Somebody - I forget who - told me when I started reporting for newspapers I'd get the best stories by "working the edges of the crowd" at an event. I think it was an older, more experienced reporter, or it may have been the editor of the county-seat weekly that published my first city council meeting writeups. The idea was simple: Journalists hunt in packs, and if you want your stories to stand out you've got to follow the pack ... but you can keep a little distance, too, so you can spot somebody on the edge of the crowd who's got a story to tell that relates to the main story but is just a little bit different. Sometimes it'll give you a fresh slant on the main story that everybody else is slapping out with the same old who-what-where-when routine, and sometimes it'll give you a sidebar.
Linked below is a perfect example.
In all the coverage of the upcoming 10th anniversary of 9/11, there's a little jewel of a Yahoo! Studios story with text by *New Yorker Stacy Curtin on the owner of a shoe shop that was located in the World Trade Center. Curtin and Peter Gorenstein were producers of the video, which as shot by Grace Brailsford-Cato, and edited by Marjoe Aguiling and Martin Goetz. Link here:
http://news.yahoo.com/shop-owner-battles-back-after-9-11-destroys-business-brings-400-000-debt.htmlAsk yourself: How does this sidebar about the Greek-American shop owner tell the story of 9-11? What does it suggest about the American way of life? The American dream? How would you tell the guy's story? Post your answers as comments to this post.
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* Here's why I say Stacy Curtin is a New Yorker: Toward the end of the story, she says the shoe shop's "customers come from all over the city and the outer boroughs." That's the way people in New York City talk. Manhattan is "the city," and the other four boroughs - Brooklyn, Queens, the Bronx and Staten Island - are collectively known as the outer boroughs. She's originally from Wisconsin, but she's got a good ear for the local dialect in New York City. It's pitch-perfect in this story. See what you can learn about Curtin and what it tells you about the kinds of careers people find today in the communications industry.
14 comments:
I think that this was a very insightful video. It shows that no matter how much destruction 9/11 caused, it didn't give people the desire to give up. They fought back for their freedom and jobs. I believe Minas is a ver brave man for staying in the area he remained in for more than thirty years. The Twin Towers may be gone, but the place of his heart won't be. He cares a lot about it and treasures the memories that were made. Comment by Allie Ladage
How does this sidebar about the Greek-American shop owner tell the story of 9-11? What does it suggest about the American way of life? The American dream? How would you tell the guy's story?
It shows the resilience of New Yorkers after that day.
It suggests that Americans are strong and determined to get back to what they know is possible.
I would tell his story by showing the way the shop was before, and talking to more than just one customer. Then I would show what the shop is like now, and talk about the customers he lost. What does he want to return from before 9/11 in regards to his shop? Are they in a different location now?
This video of the Greek-American Shop Owner shows how someone who lived through September 11, 2001 and what happened during that time. He saw mnay of his friends and customers get killed that day, he is still trying to keep his business going. He ran into problems after 9/11 because people were not coming in to his shoe shop or that area. He knows that is where he is suppose to be though and business is building up. Its the rebuild after 10 years of this occuring. This guys dream was to have this shoe shop and he will continue to work hard for it even through the hard times and will not give up on what he wants and has worked for all this time in life. To tell this gentlemans story is one many should be seeing it shows that he has hope after all that has happened and after the disaster.
This story is heart breaking. This Greek man, who ran his business in the United States, in the neighborhood of so many Americans and so many non-americans has worked so hard to achieve his own American Dream. His dream came true. He was a successful business owner in the heart of New York. He made friends with many of his customers. He had loyal customers, and he was loyal to his customers. On September 11, 2001 his dream was challenged. When the twin towers were attacked, his business along with 750 other businesses were devastated. However, Minas didn't give up. He was determined to stay in that location and reopen. And he did just that. He is still remembered in the neighborhood and always will be.
I think the story was told perfectly. It had the ability to catch anybody's attention, and keep it. This story shows that if you have a dream, it can be achieved.
I have been to New York the past three summers post 9/11. Although people say New Yorkers are rude and always in a rush you can still see the helping hand and sacrifice they made whether it was mentally, emotionally, or physically on 9-11-01. They are not the type to give up, nor is America. We are the melting pot for a reason and that reason is to live our own American dream. The Greek-American is only a part of that melting pot and showed everyone around him no matter how close he is to ground zero life must go on.
