My main takeaway from this is that it’s important to already know most of what you’re going to ask for a profile. It’s important to do background research, to go into the interview understanding as much as you can about your subject in order to determine what should and should not be asked of them during the interview, like Richman failing to ask De Niro questions about Brando. Profiles are also more narrative than features, and should describe the interview and the physical environment at the time of it, but only when it’s relevant and when it adds to the context of the interview. Obituaries are slightly different in the way that, of course, the subjects are dead and cannot be asked questions directly, so it’s important to remain accurate based on their background and to acknowledge the important pieces of information and the important people within their life.
Chapter 17 on profiles and obituaries covered a lot of ground, from tips and experience of long-time journalist Alan Richman, writer at GQ, to the essential elements of both profiles and obituaries, important methods such as GOAL, structures, and guidelines. The information surrounding turning points and the GOAL was very informative and helped give me an idea of the larger scope of a profile. As I am beginning to think about my profile story and how much information I want to gather, it was helpful to have some ideas surrounding what patterns I might look for or decisive moments and pay attention to what aspect of the future I can bring to the story. The GOAL method mentioned on page 325 was also a great graphic that helped me visualize what information I might want to gather through my interviewing questions, such as the goals of the past, present, and future, potential obstacles and what they achieved, and relevant background history that can add some context and grounding to the story. I also liked how this chapter made sure to mention numerous times, specifically on pages 331-2, how important maintaining focus is and with profiles also to make sure that there is an awareness of why this story is important now. Focus, angle, and impact are all recurring topics from our class workshop from our feature story, and the profiles feel like they need the same, if not more, craft surrounding this. One aspect of the obituary section that came through as incredibly essential, as in most journalism, was the dedication to background research and the accuracy of facts. That work informs the success and credibility of the whole piece and allows a person’s life to be portrayed accurately and with respect.
Conducting an interview for a profile requires a thorough investment into that person’s background and noteworthy information from friends, families, or coworkers. As a journalist, one must seek a person for a particular reason with direct and specific questions for the interview of the chosen person. When asked distinct questions, the journalist may receive additional information unexpectedly, but garnering heaps of information helps them be accurate and unique. Something I gathered from this chapter was the insertion of background on the subject, incorporating it where it makes the most sense, not in one large chronological section. It is significant for the reader of the profile to visualize the subject, so integrating descriptors and graphics into the text aids them in doing so.
Obituaries are often presented as flattering descriptions of the subject in life, including small vignettes of their accomplishments and qualities. Ensuring all information is factual in an obituary is vital to accurately honoring the person’s life, and many points must be embedded to portray the subject respectfully. While the writer cannot interview the person, it is their job to look for a digital footprint left by the deceased and talk to friends, family, and coworkers to properly depict the subject.
The first thing I resonated with in this chapter is the story at the beginning, and specifically the interviewer’s commentary, in which they regret not asking certain questions. In my efforts to gather interviews, I have experienced this many times and I find it interesting that it is something even professional journalist’s encounter. Additionally, I think it’s interesting to think about trying to find the “perfect” question for any given interviewee, and what that means in relation to our profile project. I found the advice on gathering information very helpful, as I think it can become kind of “one-dimensional” to only use one source of details. I’m glad that the chapter provided a basic outline for what a profile should answer and how it should flow, as well as many tips on how to formulate relevant questions that will definitely be helpful when it comes time to interview for the project.
I thought this chapter was very informative and helpful in the process of understanding the process of writing profiles. I thought the GOALs acronym was very concise and helpful for gathering ideas on how one can write a profile and what the profile should focus on. The emphasis on the focus/figuring out what is the part of the person’s life that makes them newsworthy was interesting too. I’m personally having issues with figuring out who I can do my profile on and more specifically what would make them newsworthy, so hopefully that information can help me. Making sure you have a central; focus and theme were also emphasized, which is helpful for understanding the goals and process of writing a profile. The inclusion of a Q&A session, planning out notes and questions you’d like to ask, and certain types of questions were also helpful. I thought the section about turning points was interesting, as it gives an idea about what makes a human life interesting, such as patterns leading to a climax, decisive moments where the person’s actions or an experience influenced the rest of their story, or their future, which could lead to them either achieving their goals or failing. Getting background information and learning about their history was also emphasized, which leads to providing readers with a better understanding of the person that is being interviewed and that the article is focused on. Hopefully, I’ll be able to take the ideas, guidelines, and formatting tips from this chapter and apply them to my profile of whomever I end up choosing.
