OBESITY WEIGHS HEAVILY ON HEALTH, LIFESPAN

Source: http://news.smh.com.au/breaking-news-world/obesity-weighs-heavily-on-health-lifesp-20100804-115nu.html

Image taken from:
http://www.diseaseproof.com/uploads/image/obese%20women%20colros%20text.jpg

According to a new study, the rising rate of obesity in the US is detrimentally cutting short the number of years Americans live in good health.

This is a hard news story, providing relevant facts and statistical information to substantiate its claims. It is timely, new and has human interest. The source is reputable and credible - the story was taken from the SMH website and the study was conducted by American Journal of Preventive Medicine.

What I found interesting in this piece is the angle. It specifically draws from the study the ethnic distinctions derived from the study. African American women were most likely to be obese and lost the most quality years of life due to obesity than any other race, rising from 25 per cent in 1993 to 41 per cent in 2008.

The story is an informative piece, informing its readers that high obesity rates is correlated to poor dietary behaviours and sedentary activity. It also provides readers with information of the health ramifications and risks associated with obesity such as high blood pressure, diabetes, heart disease and stroke. The story has impact (covering one of the key news values of journalism) as it is a health issue that affects a lot of people nationally according to the latest trends and statistics on the growing rate of obesity. 

What the story has failed to do is provide quotes from various sources. There is only one quote from the author who conducted this study. It would have been helpful and interesting if the story provided views from someone who is suffering from obesity or is overweight. This could have personalised and humanised the angle of the story.


The story could have also provided views from doctors and dieticians, who could have provided lifestyle choice and medical advice as well as preventative measures as to how to curb the growing obesity rate in America.


Quotes from the Health Minister in the US or a relevant spokesperson from the health department could have also provided information for readers as to what is being done on a policy-making level in relation to this issue.

Another criticism of the story is that despite providing relevant percentage figures, it should have informed its readers as to how many participants were in the study conducted between 1993-2008, so readers can better comprehend the magnitude of the problem. 

HARDER FOR WOMEN TO SLEEP

Source: http://www.smh.com.au/lifestyle/wellbeing/harder-for-women-to-sleep-20090407-9xmo.html

Image taken from:

http://www.calmnatural.co.uk/files/1908276/uploaded/InsomniaWoman.jpg

A recent poll for the US National Sleep Foundation has found that many women are struggling to get an adequate amount of sleep, which appears to worsen as they progress through each stage of their life from youth to pregnancy, motherhood and menopause.

The article is a colour news story. Rather than beginning the story with facts and the 5 W’s and 1 H (what, when, who where, why, how), it opens with a nice visual description/scene, and rhetorical questions that make the reader ponder and reflect. This is effective as it engages the reader’s interest. The colour introduction makes the story more appealing and interesting as opposed to just a news story intro that simply addresses the 5W's and 1 H.

The various perspectives (through quotes from a number of different people) incorporated into the story makes this a successful piece. There are quotes from experts such as Dr Jeffery Barasch who speaks about the biological need for sleep and how many women put it last on their list of priorities because they think it’s a waste of time. He also informs the reader how a lack of sleep can adversely affect health, performance and family life. It can cause the body to become more susceptible to disease and lead to poor mental judgement and delayed reaction.


There are also quotes from a number of working women and mothers who provide anecdotes of their daily routine and who attribute a lack of sleep to the demands of work, children and household chores. Providing quotes from a number of women personalises the story and gives it a human interest angle.


The story is interesting because it also talks about how poor mood can be correlated with insufficient sleep - providing further interesting, factual information for the reader. However, a quote from an expert/researcher explaining or elaborating on this would have been useful.


Overall, this is a well-written informative piece. It provides a definition of medical terms, quotes from a variety of sources, as well as advice from experts as to what women can do to improve their sleep patterns. However, one criticism is that the story could have elaborated on the recent National Sleep Foundation poll. It failed to mention how many women partook in the survey. Saying “42 per cent of women…” or “two-thirds of women”, does not allow the reader to see the scale of the poll or give the figures meaning and impact. It almost seems like a generalisation.

HAVING A SISTER MAKES YOU HAPPIER- STUDY

Source: http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/breaking-news/having-a-sister-makes-you-happier-study/story-fn3dxity-1225901290570

Image taken from: http://www.smh.com.au/ffximage/2008/07/06/venuswilliams_wideweb__470x313,0.jpg

Sisters: Venus and Serena Williams

A new study has found that having an older or younger sister can make you happier and healthier because they can act as a buffer against developing negative emotions such as loneliness or depression.

One of the strengths of this article is the headline (“Having a sister makes you happier- study”). It’s simple, effective and encapsulates the content and angle of the story. As someone with an older sister, the headline piqued my interest and grabbed my attention instantly, and I’m sure the headline alone would have attracted many others to click and read the article too.

The article is a hard news piece reporting on the facts and findings derived from this new study. One of the key news values of the story is timeliness- it is new and current.

The language is simple and not heavily littered with scientific jargon, which makes it easy for the average reader to understand. It is a story that will appeal to everyone (for those with and without a female sibling) so by keeping the language simple, the story is accessible to a wider audience.

Quotes from head researcher Dr Laura Padilla-Walker, gives the piece credibility and verisimilitude. However, in comparison to CBS News, the latter uses better quotes and reporting, goes more in depth into the ‘why’ and ‘how’ of the study and has prominence - touching on celebrity sister’s Venus and Serena Williams in its article as well as providing an accompanying video clip to further engage its readers. 

Another criticism of the story is that it fails to provide quotes from other potential sources who could have been tied in with the story, and perhaps given the piece a better news angle. Quotes from parents, siblings and people with and without a sister could have been used to see what their views are – do they agree or disagree with this study?

This would have personalised or humanised the story and thus made it a more interesting read for the audience.

There are bound to be people who have cynical views towards this new study, and it would have been interesting to intertwine their views into the story, such as that of UK columnist Briony Gordon who refutes the notion that a sibling can serve as a protective factor against the rise of negative emotions (see link below).

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/comment/columnists/bryonygordon/7926965/Having-a-sister-like-me-didnt-make-my-siblings-healthy.html

Quotes from psychologists or researchers with opposing views could have also been used to generate conflict in the story, which would have hit one of the key news values. It would have provided the reader with a balanced rather than a one-sided view of the subject.

Overall, this is a well-written piece. However, if various perspectives/opposing views were integrated into the story - whether it be a researcher in the field or someone with or without a sister, this could have engendered conflict and thus made it a more successful news story.