18.10.10

Doctor faces license hearing over octuplets case

Doctor faces license hearing over octuplets case
The birth of Nadya Suleman's octuplets last year caused a media firestorm. Now her doctor faces a license hearing.
The birth of Nadya Suleman's octuplets last year caused a media firestorm. Now her doctor faces a license hearing.
 
The Octuplet's mom was one of the most controversial person last year in America. A lot of people compare her to Kate Gosselin, the famous reality show mom of twins and sextuplets, as many think that what Nadya Suleman did was just to gain media attention and sponsors, or even opportunity to star in her own reality show with the kids. However, things didn't turn out as perfect as she pictured, and a lot of people started questioning her initial motive of having the fertilisation. 

The fact that Suleman is a single woman and for her to have so many kids, it brought a lot of concerns to the public, whether she was selfish and didn't care about the sake of her kids. And from my personal opinion, I agree with most of the people that this woman was just trying to get the attention, and it was truly a blessing that her premature kids are perfectly fine. Just when we thought the drama is going to end, Ms Suleman is still on the news today, because her doctor is now facing charges of performing the fertillisation on her. She has her way to get the attention.

The layout of the article was okay, it mentioned how extreme multiples pregnancies would harm infants, so readers can understand why the doctor is facing license hearing. The article can be improved by showing more pictures of the octomom and her babies, it might be very expensive to get that kind of photos, however if that photo is on the internet, people would be very curious about it and hence it can attract more readers.



Drug addict the first men in Britain paid to have vasectomy

Drug addict the first men in Britain paid to have vasectomy

The wow factor stands out from the article's title, and any normal person who has curiosity like me would definitely click in and see why on earth there will be someone to get paid to have vasectomy.

The whole drama starts from an organization that protect children from drug addict parents. I understand what drug addict parents can do to harm their children, but taking people's right away from having their own children is not ethical and not acceptable at all in my opinion. And the fact that the organization paid about $320 for that man to get the surgery done is ridiculous, and the man even explained and said that is something he has always wanted to do, I mean alright, you don't want to have kids, but getting the surgery done means you don't need a condom to have sex and which means the risk of getting and spreading aids is raised! Has the organization thought about that? Pushing people to have vasectomy doesn't solve any problems, and I indeed doubt if that is legal to buy a human right for a few hundred bucks. But for sure it is unethical.

Besides the title has the weirdness that provokes people's curiosity, there is nothing more that is valuable in this article. It is more like a tabloid news. It could have been written in a much stronger news angle, that can lead readers to think critically about this issue, whether it is correct or not for the organization to have done that. The fact that there are more than 20 people has shared this article on Facebook, the title should get all the credit for that.

17.10.10

Chilean mining heroes return to mine

Chilean mining heroes return to mine
Chile mine
Rescued miner Jorge Galleguillos reads a letter his family wrote to him and kept in the tent where they lived while he was trapped at the San Jose mine near Copiapo, Chile. Picture: AP Source: AP

The world was touched by the Chilean miners rescue last week. After 10 weeks under the dark mine, the miners walked out from the mine and finally get to see their loved ones that they once thought they would never see again.

And just in one week time, the miners have decided to do something meaningful that would stop anyone from repeating the tragedy, that is to establish a foundation for better mine safety.

This is truly a meaningful idea, as the article finished with coal mine accidents around the world, it leads people to think critically, why when we are in the 21st century now, but accidents like this are still happening so frequently, people really need to do something about it. Putting this experience in use is truly good of the miners to do.

The article has a very strong angle, as the author mentioned that the miners are now heroes in Chile, and the fame can help them make a good fortune, but what the miners are doing is to put the experience into the world's good. What is more important than lives, when you were trapped underground and knowing that people out there are trying so hard to rescue your live, they never give up on you, this is the most precious of human spirit. 

The article is very well-structured and with lots of information about the news of the miners, as readers are very curious about what they have been doing sice the rescue. Also, the article provided a video and related article links for readers to trace further about the incident. But the article can be improved by putting more pictures, as there is only one. 

Mutilated Afghan Woman Unveils New Nose, Receives Enduring Heart Award in California

Mutilated Afghan Woman Unveils New Nose, Receives Enduring Heart Award in California
Cover girl of TIME magazine, Ayesha now has a new name, "Bibi". Since her tragedy was revealed, she gained a lot of attention from the media and also the society. And this article is about Ayesha got a new nose and can finally move on with her life in America.

Although I truly feel happy for Ayesha, that she can escape from her horrible family and start a new life in America, and also got a new nose so that she can have confidence when she face people, and you can obvously see how happy and confident she is comparing the with her old photo. However, I am concerned about Ayesha will be used as a tool for the US government, to gain support from the public as they are showing the are heros in Afghanistan and what they did of starting the war was correct.