Journal 14
In this part of the book. It covers profiles and obourities writing and talks about hard interviews with De Niro. I think that the person well my first option might be hard to interview, as he’s a bit similar although he could be the total opposite and very talkative. How questions about obstacles that your interview person faced could be the most interesting questions to ask. The goal method seems an interesting way to gather information as it covers all fields of someone’s life and helps give the writer a well rounded interview with in depth information. I think I would use the GOAL method as it’s very straightforward. It gives me a plan to execute over just jumping in with not much thought to what I want to cover and need for the profile.
The main part of this chapter that I found interesting was the idea of asking questions that the person being interviewed wants to answer. Without triggering interest or passion in the person you’re talking to; you will not get any kind of interesting answer. The best answers come from the best questions, so putting some extra thought into the questions being asked is always a good idea.
Another piece of this chapter I found interesting was about the idea of cleaning up someone’s act in obituaries. The book explains that it is a disservice to loved ones and the deceased to make someone seem perfect, and this is an idea I plan to implement in my profile. Even though I will be writing about someone living, I will not make them seem like the perfect person, as that is not realistic or relatable for readers. Everyone has flaws, and being proud of them will make a better piece than trying to paint over them.
In this chapter, I think what I’ve learned most, is that it’s really important to do your homework before interviewing someone for an article. This means researching them well in advance so you know what to ask. Also, when writing profiles tell a story make it interesting and personal and more than just a black and white board of facts. Obituaries are different because you can’t talk to the person anymore, so it’s crucial to be accurate and highlight the important parts of their life and relationships. I think it’s interesting to think about finding the right questions for each person we interview for our profile project. The advice about gathering information was really helpful to me. It’s important to get details from different sources, not just one. I’m glad the chapter gave us a clear idea of what our profile should include and how it should develop. overall I feel like the chapter gave me direction and sight as to how a profile has to go and has to be constructed.
A few things that I found helpful throughout this chapter were the basic elements of profiling. Having a theme and focusing on it for writing peace can be helpful to not get distracted and stay on topic. sometimes there can be so much information and it feels like the article is all over the place but if you stick to a theme the writer can ensure that the information relates. I also found the goal method appealing because it provides a loose structure for an interview. When I did my interview for the mail room I was worried I didn’t have the right questions but this method structures an interview like a conversation. It gives you topics to cover but is loose enough to seem natural and be flexible as a conversation flows.
Something that I really liked about this chapter was the process of getting to know your interviewee, in a sense doing your homework on them and figuring out what questions to ask to not offend them or anything like that and also making sure you have the right information on your subject as well. I also liked the goal method when the chapter was talking about figuring out what questions to ask. I thought this was helpful because it gives you a basic question that you can use and then also allows you to configure and make questions based on your subject’s answers. I also found the basic elements of profiling helpful for someone who has never written a profile before. I think by following these even in the stage that we are in now you can look at these elements and start configuring them in a way that helps you as the writer flow and get the ideas out.
Some of the things that I noticed in chapter 14 was the conversational aspect when giving an interview for your profile. I had noticed a technique that I was using was in the book when giving the interviews for the feature creature project.The technique was asking the right questions that make people want to talk abojt themselves, and makig those questions specific and concise and thoughtful. Also, something that caught my eye was how youre not writing an obituary, so you do not have to make the person seem like they’re perfect, model citizens. Just treat people with respect and use the information that they gave you as a means to set the tone of your profile.
In chapter 17 we see this chapter focusing on the concept of profiles and obituaries. A section in this chapter that stuck out to me was the basic elements of profiles. In this section the foundations of writing a profile sharing the main elements are focus, theme, background and visuals. Overall this section gave the readers an idea of key things to think about when writing profiles such as the main theme of the profile and the points that make your person newsworthy. Continuing with ideas to incorporate themes and background are also important. Themes in the sense of communicating something that your person has overcome or faced in their life, background is very similar in the sense of getting to know this person and being able to communicate who they are and where they come from. In the background it’s also important to note that this part does not necessarily have to be in order of the events but more so where they fit naturally into the story. This is a very important chapter removing into our next writing assignment where we will be writing profiles.
