The Evolution of the Lede
To me, my growth as a journalistic writer is most apparent in the evolution of my ledes. Since beginning to write news, I've struggled to deviate from the traditional, five-paragraph essay I have been taught for so long. When working with staffers on writing, I occasionally reference some of my past ledes in contrast to the ones I pen today to express the importance of immediately engaging and informing your reader. Below are two excerpts from two respective feature articles written at different points in my writing career.
From "Mom Before Prom", published Feb. 22, 2017 as written for The Cedar Post
Teen pregnancies occur in every community and are well understood in the realm of statistical analysis. The factors that can cause them and their implications in society have been studied for years. However, young women who unexpectedly become teen mothers can assure you: the statistics are so much more than numbers. Carrying a child as a teenager is stressful on the body itself and is also incredibly taxing emotionally. In our society, teen pregnancy is looked down upon and criticized, making the experience all the more arduous. Brielle Cecil, who gave birth to her daughter Claire at age 17 last year, experienced this societal chastisement firsthand during her pregnancy. Full article posted here. |
From "High-Flying Role Model", published Aug. 10, 2017 as written for The Sandpoint Reader
Jacquie Warda’s EXTRA 300 aerobatic monoplane is firetruck red, spangled with silver stars and branded with the phrase, “Ladies, it’s time to fly!” When you’re one of the top tier aerobatic pilots in the nation, flying in style is essential. Full article posted here. |
In "Mom Before Prom", my real lede doesn't even appear until the third and fourth paragraphs, where I cite a subject directly with a poignant quote. In "High-Flying Role Model", I expressed the essence of the article's subject Jacquie Warda succinctly. I still struggle at times with ledes, but I've improved significantly over time in deviating from the formatting of long-winded essay introductions.
OPINION: Addressing Consent
As we brainstormed the February Edition, the Cedar Post's two opinion editors agreed that they wanted to add some more hard-hitting takes on current events. I suggested discussing the recent allegations against comedian Aziz Ansari and drafted a story, After both opinion editors read over the story, I also ran it by my managing editor and web editor to polish my prose and argument. I heard a lot of feedback from students, parents and teachers alike — both positive and negative. To me, that's an indication that I did my job well as an editorial writer: I made people think.
Allegations against comedian Aziz Ansari reflect broader cultural norms I love Aziz Ansari. I’m an avid fan of his Netflix sitcom “Master of None”, and his role as the lovable Tom Haverford on NBC’s “Parks and Recreation”. His New York Times Bestseller “Modern Romance” can be found affectionately dogeared in my headboard among my most treasured titles. I was ecstatic when he became the first Asian-American to win a Golden Globe for Best Actor in a TV show this year. When allegations of sexual misconduct surfaced against him a few weeks ago, I was infuriated and confused. Mostly, I was deeply saddened. On Jan. 13, the website Babe published an article titled “I went on a date with Aziz Ansari. It turned into the worst night of my life”. The piece exploded immediately. The 3,000-word article meticulously recounted an anonymous woman’s unpleasant evening with Ansari, a date marked with aggressive and persistent sexual behavior that left her crying on her Uber ride home in Sept. 2017. The woman, going by the name Grace, described her feelings of violation and objectification as she affirmed her discomfort through “verbal and nonverbal cues” throughout the sexual encounter. The comedian issued a statement through his publicist in response to the allegations shortly after the article was released. He acknowledged his date with Grace, and held that the evening was “by all indications...completely consensual.” He issued his support for “the movement that is happening in our culture.” After studying sexual assault as a cultural norm, I have every reason to believe Grace’s story. Still, I can’t help but look for any reason to preserve my positive perception of someone I once considered a role model. An especially stinging element of the allegations mounted against Ansari is their striking contradiction to the comedian’s brand. Aziz built his career on the image of the “woke”, sensitive alternative to the average douchey-bro. He explored themes of sexual assault, misogyny and racism in “Master of None” and examined sexual and relationship dynamics in “Modern Romance”. Feminism has been a consistent theme in both his television roles and his stand-up comedy — in fact, in a stand-up special at Madison Square Garden, he performed a set focused on the prevalence of “creepy dudes” in society and their inappropriate conduct. When Ansari sported a Times Up pin at the Golden Globes, Grace was apparently motivated to