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Media and You

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DPC2205-Writing Assignment
Group: Courts and Police Beat
Date: 07th of May, 2013
Lecturers: Ms. Alexis Stephens and Rhonda Hamlin
Topic: Review of the story, “The Danger a Single Story” by, Chimamanda Adichie
Group Members: Shivanah Hunte 11/0832/0945 Authavia Dos Santos 11/0807/1530 Kwame Gilhuys 11/0807/1389 Tarfara Pompey 11/0807/2414 Ryan Forde 11/0807/0858

The story being reviewed is titled “The Danger of a Single Story”; it is based on the perception that the media, journalists and story tellers only allow viewers and readers to see and read one side of the story. Chimamanda gave examples from her childhood, college life and her adult life to support her claims in the danger of telling a single or one side of a story. After viewing the video, as a journalist we learn that, what is depicted by the media and the press is what the viewers and readers will assume the individual’s life to only be and images portrayed by the media, is what people believe and conclude the situation to be. Secondly, aspiring journalist, storytellers and writers would believe that writing should be based on trend, this example was depicted in the video as Ms. Adichie explained her first set of stories were based on what she had read, therefore she believed that her writing should have taken the same pattern. These lessons can be applied to narrative journalism by creating a balance between the negative and positive side of the story but with Narrative journalism from the get-go, it requires extensive reporting so that the writer can pull from many different sources and anecdotes to develop the various layers of a story. It requires a kind of authorial confidence that comes across as an assured voice. And it requires time, time to dig deep and time to think deep and time to rewrite and time to deliberate with an editor over choices. It also requires the readiness that comes with experience, because all of this must be done on deadline. So when we write Narrative pieces the reader must not take away a single story but an even balance, because journalists have the power to shape the minds of their readers. It should instill simple journalism ethics such as accuracy and clarity inorder to ensure that the story is not perceived as bias or stereotyping of any person or group. Writers should also remember that the story should not define who the subject is but instead highlight the different things that define the subject of the story. As journalist we should also remember that even when we choose to write one side of a story, it can be seen as stereotyping, even though some stereotypes may not be untrue, they are considered incomplete, making that one story the only story. However, readers sometimes choose the single side of a story that justifies themselves. This is because we are thinking, choosing individuals. Writers and Journalist should remember that their literature opens the reader’s imagination and with the use of one’s imagination, a person will be opened to think and create ideas. While the video may seem to display a balance of showing the dangers of a single story, it contributed to the same thing Chimamanda was trying to help correct and anyone who viewed the video and heard her examples would believe that Americans were ignorant. The mentioning of persons seeing Africa as a country and not a continent, and the perception of young Americans in college not being educated on other person’s culture and heritage. Or the perception that all middle class people living in Nigeria have house help and would often speak of their poverty to their children to encourage them to become grateful. This is not true, her examples were based on personal experience but it should not serve as the main idea as how one side of the story is told. Therefore it is safe to conclude while we might strive as journalists to create a balance in a story, individuals will decide what they want to believe that story is about in order to satisfy their way thinking.

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