12 thoughts on “JOURNAL # 14”
My main takeaway from this is that it’s important to already know most of what you’re going to ask for a profile. It’s important to do background research, to go into the interview understanding as much as you can about your subject in order to determine what should and should not be asked of them during the interview, like Richman failing to ask De Niro questions about Brando. Profiles are also more narrative than features, and should describe the interview and the physical environment at the time of it, but only when it’s relevant and when it adds to the context of the interview. Obituaries are slightly different in the way that, of course, the subjects are dead and cannot be asked questions directly, so it’s important to remain accurate based on their background and to acknowledge the important pieces of information and the important people within their life.
Chapter 17 on profiles and obituaries covered a lot of ground, from tips and experience of long-time journalist Alan Richman, writer at GQ, to the essential elements of both profiles and obituaries, important methods such as GOAL, structures, and guidelines. The information surrounding turning points and the GOAL was very informative and helped give me an idea of the larger scope of a profile. As I am beginning to think about my profile story and how much information I want to gather, it was helpful to have some ideas surrounding what patterns I might look for or decisive moments and pay attention to what aspect of the future I can bring to the story. The GOAL method mentioned on page 325 was also a great graphic that helped me visualize what information I might want to gather through my interviewing questions, such as the goals of the past, present, and future, potential obstacles and what they achieved, and relevant background history that can add some context and grounding to the story. I also liked how this chapter made sure to mention numerous times, specifically on pages 331-2, how important maintaining focus is and with profiles also to make sure that there is an awareness of why this story is important now. Focus, angle, and impact are all recurring topics from our class workshop from our feature story, and the profiles feel like they need the same, if not more, craft surrounding this. One aspect of the obituary section that came through as incredibly essential, as in most journalism, was the dedication to background research and the accuracy of facts. That work informs the success and credibility of the whole piece and allows a person’s life to be portrayed accurately and with respect.
Conducting an interview for a profile requires a thorough investment into that person’s background and noteworthy information from friends, families, or coworkers. As a journalist, one must seek a person for a particular reason with direct and specific questions for the interview of the chosen person. When asked distinct questions, the journalist may receive additional information unexpectedly, but garnering heaps of information helps them be accurate and unique. Something I gathered from this chapter was the insertion of background on the subject, incorporating it where it makes the most sense, not in one large chronological section. It is significant for the reader of the profile to visualize the subject, so integrating descriptors and graphics into the text aids them in doing so.
Obituaries are often presented as flattering descriptions of the subject in life, including small vignettes of their accomplishments and qualities. Ensuring all information is factual in an obituary is vital to accurately honoring the person’s life, and many points must be embedded to portray the subject respectfully. While the writer cannot interview the person, it is their job to look for a digital footprint left by the deceased and talk to friends, family, and coworkers to properly depict the subject.
The first thing I resonated with in this chapter is the story at the beginning, and specifically the interviewer’s commentary, in which they regret not asking certain questions. In my efforts to gather interviews, I have experienced this many times and I find it interesting that it is something even professional journalist’s encounter. Additionally, I think it’s interesting to think about trying to find the “perfect” question for any given interviewee, and what that means in relation to our profile project. I found the advice on gathering information very helpful, as I think it can become kind of “one-dimensional” to only use one source of details. I’m glad that the chapter provided a basic outline for what a profile should answer and how it should flow, as well as many tips on how to formulate relevant questions that will definitely be helpful when it comes time to interview for the project.
I thought this chapter was very informative and helpful in the process of understanding the process of writing profiles. I thought the GOALs acronym was very concise and helpful for gathering ideas on how one can write a profile and what the profile should focus on. The emphasis on the focus/figuring out what is the part of the person’s life that makes them newsworthy was interesting too. I’m personally having issues with figuring out who I can do my profile on and more specifically what would make them newsworthy, so hopefully that information can help me. Making sure you have a central; focus and theme were also emphasized, which is helpful for understanding the goals and process of writing a profile. The inclusion of a Q&A session, planning out notes and questions you’d like to ask, and certain types of questions were also helpful. I thought the section about turning points was interesting, as it gives an idea about what makes a human life interesting, such as patterns leading to a climax, decisive moments where the person’s actions or an experience influenced the rest of their story, or their future, which could lead to them either achieving their goals or failing. Getting background information and learning about their history was also emphasized, which leads to providing readers with a better understanding of the person that is being interviewed and that the article is focused on. Hopefully, I’ll be able to take the ideas, guidelines, and formatting tips from this chapter and apply them to my profile of whomever I end up choosing.
