included thousands of players old and young who now suffer from C.T.E. 

The degenerative brain disease is increasingly common among retired Football players but the NFL has always claimed that there is no link between the two. Finally they've conceded.

Belson talks about the past denial of the link by Commissioner Roger Goodell but doesn't stress on the fact that those claims were most likely bold faced lies. He doesn't stay on the topic too long, or comment on how the NFL was simply trying to deny the danger that players face every game. Instead he focuses on the showing the facts of the case and doesn't give the Commissioner the berating he deserves--showing great restraint and dignity, much like a great journalist.

Although there isn't much more to the story, some writers would add their own thoughts on the NFL or C.T.E, something Belson avoids. He ends the story right where it needs to be, using great brevity and clarity. Since the topic has been discussed for many years, it would be easy to want to attack those who denied it early and again Belson shows great restraint. 

I chose this article because many times when I read sport pieces, they become a rant from the author about the sport or the players. Belson doesn't do that. I think he is a good example of how sport writers should address subjects, by only supplying the facts and not his opinion. 

The article can be found here:

NFL Official affirms link with CTE

BART Police Slay Oscar Grant

Every year there seems to be a new tragedy that forces us all to think about our loved ones and our own safety. In 2009, the incident that did so was one that many will never forget. On New Year's Day, 22-year-old Oscar Grant was heading home after celebrating into the morning, but he would never make it. Using BART, the Bay Area public transit system, Grant was with many of his friends and strangers ringing in the new year. However after BART Police responded to a call of a fight on one of the trains, the situation turned from jubilation to chaos. In the hectic struggle to control the inebriated crowd, one officer made a life-changing mistake. Johannes Mehserle, 32, was attempting to handcuff 22-year-old Oscar Grant at the Fruitvale BART Station in Oakland, California. Mehserle attempted to pull out his taser to help put Grant in cuffs, but in the heat of the moment he pulled his pistol and a single shot rang out. 

After growing up in the Bay Area, and using the BART system my whole life, this story shook the East Bay. Many media outlets took the story and ran with it. 'White BART Policeman Slays Black Teen' was stamped across almost every newspaper in the area. The black community was outraged, and it only pitted them against the police--the very people sent to protect us.

Jaxson Van Derbeken, from the San Francisco Chronicle, helped cover the trial of Mehserle and the death of Grant. In his 2014 article titled, "Johannes Mehserle says he feared Oscar Grant was going for gun" he does a good job of not taking sides. When this article was published, Mehserle was being tried for the killing of Grant and many of his comments on the stand were included in the piece. At one point Mehserle claims to have said that he was going for his taser, but the audio from cell phone videos don't corroborate that story. Derbeken does an excellent job of stating that fact without adding his own opinion as well. He leaves space for the reader to draw conclusions about the situation instead. 

When addressing subjects that can divide communities, I believe it's important for the journalist to remain objective, and Derbeken did just that. I really couldn't tell you how he feels about Grant or the actions of Mehserle, which to me means he did his job well. Instead he supplies the reader information and facts, not opinion. This story was one that I felt remained more objective than many others written at the time. The incident did leave an impact on the community with more attention paid to police brutality, and for me was the beginning of a larger Black Lives Matter movement. This issue is still very timely, with racial crimes still occurring today. I only hope that our journalists can remain objective, like Derbeken did, and not add fuel to the fire. 

The article can be found here:

Mehserle says he fired after Grant made digging

Thoughts Pre-Serial Event

Thoughts before the:

SERIAL Podcast Event

Journalism’s Rescue of Justice

For decades the general public had confidence in the United States justice system, until a recent movement of journalism showing faults in past arrests or convictions. The journalistic investigation of the justice that had been served in cases from popular media like the SERIAL podcasts or the series Making A Murderer, creating doubt in the minds of the people. The integrity driven journalists can easily poke holes in the prosecution and find missed leads, forcing the readers to wonder why investigators are missing the mark.

