Roger Ailes, controversial CEO of Fox News, is one of the most interesting guys in the business. A political operative who helped elect Republican presidents from Richard Nixon through George W. Bush, he's reinvented cable network television with a "fair and balanced" approach that aims for a carefully targeted market segment - i.e. people who think the other networks are unfair and unbalanced - and unfailing showbiz instinct for what it takes to dazzle an audience.
He was interviewed by Howard Kurtz of the Daily Beast/Newsweek conglomorate. Longtime media reporter for the Washington Post, Kurtz is - I think - one of the few truly objective political writers in the business.
Let's see how he puts together an article in this week's print copy of Newsweek headed "Roger's Reality Show" (the headline is Newsweek's). Ask yourself:
Who did Kurtz talk to in order to get the story? How many different people? What kinds of information did he get from each? What details by direct observation during the interviews? What details did he get by reading? How long would you guess it took himato get all these details in the story? What do the details add to the story?
Is Kurtz' story hard news, soft news or a combination? Why do you say that? Does it have a hard lede or a soft lede? What is the tone of her story? Does he seem factual? Objective? Does he express an opinion? Where?
Does Kurtz use "literary" techniques in writing the story? If so, what are they?
1 comment:
By reading all of the comments people have made at the end of the article, this story has obviously caused great mixed emotion. To get this story, Kurtz worked very hard, closely with many politicians. President Obama is included in this mix. He got opinions, political stances, comments and concerns from various right winged and left winged followers. Kurtz has to keep reading and be up to date on his info to write stories such as this one. He is very educated.
I think this is a combination of a hard news story and a soft news story. The interview portion, and quotes are hard news. I like that it is a combination because this stuff is important! I like the comments and quotes he included and I like how many people he contacted to make this story. I think the lede is soft, but creative. The tone of this story is mediated. There are parts where it gets very intense because at some times I feel that he 'jumps the gun' with his questions. But he tries to remain neutral, I think. I feel that both Kurtz and the writer express a little opinion in this story. When she mentions Fox, she states that "Fox has created a reality tv show with the built in combat needed to win viewers." Its a good story. Good techniques and I like the slight humor in the interview questions Kurtz came up with.
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