China's massive traffic jam could last for weeks

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The title of the article is a shocking one, imagine yourself to be only the road, driving a truck loaded with fruits and vegetables, expoding in the sun for ONLY 24 hours.

These drivers in the pictures has been there on the road for 10 days already. But the worst has yet to come, as authorities say the jam could last for three weeks.

The article truly is a successful one, as the wow factor from the story is already the attraction. Yet the author has done a good job in describing what the drivers are doing to kill time, and how the satisfy physical needs, such as going to toilets, buying expensive bottled water, bargaining with food vendors. These description fulfills the readers' curiosity, and also helping them to develope empathy to the drivers.

The author twisted the story from describing the situation to discovering the reason - the opening coal mines in the northwest, vital to the booming economy. This gives the article a better news angle, as the authorities totally neglected the bad consequences that they could cause to the drivers, because money is their first priority.

The article would be better with more images, or even a picture captured from a higher view, that could show how bad the jam really is.

Next time when you buy products that are made in China, don't take it for granted, people in our country worked their butt off to get it there to your hand!

Philippines police: Authorities botched hostage rescue

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Philippines police: Authorities botched hostage rescue

The article reports the shocking incident that happened 2 days ago in Manila, the capital city of the Philippines.

There are a lot about the incident that the article did not cover, but considering the length of the text, it contains enough appropriate information for the readers to understand. Also for the target readers of CNN's website, the interest level is not as high as local news or other international news that they can more relate to. Therefore, the information that the text has covered is already enough and relevant.

The article included quotes from the hostage, the police, the leader from both Hong Kong and Philippines. Readers are able to see the incident at different angle.

Hong Kong people are furious about the rescue, the whole process was shown live on TV, yet it showed only the incapability of the Philippines police, and the horrible death of the Hong Kong tourists. A lot of people witnessed the rescue on live TV doubt the victims were killed by the hostage-taker or the police force.

The Philippines police put the blame on the media, as they claimed the hostage-taker was nervous and angry watching the live news on TV, therefore he started shooting the tourists. However, the media was the way for the hostage-taker is communicate to the public, he put written notes on the bus window and demanded a reinstatement in the police force. 

Watching the video that CNN has posted above the text, readers are able to get to know more about how Hong Kong people feel about the tragedy, however, it can be improved with clips of the rescue process.

Afghan Women and the Return of the Taliban

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Afghan Women and the Return of the Taliban

This article was the cover story of TIME magazine in August 2010. Despite the text itself, the picture is shocking enough to draw people's attention and it creates an sad atmosphere for readers to read further. The headline "What Happens if We Leave Afghanistan", it positions the article before the readers get to read the content. The picture of a girl with her nose cut, her eyes filled with despair, seems like this is the answer to the question.

At the beginning of the article, the author brings out a critical question, "What is more important? Human rights or the chance to survive?" When we are thinking about women's rights in Afghanistan, should we change the focus to ensure their chance to live on?


As the war in Afghanistan enters its ninth year, voices of demanding the army to leave Afghanistan has been louder and louder. But when and how, become the problems of the policymakers.

Aisha, the "covergirl" of the TIME magazine was taken care of by the U.S. forces, so what will happen to women like her if they fully retreat from Afghanistan?

With increasing number of Islam people moving to other countries like the US, Canada, Australia, etc. The contradicting values start to bring questions in their heart, Islam women has started a soft revolution, in terms of the amount of make up and hair exposure, colourful hijab and the sports that they were once banned from doing. Though there are words that they cannot speak of, but they choose a muted way to express themselves.

The article brings many critical questions to the readers, and also provides lots of information about how the policy has changed towards this issue in these few years. This enables the readers to think critically about this issue, and also reminds people that the war in Afghanistan has not yet been gone.