The SERIAL podcast series is narrated by Sarah Koenig, the same woman who is doing much of the research and investigating. Season one focused on the 1999 murder of a young girl named Hae Min Lee, and her convicted ex-boyfriend Adnan Syed. One of the main issues in the case is that many people, including Syed, can’t remember what happened or where they were on the day in question. However, that’s only part of the problem. As Koenig digs deeper she beings to find leads that weren’t pursued, and after a little probing the story seems to change.

Adnan Syed was tried and convicted for the killing of his ex-girlfriend at the age of 18, he received a life-sentence for the crime. Now he is 34 years old and once again his case is in the spotlight, this time for different reasons. Koenig frequently calls Syed in prison to talk about the day in question, and it’s clear that they develop a bond through the process.

The relationship between the Koenig and Syed began to grow, and at times it felt difficult to hear her concede that maybe he was guilty. Koenig, like any journalist, was eager to follow leads that could exonerate Syed. But was that a passion for the truth, or a drive to free a prisoner?

Retiring a non-reality?

In his LA Times article titled, "Too Poor to Retire and Too Young to Die," author John M. Glionna tells a heartbreaking story of an almost 80-year old woman, struggling to make ends meet. Dolores Westfall, 79, has spent the past eight years traveling across the United States from job to job simply to stay afloat. With no option of retirement Westfall is forced to work everyday, something that separates her from most people her age. Although this is an increasing issue for many elderly Americans that were hit hard by the economic crash, the spotlight that Glionna places Westfall under tugs at the reader's heartstrings.
Glionna, a professor at UNLV, does an excellent job of showing the reader just how difficult life is for Westfall. His journalistic efforts to allow the reader to draw conclusions while remaining objective, are successful. He allows the reader to feel a connection, and builds trust with the reader by supplying facts about the other elderly Americans going through the same experience. His headline is catchy enough to draw attention, and readers anticipate that the story my be tragic, but they want to read anyway. I found that his angle of highlighting one case--instead of including a few separate cases--made the story feel much closer to home. The old adage: "The death of one man is a tragedy, the death of a million is a statistic," came to mind when I finished this piece because of how Glionna tells it. The focus on Westfall makes the emotions feel more intense than if I knew how many people were also going through the same thing. Overall, I found this to be an intriguing article with solid journalistic reporting that sends a message to many Americans about saving, work ethic, and what others may be going through.

Too Poor to Retire and Too Young to Die

When I was began thinking about this assignment, and which article I would begin with, I had trouble thinking about what I had read recently. After much deliberation I decided that I wouldn't select a new article, but instead one that I read almost two years ago that still resonates with me today. The article, titled 'A Most American Way to Die' from Rolling Stone's April 15, 2013 issue. The article focuses on the Stand Your Ground statute that was a major issue in Florida years ago.

I remember reading this piece when it was published in 2013, and I can recall being moved enough to want to learn more about the tragic death of the innocent Florida teenager. I think that one of the reasons I felt such a strong connection to this piece was the style of writing used by author Paul Solotaroff. Only nine months before this incident, Trayvon Martin was killed, sparking a rise of outrage from black communities across the United States.

For me, Solotaroff does a great job of providing information on the incident, including lots of detail, and he provides background information on the gun laws in Florida as well as past gun rights incidents in the state. As a journalist it is clear he is focused on the facts and finding the truth based on the evidence he provides, and it makes him that much more trustworthy. By giving more context, he allows the reader to complete the full picture in their mind and draw a conclusion for themselves.

The topic of gun control is very touchy especially with the major incident occurring in  Florida— not the liberal California that I grew up with. Compounded on that, is the racial tension that brought movements such as Black Lives Matter to light. Solotaroff, doesn't take a racial side. Which is important to me because if he did, his credibility would plummet. He remains objective in his writing, not allowing any bias to skew his words or thoughts.

After reading this article the first time, I thought about it for months. Today, years later, I am still passionate enough about the topic to find myself outraged at the events that took place. I respect the work of Rolling Stone, and this is one example that I think shows how journalistically focused they truly are. Sololtaroff does an excellent job of reporting the facts to the reader, allowing multiple angles to be shown, and remaining objective—three things that I think help make this such a strong piece of journalism.

Here is the article:
Rolling Stone: A Most American Way to Die