Feature

Christian Gilbert

Journalism

1 May 2014

Action Movies

                The article I chose to review for my feature is a flowchart on CollegeHumor created by Nathan Yaffe. The style of this feature is the same as the one I plan to do. It is a flowchart with graphics titled “Who Should Star In Your Action Movie” and the reader answers a series of questions that tell which popular action movie star should star in their action movie. Depending on the reader’s choices, they get a specific person.

                This is a good style for an article like this because it is interactive, which is a big draw with a feature. Interactive pieces like this are more appealing to a reader and can draw a bigger crowd. You can also go through mulitple times and keep getting different answers. Another big appeal for this style article is it is lite on the reading, which makes it a quick, easy, fun piece to go over.

                Maneuvering the written road map is made pretty simplistic with easy to follow paths and clear to read text. A place where the article may fall short is it seems to be lacking enough content in certain areas, mostly the answers. It could use some narrative as to why this person is good for a certain role. Another short coming is the answers you are provided seem a bit too forced, but all in all, these minor issues are not a critical miss. For the light-hearted nature of the piece, it works nicely.

                The style and graphics used in the piece lend themselves to the overall theme of the flowchart, looking gritty and exciting, very much like an action movie. The complete look of the article tells the reader immediately that this is just for fun, something to get a quick laugh out of. It’s something that catches your attention and begs you to read through.

                This fun, simplistic questionnaire gives readers something to do to pass the time and appreciate. It is just easy and short enough to keep attention on itself until it has been thoroughly completed. It does well in the areas that an feature like this should focus on. It is quick, clever, simple to follow, fun to do, and appealing to look at. Overall, it is a great example of a flowchart style feature.

Column

Christian Gilbert

Journalism

14 April 2014

An Uphill Battle

                To review a column example I choose a column from the Game Informer magazine by Matt Helgeson. He wrote his column on how the Xbox One has an uphill battle to reach the PS4 level. Its an opinion piece by the author which seems to embody the style of the writer. Matt begins his column by discussing the past success of the Xbox 360. He gives some information on the Xbox’s past with units sold and how it advanced past PS3. He gave important facts so that the reader could understand his topic.

                After he gives the information out, he shares how the current market leans toward the PS4 in most regions and is unlikely to change. He backs it with more information, which is nice, but not required for a column. He then moves into what he feels may start to catch Microsoft back up with Sony. First things he states is the Xbox One exclusive title Titanfall, which is living up to the hype. Helgeson believes that Titanfall may be able to bring the Xbox sales up. Along with building a superb shooter, which he calls the “bread-and-butter” of Xbox gamers, he also comments on an upcoming Halo game and securing the Gears of War franchise. Matt claims that with these titles, Xbox may have a shot to catch up to the already ahead PS4.

                Matt discusses why the Xbox had such a lead for the 360, being out a year before the more expensive PS3 was released, but this time around, Sony made sure to avoid those pitfalls. Sony and Microsoft both released their consoles at the same time, Sony actually being a week ahead and at lower price. Sony has secured the lead this time around and it seems to have paid off.

                Matt’s game plan for Microsoft is a price drop, improved software and much better marketing. Sony is leading in sales in all markets, even in North America which belonged to Xbox last generation. Helgeson believes that Microsoft can overtake Sony but not without a lot of work, not an easy task. Matt began the column with some information for the reader and then discussed how and why he believes Xbox is failing this time around. He then discusses how they should proceed if they wish to surpass their opponents in sales. All in all, it was not a perfect column but it does  give the author flare and thoughts and therefore is a passable example.

Review

Christian Gilbert

Journalism

30 March 2014

An Infinitely Good Review

                  The article I looked at for a review example comes from the popular GameInformer Magazine by writer Joe Juba. Joe writes his review on the critically acclaimed Bioshock Infinite from Irrational Games. The article begins with the title of the game with a clever tag underneath followed by a captivating in-game screenshot. The first paragraph begins with the general overview of the game synopsis with the writer own thoughts on how his life might be in parallel universes. In most cases, this incite would be unwarranted, but it is simply used as a means of naming the game one of the best in any other reality he can live.

                  After establishing the generality of the game and it’s well deserved praise, paragraph two delves a little more into the journey you undergo throughout the game. Juba creates a wonderful capturing of the feel of the world you inhabit and showcases the vivid, picturesque reality that envelops the player. His next segment reviews the themes dealt with in the game and how small occurrences or societal issues create a rich, life-like world. He also tells how masterfully the story, action, and narrative don’t clash, but thrive together to create one of the better story-driven games he’s ever seen.

                  He discusses the gameplay mechanics, which is another big point for any game review. Juba remarks about the creativity of the action and how the mechanics lend themselves to engaging gameplay and high variety of options to play with. There is a lot of positivity given to the tools and combat skills given to the player. He also gives accolades to the intelligent NPC partner players are accompanied by, saying “she is among the best AI companions I’ve ever had.” He finishes up the gameplay section discusses his appreciation for the games infamous 1999 difficulty setting, which really puts the best players to the test.

                  Juba finishes the review going over his favorite aspect of the game, which is the story. He has nothing but good words to say about the pacing, how the story pulls you in and makes you think. He calls Bioshock Infinite a game that will keep you going and reminds you that there are questions you need answers to. In the end, he gives credit to 2K Studios for not just rehashing ideas from their first game, but using both to create a story that will resonate through any fan of the Bioshock titles.

