Baghdad Blast Kills 130
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/02/04/world/middleeast/04iraq.html?ref=world
The New York Times, "At Least 125 Killed in Blast at Baghdad Market," article talks about the massive casualties inflicted by a suicide bomber who detonated a ton of explosives in the middle of a bustling Baghdad market Saturday.
I thought the lead for this story effectively balanced strong verbs and vital information to create a strong opening. I also liked how the author took a broader perspective regarding the political/social impact of the bombing, emphasizing the volatile sectrarian atmosphere between Sunni's and Shiite's. Quotes like, “Maliki and the Americans are the sons of dogs because they do nothing to protect us. also reveal the extent of the anger evident in the Iraqi population towards the U.S., and indicate the extent of the violence likely to continue.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/02/03/AR2007020300410.html
An article by the Washington Post covering the same story used a slightly more concise and hard news lead. Unlike the New York Times coverage, the Post writer chooses to focus exclusively on the details surrounding the market blast, neglecting to underline the spectre of retaliatory attacks.
Although some of the quotes used in the Washington Post article were more unique and revealing, I thought the wider prospective afforded by the New York Times made their article stronger. While the Post writer clearly chose to focus on one aspect, he does not provide important detail lacking in the Times report. Ultimately, the Post article has less content.