Update on "People Watching"

From my “People Watching” entry, I think that the best observation to make into a story number 9: “Speaking of unattended children, how many parents just drop off their kids at the mall?”

I would do this article by asking mall security and store managers what kind of issues they have had with this issue. If I’m feeling rather “investigative reporter-y,” I might catch a parent dropping off their child and ask them why they are doing this.

The Line on "The War"

The line of the “The War” is personal accounts. Ken Burns wanted to make sure that this epic was different than any other film done on WWII, and he did that by relying heavily on personal accounts. Burns did not want a “historical analysis;” in fact, he mentioned that the only people who were allowed to appear were those who were either in the war or those who were waiting for someone to come back from the war.

People Watching

I would like to start off by saying that making 25 different observations was rather difficult. That being said, here's what I found:

1. It appears that that guy shaves his head because he's going bald, not because he thinks he looks cool, since part of his head is stubbly (is that even a word?), and part is smooth and shiny.

2. That couple just bought a new cell phone; they are looking over the owner's manual.

3. That young couple is on a date.

4. So is that old couple.

5. That guy doesn't think anyone sees him picking his nose.

6. That guy just tripped and is trying to play it off.

7. Is this her first week on the job? She looks scared.

8. It's amazing to see the amount of kids go off to Aladdin's Castle once they are done eating.

9. Speaking of unattended children, how many parents just drop off their kids at the mall?

10. There's a girl's soccer team. Did they win?

Unfortunately, those were the only observations I was able to make.

Surprise Party!

Not really. However, the third chapter in Murray's text is all about surprise. I think that the first paragraph really sums up his idea of surprise:

"The best writers seek surprise, delight in what they do not expect to find. They come to the story with a focus, an expectation, but they treasure the contradiction, the traitor fact, the quotation that goes against the grain, the unexpected that reveals."

I also found his "study" that he did while at the supermarket to be rather interesting, as well. While none of these observations would make for a very good story, it shows that he always has his eye out for when a story does present itself.

Tips for Professional Writing Students

Who woulda thunk that reading a book on journalism would show one ways to improve their writing skills?

There are two main points that I would like to bring up from chapter 2.

First off, Murray gives a few tips on editing your own writing. Personally, I hardly edit myself. I'll glance over something I've written, but I don't put it under a microscope.

The next one was during an interview with David Arnold. In it, Arnold gives rules and principles to try to follow when writing, one of them being "don't lead with a quote." While this is not common practice for me, I have lead with a quote before, if I thought that what the person said was more interesting and informative than I would have come up with.

The Marvelous Mehegan Interview

There are two quotes that I found to be very helpful in the David Mehegan interview. The first one, Mehegan is asked how he prepares for interviews. This is his response:

I need to know enough about what I’m writing about so that I don’t
ask questions that make me look foolish. … But I do not worry
about being ignorant because my theory is that we are all professional
ignoramuses, it’s our job not to know something and then to find it out.

Overall, what Mehegan is saying here is that one must go in with enough information about the interviewee to know what questions to ask.

The next jewel of information is about voice. Mehegan says:

I try to write every story with such a voice and tone that the reader is
aware that here is a person on this side of the keyboard. … Without
being excessively colloquial, I try to tell the story as I would if I were
telling it to someone standing next to me at a bar or at a party.

I find that the stories written the way Mehegan describes is a more entertaining read that the “conventional” way. He goes on to say that sometimes, whether it be a lack of time or the severity of a story, a writer must tell a story using raw facts.

Donald Murray

“Good writing may be magical, but it's not magic. It's a process, a rational series of steps and decisions that all writers take.”

This is a quote from late journalist Donald Murray. I had never even heard of Murray until Doc made this assignment. It was very interesting to read this obituary, as morbid as that sounds.

It was truly an inspiring story. To think that he would pass up a promotion just because he wanted to continue to challenge himself is amazing.

Then I started to read some of his columns. The columns were entertaining to read, as they kind of told his life story along the way. His last column, which was basically a “thank you” to all of his friends, almost makes one wonder if he had any idea that he was that close to death.

All in all, Murray’s life – and his work – is something to be admired. To still do what you love doing right up until the end should be something that everyone should try to achieve.