Personal Profile

Christian Gilbert

Journalism

13 March 2014

Becoming Iron Man: 
An Origin Story

            Every hero needs an origin story, a past of hard times and difficult trials that shape the person we know today. The personal profile I read was one from GQ magazine by Chris Heath, and was on the wildly talented Robert Downey Jr. It was an interview with the actor where they discussed his tumultuous past which lead to his present success and what the future holds. The profile is called RDJ’s origin story for the Hollywood actor, one who fell from graces, struggled through many hardships and was eventually reborn into the hero he is today. An appropriate analogy for the portrayer of Tony Stark.

            The profile begins with an anecdote about the small, leather briefcase Downey carries with him at all times. It contents containing notes, quit-smoking gum, and a solid gold Iron Man helmet. Robert then tells about how he just stares at the mask, contemplating what it takes to be the man inside. This is a fantastic beginning the article which leads to the story of the man that fought to be the hero. After the anecdote, the article discusses, for those who are unaware, why RDJ is so huge today. It discusses how popular he is and how much of a change it was from a decade ago. It uses the conversation between Heath and Downey to flawlessly paint a picture of his current success.

            They then move into Robert’s past for some time and how he struggled not only as an actor, but with drugs, arrests and other challenges. Then they described how things began to change and the fight that would put him on top. The fight to be Iron Man, perhaps the most fitting end for an origin. RDJ describes the reluctances of most in letting him have the part, or even get a screen test, but he remained persistent and now he is just as big as his on-screen character.

            After discusses his rise to fame, they spent some time going over his present fame and claim to being one of the greatest actors of his generation. They remark that it seems he can do no wrong, a far cry from his past. The two then move into what his future holds, bringing in the final chapter of the profile. The interview is wrapped up with a glorious quote by RDJ on the topic of Oscars. After claiming he will get one eventually, he is asked if one is enough, to which he replies no, zero is fine and pauses “Zero, or two.”

            The six page article was just long enough for someone such as Robert Downey Jr. and hit all the keys aspects. It transitioned beautifully from segment to segment and carried the story structure all throughout. All in all, this is a fantastic example of a personal profile.

Hard News

Christian Gilbert

Journalism

24 Feb 2014

Trying Times in Florida

In a top news story from Reuters, the article focuses on the parents of Jordan Davis, the teenage shooting victim, working to fight Florida’s stand your ground law. A hard news story should give enough information for the reader to do minimal reading and get the story. In this article, the whole story is spelled out in the heading, “Parents of dead teen vow to fight Florida’s self-defense law”. If only reading nothing more than that on the front page of a newspaper, you would know what you needed to about the article. Moving on to the first paragraph, it answers all five H’s and the W. It flushes out everything in the heading and gives all the information you understand the topic and be able to walk away knowing enough to be satisfied.

If you continue, the article uses a quote from the mother about why they are pursuing this cause, acting as a good backup to the initial story and a solid transition into some backstory, if you were unaware of the story beforehand. It gives a brief account of the shooting, just enough for the reader to get a good grip on the incident without delving into that topic. This is a great way of keeping the reader informed if this is the first they are hearing the topic. It then uses another quote comparing the case to the George Zimmerman trail, using it as a springboard to move into the reason the parents and others are backing the move to change the stand-your-ground law. It gives some background on the Zimmerman case, but not as much, as it is not pertinent information to this article.

The article then continues about the moves the parents are making towards justice, including joining organizations and working to make strides towards disbanding the law that they say is being abused by people out of fear or hate. They say the law is too gray, and gives too much leeway in what it allows. The article ends with a quote from the mother about how she feels she is doing the right thing. The article is just short enough to keep the reader’s attention and to provide all the information the reader needs to know to be up to date on the issue.

Obituary

Christian Gilbert

Journalism

6 Feb 2014

A Meaningful Sendoff to One of the Best

                The obituary I reviewed was for the late great Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, author of the Sherlock Holmes series. It is dated, being from July 8, 1930, but the lead and the format of the story seem to be closely aligned to modern obituary. The leads goes “Conan Doyle Dead From Heart Attack”, the style may be changed today, but it does do its primary goal of catching the reader’s attention. Reading just that line, you get pulled in. The next few paragraphs fill in the reader with a general overview of Doyle life. One difference between this article and today’s are headings that break up the obituary before each segment.

                As far as what it includes about Doyle, it covers his name, his age of 71, his job as an author and noted spiritist. Another critical component to a good obituary is naming the remaining family, which the article goes over. In the first section, it names his wife, and his two son and daughter. For a person such as Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, it is important to list some of his achievements, such as his Sherlock Holmes novels and his convection to spiritism.

                For famous people, obituaries are always longer. Compared to modern obituaries, this one was slightly longer but does go over most of the important points. Being broken up into sections may attribute to the length of the article. It spends a little too much time on certain subjects, like the many sections around his spiritism that add up. The article could have been shortened if they compressed his works in literature and spiritism into two sections. There is also an article on the family and the son that could be cut out, or at least reduced to a mention in more substantial sections.

                All in all, this is a good obituary that covers what it is supposed to. Of it were to be formatted to more modern standards, it would need to lose some extra weight. The heading and the first few paragraphs are fine and have no need to change. It could cut out the section style and simplify each into a neat paragraph or two. Then each paragraph can smoothly transition between each new part. By doing this, it shortens the obituary and would match the layout of modern times.