COM 209: Good 'color story' on Obama

It's been a while since it ran, but the online edition of The American Prospect had an excellent example of a "color story," which I define as a story that uses description and quotes to convey what it's like to be there at an event. Plus it's about Sen. Barack Obama's presidential announcement, an event many of you wrote up in February. So you'll be able to make comparisons. It's by Phoebe Connelly, editor of In These Times, a politically liberal magazine.

Notice how she combines description and quotation in a downtown Springfield bar:

At the Alamo II, a bar near the corner of 5th and Washington, Mike McCarthy ducked inside with his 11-year-old son, Will, to use the restroom and warm up. "I'm looking for leadership at the presidential and congressional level that is looking beyond the sound bite, beyond the next political poll," he said. McCarthy is a member of the Marine Reserves who served a tour in Iraq during the initial invasion in 2003. He usually votes Republican, but Obama's buzz has him considering voting Democratic. One of his concerns is the way the Iraq war is being handled, but he doesn't think leaving now is the answer. Most Americans, he feels, don't give enough thought to the complexity of developing a working democracy. "We've got a culture that's very short-sighted, many people have already put 9/11 behind them."

McCarthy was one of many out that morning who invoked the idea of being a part of history. "Will and I will look back and say, 'Hey, remember the time we went to Springfield and saw Senator Obama?'"

The bar was serving hot coffee for $2, but many customers opted for something stronger. Three young men, who'd decided a pitcher of beer was their best chance of staving off the cold, sat in the window. They were all seniors at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. "I've never gone to a political rally before," said Kyle Mullen, "none of us have. It's the first time, and it's specifically because of him. Black people, white people -- everyone is a fan of him."

Better yet, read her in the original. Follow the link above.