Feature Story

This story talked about the prohibition laws in Chicago. The Title said We Got Beer Back! It spoke on how crazy things were in Chicago when beer was prohibited. The writer touched on how it affected businesses and people as a whole.

"Naturally, the nation's brewers agreed whole-heartedly with that logic. Prohibition had all but destroyed their industry."

"Those who are obeying the law are being ground to pieces by its very operation, while those who are violating the law are reaping unheard-of rewards. Every rule of justice has been reversed."

People were murdering, crime increased, etc, due to this law. This just let me know that there were alot of alcoholics in the past that had not been diagnosed with alcoholism.

Eventually prohibition was reversed. the writer spoke on how people reacted to the change.
"Once all of the ballyhoo of New Beer's Eve and New Beer's Day had subsided, beer drinkers and brewers awoke to a sobering reality."

"Heavy taxation of beer, however, is not Prohibition's only surviving legacy. A strong regulatory environment was also a key component of
repeal."

The story also talked about the difference in the prices from before the prohibition and after.
"But, without question, the most critical legacy of America's dry era is the wisdom offered by its monumental failure."

The Line

"The Line is a fragment of language-sometimes a single word, often a phrase or series of words, rarely a sentence-that makes me follow it.

The elements in a line have Tension, Conflict, Irony, Energy, Play, Discovery, Music, Form, and Ease.
I believe that the line for the 'War' trailer focused on the negative aspects of the war. There were lots of personal horror stories. The producers/writers wanted the viewers to get a feel for how horrible that time really was.

There was alot of time and work that went into this film. I was surprised at the number of people that were still living.

I believe that when the producers ( creative people) first started this project, they were pretty open to whatever information they could find. I don't think that they had a specific line that they wanted to cover. I believe that they found their line after recieving their information. I'm sure the finished product surprisede them; It went beyond their expectations!

I believe that their points of tension were in the personal stories and the images. These are the things that kept my eye.

What is Poverty and the Subsequent Affects on the Child

In order to write a great story on poverty and children, I would obtain my information via interviews. I would interview children and their parents. I would interview those parents who were poverty stricken as children. After interviewing both groups, I would compare the answers.

I believe that with this topic I have to be open for surprise. I believe that the only problem I would have is getting honest answers from the parents. I think that the children will be very open and honest.

In order to prepare for the interview, I would first find out the demographics. I have to know where the most povery stricken people are. I would make sure that I have educated myself on the topic and then I would ask people for their concent to interview. I would make sure that I have proper recording equipment.

The List!

1. How do you keep toddlers occupied while cleaning the house!
2. Why do toddlers love Dora and Blues Clues.
3. Is "The Baby Channel" really good for a baby?
4. How important is reading to your child?
5. Do toddlers really know what you are reading to them or are they just fascinated with the pictures?
6. Is yelling at your child really neccesary sometimes?
7 Neighboorhood Watch- What does that really mean?
8. Techniques that single, young adults use to keep safe?
9. The bind between mother and son.
10. Is moving away from parents a stress reducer?
11. How much time and money does it take to host a free block party?
12. How can you keep campus clean?
13. Male Ego- Does it ever stop rising and can the woman bring it down?
14. What is marital equality?
15. "House Husbands" Are they becoming more common?
16 Is being a "House Husband" OK.
17. What is poverty and how does it affect the child?
18. Why are African American Churches so loud?

Surprise

Murry said that "The best writer's seek surprise." Good writers expect the unexpected. They have a main purpose when it comes to reporting but "they treasure the contradictions...the unexpected that reveals." Murry makes it clear that he is very open to change. He feels that a good journalist has to be receptive to "the quotations that goes against the grain."

"Writing is a lifetime act of self-displacement."

"The more professional we become, the greater the danger that we will see what we expect to see."

Interview

“What you loose in juicy quotes you often gain in deepened understanding which is the much more important thing in the long run.”

I believe understanding what you are writing about is very important. If the writer doesn’t understand what he/ she is writing about, then the story will be nothing but quotes. To a reader, the story would be a bunch of words thrown on a piece of paper. Understanding opens the door for great detail.

“Collecting details is not difficult; seeing them often is.”
I agreed with this answer because I have a problem seeing detail.

Unexpected discoveries are the raw materials of vitality in a story.”
This is very true. I believe that every new writer should be taught to be open for surprises. I even feel that they should be taught to look for surprises. Expect the unexpected!


He also said that when he feels that something is boring and feels that his writers feel the same; this thought drives him. He said, “This leads to twists and variations and odd leads, which are all to the good.”

This was interesting because I believe that most beginner writers have this belief that everything they cover will be interesting and exciting. He makes it clear that not beat will be fun. You have to make the story interesting.


When He was asked about whether he used an outline and organized his notes. He said No…I do push all the other crap out of the way.” I liked his response to that question because it reminded me of you/ your office. This means that you’re a great writer!!! LOL!

“I think stories should end and not simply stop.”
I agree, The ending is just as important as the body.

“I think we should be intelligent in our approach to what we do, not in the sense of braininess, but in the sense of espionage.”

This is a very important piece of information because how the writer interprets the information is usually how it will be expressed to readers.