DEMOCRATS BAR GOP IRAQ ALTERNATIVE
This AP story on CBS focused on the difficult position the GOP lawmakers found themselvs in at the U.S. Congress. At issue is the debate on the nonbinding resolution put before the 435-member body. The resolution brought by Democrats opposes President Bush's plan to send additional 21,500 more U.S. troops to Iraq.
The writer did a good job with the lead. However in the second and sixth paragraph, the reporter's job of reporting the hard news changed. It was not her job to tell readers what Democrats are determined to achieve nor how they are to achieve their goal. It sounded like a commentary.
She put herself in the story. what is "Choreography of this week." Is this a substitute for exchanges between the Republicans and Democrats? "The tightly controlled approach to running the House is becoming a habit with Democrats", said who? "The dilemma is especially profound for newer members." Who told her that?
Read this story at:http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2007/02/13/ap/politics/mainD8N8V2PO0.shtml
REUTERS did a far better job with this story. The writer stay out of the story and did not assign nor use words such as dilemma, habit, choreography. Attributions, quotations, and other news mechanics were properly applied.
Read it http://www.reuters.com/article/topNews/idUSN0624701320070213?pageNumber=2
This story is a great example of an excellent NEWS.
Comments
Good job in putting your finger on some commentary by the reporter that some would say verged on editorializing.
"Choreography" could have some negative implications, as if the politicians are dancing around frivolously instead of facing the issue. Is that a valid observation? Perhaps, but as you correctly noted, the reporter ought to try to get sources to state that instead. I also agree with your taking note of "the dilemma is ..." If that sentence were immediately followed by her source, then it would probably be OK to write it as she did.
Great work; keep it up.
Posted by: Dan Bernard | February 18, 2007 10:20 PM