I chose to do my media critique on journalist Artemis Moshtaghian based on her story for CNN linked here https://www.cnn.com/2018/09/11/us/wanda-barzee-elizabeth-smart-kidnapping/index.html.
The major problem with this article is that it is not newsworthy. According to the first yardstick of journalism, the topic should have a lasting effect on a large group of people. This article is simply talking about a kidnapping in small-town Utah. Unless you personally knew any of the people involved or live in the town, you will probably forget about the article in a week or maybe within the day. Now, if this article was about a string of kidnapping around the country, or other nationwide matters then there would be no problem and it would be newsworthy. However, it is only effecting a few people in Utah therefore it is not an article suitable for CNN’s website and would be better placed in the local newspaper in Utah.
This article also violates the second AND third yardsticks of journalism. The journalist completely ignores the purpose of the third yardstick which is ‘not what, SO what”. The journalist writes that this criminal woman is going to be released from prison, but she does not explain why this matters to the people. Moshtaghian also includes NO sources whatsoever for her article which clearly violates the second yardstick of journalism. In conclusion, Moshtaghian should have cited her sources and explained to the readers why we should care about this article.
No comments:
Post a Comment