STORY CRITIQUE/Caleb Waldron 1
Critique of 10/19/2007 New York Times Piece “Bomb Attack Kills Scores in Pakistan as Bhutto Returns”
KALAMAZOO, Mich. 10/19/2007- I find this to be an extremely powerful article because of its use of structure and the order of its content. This article weaves together separate moods and pieces of information in such a way that the reader is drawn into the work, thereby conveying a large amount of information without creating a sense of boredom. The lede sets a fast-paced, informative tempo- the basic descriptions of time and place are encapsulated in a brief, to-the-point paragraph. But the motivations behind the car-bombing, or any sense of context in regards to the targeted victim, are left unaddressed until the fourth paragraph, where there’s reference to Benazir Bhutto’s political career. Because this paragraph only grazes the subject of possible motivations behind the attack, the reader is drawn further still into the piece. And the next few paragraphs certainly capture their attention- descriptions of the crowd, of the explosion’s devastating effect, and of a juxtaposition with comparatively uplifting/inspiring descriptions of Ms. Bhutto’s arrival creates a sense of drama and intrigue that easily holds the reader’s attention. Finally, towards the end of the piece, there’s an analysis of the event’s overall motivations and ramifications in regards to tensions between the Pakistani government and the Pakistan Peoples’ Party. By this time, the reader has received an in-depth, humanized, detailed description of an event that would seem sterile, alien, and statistics-oriented in the words of a less talented writer.
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Source:
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/19/world/asia/19pakistan.html?ref=todayspaper&page
wanted=print
2 comments:
I think you chose a very interesting article to analyze. It is capturing, and indeed a newsworthy event, unlike much of what gets published. I think that your description of it is educated and accurate as well. Bravo.
I agree that this was a very intriguing article, and I think your analysis is spot-on. I think the pictures helped a lot, too, in humanizing the story.
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