come forward with her story. Setting Aside Weinstein’s and Spacey’s decades of alleged abuse, Ansari’s misconduct seems petty. It seems normal. It seems like Grace was but a mere scorned woman disappointed seeking revenge for her disappointing date with a celebrity she admired. Many have slammed Grace’s decision to come forward to Babe, insisting that Grace was overly sensitive and deluded to equivocate her experience with that of other sexual abuse victims. I agree completely that Grace’s alleged experience shouldn’t be compared with the systemic, grotesque abuses of power exposed in Hollywood. But I don’t understand why we need to compare them. Sexual violence exists not in black and white, but in infinite shades of grey. Violation is violation. Grace’s story doesn’t comply with legal definitions nor social perceptions of sexual assault, but it wasn’t a consensual encounter either. It exists in the space inbetween. And that space is, for the most part, uncharted territory. I applaud Hollywood’s effort to finally expose and expel its heinous and habitual abusers, but it’s only the beginning. It’s easy to eradicate the tumors and hope everything is solved. What’s more difficult is examining the root cause behind the illness. Grace’s allegations against Ansari are reflective of a broader culture defined by traditional relationship dynamics and conceptions of sex. Her story recalls similar experiences of grey-area sexual encounters for amasses of its readers. The familiarity of the story is the problem. We need to emphasize the importance and the necessity of enthusiastic consent in all sexual interactions. Tackling deeply-ingrained and widely-accepted fallacies of relationships and sex is a lot more difficult than reckoning with a handful of standout offenders. As for Ansari — needless to say, he’s no longer my idol, but his sexual behavior isn’t shocking to me. Everyone is susceptible to the influence of decades of traditional sexual dynamics that undervalue the feelings of the female participants. No one is immune to society’s widespread disregard of affirmed consent. I suppose he’s gotten what he asked for when he branded himself as a feminist and ally to women tired of creepy dudes: a place in the discussion. Article posted here. |
It Takes a Village
I wrote this feature during my internship at Keokee Media and Marketing for the winter edition of Sandpoint Magazine. I conducted my interview with Crooks via phone and email, so I spent ample time familiarizing myself with Uryadi's Village via their website until I felt properly acquainted with the organization enough to capture its essence in the article.
I thought, I can’t adopt all the children in the world, as much as I’d like to, so what can I do instead?” |
Sandpoint Family Spans across the Globe
For Sandpoint mom Jennifer Crooks, road trips with the kids are quite the affair: her husband Mike and 18-year-old son Hunter pilot the family’s two RVs, while she drives the passenger van. With 16 members, the Crooks travel as their own little fleet. Jennifer is the mother of 14 children — two biological, two stepchildren, and the remaining ten, adopted. “I have always wanted to have an international family, ever since I was young,” Crooks said. She and her husband fulfilled this dream in 2003, with the adoption of their daughter Sophie. When picking Sophie up from her birthplace in China, Jennifer was exposed to the tragic plight of international orphans living in dire conditions. Immediately, she knew she had to help. “I thought, I can’t adopt all the children in the world, as much as I’d like to, so what can I do instead?” she said. This was the beginning of what is now Uryadi’s (Your-add-ees) Village, a non-profit, self-sustaining orphanage in Ethiopia, the fruition of Crooks’ expansive motherly love. A successful equestrian, Jennifer named the orphanage after her competition horse and companion, Uryadi. Crooks eventually took a class in international development and permaculture, the foundation of agricultural ecosystems designed to be sustainable and self-sufficient. “We were able to combine the idea of an orphanage and permaculture” - the foundation of agricultural ecosystems designed to be sustainable and self-sufficient - “to create a self-sustaining model,” Crooks said. She was inspired after taking a class in international development and permaculture. Now, the village produces all of the food and energy needed by its inhabitants, and hopes to eventually produce enough food to share with the greater community. This model is very successful. In three years, Uryadi’s Village has expanded from 18 children to 68. Crooks hopes the impact of this model will spread throughout the rest of eastern Africa, resulting in improvements to communities that will resonate throughout the world. Uryadi’s Village has been working in cooperation with the Ethiopian government, and recently received approval for expansion. “I’m grateful to have founded Uryadi’s Village and grateful to be in it, but it’s much bigger than me. The Sandpoint team is absolutely amazing,” Crooks said. “It takes a village, and we have one!” |