The sidebar about the greek-american shoe shop owner says much about 9/11 and how it affected New Yorkers and Americans in general. Firstly, it portrays how diverse the victims of 9/11 are. The story of Minas Polychronakis is certainly unique and not stereotypical of any American. However, his story also outlines how determined the people of Manhattan were to rebuild what was destroyed of their lives on 9/11. This story uses "working the edges" to shoe how one large event can affect the lives of everyday Americans in different ways, and it also shows how determined the victims were to rebuild their lives.
I found Minas Polychronakis’s story extremely touching. It showed not only the images we have seen continually over the years on the television or in print but showed a more personal side of the terrorist attack. It tells a story of strong will and dedication. He had the option to move to a location where many of the other businesses were relocating to and decided against it because of his ties to the area. The area had been good to him in the past and Minas seems to feel that his loyal customers and friends will continue to support his as time goes on. He had accomplished his American dream at the World Trade Center and his dream is to carry on his lifelong endeavor just there, at ground zero.
This is a fresh perspective on 9/11. Not many people have reported on the people who worked at the trade center. Minas was strong and fought to keep his dream alive in downtown Manhatten.
This sidebar tells of the family-run business and what one man went through and his continuing struggle to make it after 9/11. It tells a story of 9/11 by showing how a smaller business was affected and how this man’s personal life has been altered.
It suggests that Americans are perseverant. Even though he was affected personally and financially, he still had hope that his dream could be returned to him through hard work. That is the American dream. We are told that if we work hard, life will be fruitful.
I think how the story was told was very powerful. I would tell this story by including more customer interviews and maybe have him talk more about his specific struggles.
Passion prevails; tragedy be damned. When a man's life crumbles, sometimes literally, around you, he has two options: roll over and die, or build back from the beginning. Minas is a epitomizes the American spirit, Greek accent and all. It's not about how hard you can hit. It'Rocky said it best, "ain't about how hard you hit... It's about how hard you can get hit, and keep moving forward... how much you can take, and keep moving forward." (Rocky Balboa)
This sidebar story tells the story of 9/11 from a totally different perspective than what we are used to. We are used to hearing about the physical pain that was caused and the death that happened that day, but this story explains that these attacks did more than just physically destroy lives, it also destroyed livelihood. However, it never destroyed this man's determination and ambition.
I think this story suggests that the American way of life is too strong of a force to allow one horrendous tragedy and act of cowardice to uproot our very way of thinking. Minos personifies the American Dream in that he will do whatever is necessary to regain his foothold and continue to succeed in a dangerous and unpredictable world. I think this story was written beautifully. It was heartfelt and real, and it gave a fresh perspective to a tragedy that effected an enitre nation.
Minas gave us a look into how 9/11 directly impacted his life and those around him. He gives us a understanding of the American dream, he never gave up. After all that has happened, he still wants to go back to ground zero and re-open his shoe store. That is a sign for the American people.
His story should told as an eye opener for America. He looked devistation in the face and beat it. That is what his story should be.
I really thought that the video about the Greek shop owner really painted a vivid picture of how everyday Americans were affected by September 11th. I think it took a different look than most of the stories we see regarding that tragic day, in that it looked at how he was indirectly affected not just how he was directly affected. Just like we normally see the man lost many friends and customers in the attacks of September 11th. What was different though was how over the course of the next few years fear took its toll on his business. Everyone was too scared to come out and patronize his business. No matter how bad it got, the man stayed where he belonged and would not be beaten by the terrorists. I think he showed a great example of the resilience of the American people. It was a good insight on how everyday people were affected by the tragic events of September 11th.
Minas gives us a firsthand look on how 9/11 affected not only himself but the people in his neighborhood. After watching interviews from Minas and members of his community, it is apparent how important unity and loyalty is to Minas.
He believes the aftermath of 9/11 strengthened the bonds between members of his neighborhood. Minas is determined to re-open his shoe store despite the conflict and hardships he has had to deal with, this is a direct reflection of his character.
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