“The Classics”
By Julia Lescarbeau
As a writer, is important to know the classics- the articles that remain buzz-worthy and timeless. This chapter chose to highlight ten important pieces that showcased work that “echoed beyond a generation”.
A crime and courts classic:
Prisoners With Midnight In Their Hearts, Harold A. Littledale, New York Evening Post, 1917
Littledale poetically describes the realities of the New Jersey justice and prison system. The article is both informative while taking readers on a journey through prisoners conditions. This piece serves as a call to action to reform this system, both for tax purposes and for the well-being of these maltreated humans. The article is haunting but successfully hits home.
An obituaries and funerals classic:
Mary White, William Allen White, The Emporia Gazette, 1921
A renowned and historic writen, William Allen White, publishes a tribute to his daughter who was killed in a horseback-riding accident at a young age. The story is incredibly compelling, full of anecdotal stories and pathos. White skillfully utilizes metaphors and descriptive imagery to tell his daughter’s story and how her legacy, even as a young teenage girl, would live on.
A deadline classic:
Iowa Village Waits All Night for Glimpse at Fleeting Trian, Lorena A. Hickok, Minneapolis Tribune, 1923
Hickok went above and beyond to describe a small community in Iowa staying up until 4 a.m. to simply pay tribute to the President’s funeral train. Her detailed description of the train passing paired with numerous quotes from community members told a story about a small town, Honey Creek, Iowa. This article is a prime example of shoe leather journalism that didn’t settle- any story has the potential to endure generations.
A deadline classic:
Joe Louis Uncovers Dynamite, Richard Wright, New Masses, 135
Wright instantly grabs the reader’s’ attention with explosive language, celebration and the story behind the invention of dynamite. The story quickly changes tone, shifting to focus on issues of segregation and oppression of African Americans. Ahead of his time, Wright shed light on a very serious issue through several different perspectives and angles.
An opinion and persuasion classic:
Mr. Welles and Mass Delusion, Dorothy Thompson, New York Herald Tribune, 1938
With a heated disposition and great spirit, Thompson shares the dangers of the mass media and propaganda, specifically relating to a poorly educated public. Describing Orson Welles’ infamous “War of the Worlds” broadcast, Thompson shares the panic and chaos that ensued. She warns against governments controlling media, addressing an issue ahead of its time.
An obituaries and funerals classic:
The death of Captain Henry Waskow, Ernie Pyle, Scripps Howard Newspaper Alliance, 1944
WIth dramatic imagery and skillfully moving pathos, Pyle tells the story of a fallen soldier. Pyle utilizes a first-person narrative, emphasizing his connection and investment in the service. The article reads like a novel, a reader might got lost in the writing and forget they’re reading a news article.
A business reporting and explanatory journalism classic:
From ‘The Bronx Slave Market’, Marvel Cooke, The Daily Compass, 1950
Cooke poses as a minority worker in this famous example of undercover reporting. This article proves that shoe leather as a journalist is crucial- getting as close to the story as possible pays off and enhances your ability to tell a story.
A local reporting and beats classic:
Miracle of Coogan’s Bluff, Red Smith, New York Herald Tribune, 1951
Smith instantly grabs readers attention with his drama-filled lead. Taking several creative risks, the author describes the a baseball game and a drunken-streaker fiasco. In a humorous, conversational tone, this sports read is one to remember!
A profile and feature story classic:
About New York, Meyer Berger, The New York Times, 1959
Berger shares a beautiful feature of an elderly, blind violinist. With poetic, short sentences and detailed language, readers are taken on a journey- one full of imagery and emotional. A New York-oriented piece, Berger uses several geographical references to keep the story relevant and localized.
An opinion and persuasion classic:
A Flower in the Graves, Gene Patterson, The Atlanta Constitution, 1963
This Southern reporter calls readers to action in the name of social justice with his writing. He preaches to his fellow white southern people to stand up and take responsibility for the wrongdoings of their deeply racist society. Using personal pronouns, Patterson speaks directly to readers with his telling of a black child’s funeral.
Julia Lescarbeau 