The video of the article starts automatically when you start browsing the webpage, which is very good as viewers may not click play and watch the video if they just want to read the text. However, there was a commercial advertisement started before the actual video about the article, it might turn readers off and close the webpage right away.

Also, comparing to the video, the article text has a lot less information about the girl and her new nose. It can be improved by giving more information about what Ayesha say and different opinions from the public about the topic.

Pope canonises first Australian saint, Mary Mackillop

Pope canonises first Australian saint, Mary Mackillop

This piece of news has been on TV news for the whole week and finally the ceremony was held in Rome, Italy today.

Thousands of Australian have flown to Italy to witness the ceremony of Sister Mary's canonisation.

This article has a very good news angle, as this is the first Australian saint ever, and it draws alot of attention from the whole world. Also, the structure of the article is very organized and clear, it starts with telling readers about the canonisation, and explained that its not only Saint Mackillop that was canonised, there were 6 Saints in total to be canonised on this day. Then it brings up a very good information, that what is exactly the criteria to be a saint, and that is for the Church to recognise their intermediary role in two miracles. And then it starts explaining the two miracles of Saint Mackillop, that she healed two cancer patients. And before the article ends, the author briefly described the life of Saint Mackillop and how she is important to catholics in Australia.

Overall, the article contains a lot of information about Saint Mackillop and the ceremony, but it can be
improved by putting up more pictures, as there is only one small-sized picture and the picture itself didn't say much about the ceremony. Also, it was quite confusing to me, when I first read the criteria of being a Saint was to perform miracles, and the people that Saint Mackillop has healed were born after she died, as I thought she performed the miracles when she was alive. Or maybe its just me haha, but I think the author could have explained it more clearly.

Explosion in Chinese coal mine kills 20, traps 17

Explosion in Chinese coal mine kills 20, traps 17

The whole world has just been touched by the Chilean miner rescue, at the other side of the world in China, miners are killed and some are still being trapped.

Coal mine explosion is nothing new in China. There is a saying in China, that "lives aren't worth any money", as the population is huge, and manpower is cheap. In past accidents, the compensations for victims' families were only a few thousands ren min bi (rmb - Chinese currency), even the cost to rescue trapped miners can be much higher than the compensation for their lives. Thats why miners in China are not as lucky as those in Chile, and when this accident happen in just a few days after the big rescue in Chile, in a big contrast, it is ashamed to look at how money is so much more important than lives in many people's eyes.

This article has a very good advantage in timeliness, as readers can easily relate to the Chilean rescue, and the fact that they put links for readers to link to related articles about he Chilean rescue is very convenient.

However, there is no pictures nor videos shown in the web page, which can be a very bad disadvantage for the article as nowadays, most of the online news articles contains pictures and videos for viewer to understand the articles more, and it can attract readers to read.

5.9.10

Discontent fuels Mongolia's far-right groups

Reading Source:
Discontent fuels Mongolia's far-right groups
by BBC News, 5 Sep 2010

The Northern neighbor and once a part of China, Mongolia, suspected their big strong neighbor is more a bully than a benefactor. Some "activist" even claim to keep Mongolia "pure". They adore Nazism, wear Nazi uniform, but said they are nothing like Nazist, but only Nationalist.

However, with thousands of years of history, I wonder if there are still any "pure Mongolian", I even doubt if the activists themselves contain only pure Mongolian blood in their body.

While the Americans are threatened by Islam countries that are miles away from them, think about what the Chinese has to deal with. Japan, Korea, Mongolia, Taiwan... none of these neighbors show any friendly gestures. But there is nothing for the Chinese to react, except to show harmlessness.

Extreme nationalism is very dangerous, the Germans have learnt their lesson, it is strictly prohibited in Europe and developed countries. It should also be erased completely as the seed of it can possibly grow into another enormous war.

The article is presented in a calm and neutral position. As I searched "Mongolian Nazi" on Google, it is not difficult to find Mongolian people dressing in Nazi uniforms, and pictures of a Mongolian woman, getting her head shaved as a punishment, for being in a relationship with a Chinese man. But none of these pictures were shown in the article.

However, the article is very well-structured. It started with the history from WWII, how the Mongolians are influenced by Nazism and Nationalism. Then it mentioned the economic relationship between Mongolia and China, and how the Mongolians see it as a bully and a threat, but not friendship. Interviews with foreigners are also included, stating that they do not feel welcomed in Mongolia, but living in fear instead. The article can add more colour to it by interviewing Chinese people what they think about the Nationalism of Mongolia, and also how the Chinese government react to it.