Unconventional Weapons Article Analysis

Click here for a link to the article. 

This piece drew me in with the title alone - "Panel Fears Use of Unconventional Weapon." It's not a particularly punchy title, but the thought of an attack on any country, let alone ours, is a frightening one after the recent attacks in Mumbai. 

The lede is a newsy summary lede: "An independent commission has concluded that terrorists will most likely carry out an attack with biological, nuclear or other unconventional weapons somewhere in the world in the next five years unless the United States and its allies act urgently to prevent that." 

This lede gives the reader the who, what, and why. Oddly, it doesn't provide the when, an addition I would make, or the where. However, this is provided in the dateline, it is Washington. The nut graf is found in the second paragraph - the reader should care because the report predicts attacks that might cause harm to them. 

The commission's report is the main source for the article, and rightly so. It is structured to provide information about the report foremost, and then provides background information about the report, including its authors. The conclusion is somewhat of an out-of-gas ending, but it also somewhat mirrors the conclusion of the report itself. 

Iraq Bombing Article Analysis

Click here for a link to the article I'm about to analyze. 

This article is pure hard news, and the summary lede reflects that: "Suicide bombings in Baghdad and Mosul took the lives of at least 32 Iraqis on Monday in carnage that recalled the levels of violence before the American troop buildup last year." In this lede, the reader is given the who, what, when, and where, and despite all this information, manages not to be awkward. However, I would move the Iraqis killed up to the beginning of the lede, because I feel that's the most important part of the news being delivered. 

The next few paragraphs provide more elaboration, but the lede appears to serve as the nut graf here since the following paragraphs deal with the different details of the separate suicide bombings. A storytelling structure is used here, and sources from both the American and Iraqi perspective are utilized. I particularly like the quotes from people on the street because they give the piece an air of authenticity. The article is also extremely good at portraying images, especially the image of the bloodstained boot. 

This article is unique in that it provides information about a separate incident at its ending. It utilizes an out-of-gas ending. 

Naval Hero Jeffrey Ahson Dies at 79

KALAMAZOO, Mich.--Jeffrey R. Ahson, U.S. Navy hero and Kalamazoo City firefighter, died last night at his home of causes related to emphysema. He was 79.

Mr. Ahson leaves behind an impressive legacy. A petty officer in the U.S. Navy during World War II, he was stationed on the USS Emery. In June of 1942 he participated in the Battle of Midway, proving himself truly courageous in the pitched fight.

During the battle, Mr. Ahson rescued four wounded soldiers and removed the body of a gunner from fire, placing himself at great personal risk. After removing the gunner's body, he took over the abandoned gun and shot down three enemy planes. For his heroic efforts, Mr. Ahson was awarded the Purple Heart, the Navy Cross, and promoted to the rank of ensign. "Ahson was a genuine American hero," said Jeraldine Fyfe, U.S. Navy Lt. Commander, in a statement released by Naval Public Relations. 

Jeffrey R. Ahson was born in 1929 in Chico, Calif. He left the Navy in 1946 and moved to Kalamazoo, Mich., taking a job as a firefighter. Known as a "fire historian," he collected firefighting memorabilia, including an antique fire truck. His collection can be found at the Kalamazoo Valley Museum. After leaving that job in 1966, Mr. Ahson became a new car salesman at Don Seely Ford in Kalamazoo, finally retiring in 1985. 

The late Mr. Ahson was highly involved in the Kalamazoo, participating in several organizations throughout his lifetime. He was a member of the American Legion, Post 702; the Veterans of Foreign Wars, Post 4206; the local Elks Lodge; the National Checkers Association; and Gideon's International. Mr. Ahson also served as an usher for his church, John Calvin Presbyterian. 

Survivors include his wife, Therese Alpert, of Kalamazoo, Mich.; a son, Richard D. Ahson, of Phillipsburg, Kan.; two daughters, Angela Molino, of Omaha, Neb., and Lela Stalling, of Pipe Creek, Texas; five grandchildren, and five great-grandchildren. Other survivors include a brother, Henry Ahson, of San Francisco, and two sisters, Judith Eaker, of Reidsville, N.C., and Shirley Solomon, of Newark, N.J.

A viewing will be held from 4 - 5:30 and 7:30 - 8 p.m. at Littleton Mortuary on Friday. Services will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday in the same location, immediately followed by burial at Memorial Park Cemetary. The family requests no flowers. 

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