Journal 14
In this part of the book. It covers profiles and obourities writing and talks about hard interviews with De Niro. I think that the person well my first option might be hard to interview, as he’s a bit similar although he could be the total opposite and very talkative. How questions about obstacles that your interview person faced could be the most interesting questions to ask. The goal method seems an interesting way to gather information as it covers all fields of someone’s life and helps give the writer a well rounded interview with in depth information. I think I would use the GOAL method as it’s very straightforward. It gives me a plan to execute over just jumping in with not much thought to what I want to cover and need for the profile.
The main part of this chapter that I found interesting was the idea of asking questions that the person being interviewed wants to answer. Without triggering interest or passion in the person you’re talking to; you will not get any kind of interesting answer. The best answers come from the best questions, so putting some extra thought into the questions being asked is always a good idea.
Another piece of this chapter I found interesting was about the idea of cleaning up someone’s act in obituaries. The book explains that it is a disservice to loved ones and the deceased to make someone seem perfect, and this is an idea I plan to implement in my profile. Even though I will be writing about someone living, I will not make them seem like the perfect person, as that is not realistic or relatable for readers. Everyone has flaws, and being proud of them will make a better piece than trying to paint over them.
In this chapter, I think what I’ve learned most, is that it’s really important to do your homework before interviewing someone for an article. This means researching them well in advance so you know what to ask. Also, when writing profiles tell a story make it interesting and personal and more than just a black and white board of facts. Obituaries are different because you can’t talk to the person anymore, so it’s crucial to be accurate and highlight the important parts of their life and relationships. I think it’s interesting to think about finding the right questions for each person we interview for our profile project. The advice about gathering information was really helpful to me. It’s important to get details from different sources, not just one. I’m glad the chapter gave us a clear idea of what our profile should include and how it should develop. overall I feel like the chapter gave me direction and sight as to how a profile has to go and has to be constructed.
A few things that I found helpful throughout this chapter were the basic elements of profiling. Having a theme and focusing on it for writing peace can be helpful to not get distracted and stay on topic. sometimes there can be so much information and it feels like the article is all over the place but if you stick to a theme the writer can ensure that the information relates. I also found the goal method appealing because it provides a loose structure for an interview. When I did my interview for the mail room I was worried I didn’t have the right questions but this method structures an interview like a conversation. It gives you topics to cover but is loose enough to seem natural and be flexible as a conversation flows.
Something that I really liked about this chapter was the process of getting to know your interviewee, in a sense doing your homework on them and figuring out what questions to ask to not offend them or anything like that and also making sure you have the right information on your subject as well. I also liked the goal method when the chapter was talking about figuring out what questions to ask. I thought this was helpful because it gives you a basic question that you can use and then also allows you to configure and make questions based on your subject’s answers. I also found the basic elements of profiling helpful for someone who has never written a profile before. I think by following these even in the stage that we are in now you can look at these elements and start configuring them in a way that helps you as the writer flow and get the ideas out.
Some of the things that I noticed in chapter 14 was the conversational aspect when giving an interview for your profile. I had noticed a technique that I was using was in the book when giving the interviews for the feature creature project.The technique was asking the right questions that make people want to talk abojt themselves, and makig those questions specific and concise and thoughtful. Also, something that caught my eye was how youre not writing an obituary, so you do not have to make the person seem like they’re perfect, model citizens. Just treat people with respect and use the information that they gave you as a means to set the tone of your profile.
In chapter 17 we see this chapter focusing on the concept of profiles and obituaries. A section in this chapter that stuck out to me was the basic elements of profiles. In this section the foundations of writing a profile sharing the main elements are focus, theme, background and visuals. Overall this section gave the readers an idea of key things to think about when writing profiles such as the main theme of the profile and the points that make your person newsworthy. Continuing with ideas to incorporate themes and background are also important. Themes in the sense of communicating something that your person has overcome or faced in their life, background is very similar in the sense of getting to know this person and being able to communicate who they are and where they come from. In the background it’s also important to note that this part does not necessarily have to be in order of the events but more so where they fit naturally into the story. This is a very important chapter removing into our next writing assignment where we will be writing profiles.