Sounding Interesting Without Being Sensational

It is most definitely possible to make a story interesting without making it sensational. Making a story interesting is all about how the journalist writes the story. There are many tools and methods a journalist can use to do this. 

After reading and discussion in class, these are some of the methods I think are really helpful:

 Show instead of tell. We have talked a lot in class about how showing is much more interesting than telling. Good descriptive words and phrases help the reader enter the setting of the story. When in the story, the reader is much more likely to care about what he/she is reading. Did you know Wikipedia has a page called “Show, don’tell”?

Use Interviews. Another tool used by journalists is interviews. Interviews provide an inside look at what someone may be thinking or feeling. Emotion brings a huge element of interest to a story.

Be aware of the length. The length of a story can make a big difference in how interesting it is. Even a very intriguing story can lose the attention of readers if it seems never-ending. On the other hand, stories that are too short may not delve deep enough into the issue to really get the reader’s attention.

These are just some of the ways that a journalist can make a story interesting without compromising the facts of story. 

Why tell the story when you can show it so much better?

 

When a journalist fulfills his/her duty of informing the people, there is always a reaction to what is reported. Without providing a public forum, where people can express their responses and ideas, a journalist can inform the public, but cannot guarantee freedom and self-government. Information alone does not make one free. Freedom and self-governing comes with voice and action, and that is what a public forum provides citizens. Without a “marketplace of ideas," the people's ability to voice their opinions is limited. With a public forum, however, they are enabled to act rather than being acted upon. Soon, the citizen’s role becomes less passive and more active. The world needs more involved citizens, and that is what public forums encourage.

 

Public forums do have some downsides. Because they are so easy for anyone to access, discussions turn into debates and unproductive arguing. Part of the role of a journalist, when providing a public forum, is to monitor the forum. A good and beneficial forum is factual, diverse, and truthful. The journalist has the role of a mediator which means they must stay unbiased and encourage compromise.

CreateDebate  is an example of a public forum that is probably more of a debate room than it is a sophisticated discussion. People are encouraged to ask controversial questions and everyone digs into it. VTdigger is a better example of a beneficial forum. They have factual news and places to leave comments.

 

The watchdog role can be weakened or is can be magnified by investigative reporting. Broken Homes: Where Hope Dies, an investigative report in the New York Times written by Clifford J. Levy, could be considered exceptional in its watchdog efforts. The story is one of a facility that supposedly took care of disabled people. The journalist uncovered a sad truth: what was once a home of hope for disabled people soon became a house of neglect and abuse. Inappropriate and illegal activities such as prostitution, drug dealing, and beatings took place daily. One worker said when residents died, they gave their Social Security numbers to illegal immigrants they hired. Levy, with the help of New York Times, uncovered these monstrosities going on inside. It took more than 10 visits to the facility, over 50 interviews with residents and workers, and the studying of over 500 pages of state inspection reports and government documents to uncover the horrific truth. The facility created false records for inspections and although there were obviously problems, the state was not taking action. 

Investigative reporting that sheds light on issues such as this one makes the public aware of what is going on. This increases the probability of someone taking action and making a change. It also increases the probability that justice will be served by those who are guilty. This is an outstanding example of the importance and potential of good investigative reporting.