Compare Writing Styles: Mix-up babies in HK

Compare Writing Styles: Mix-up babies in HK

Postby hkvivian » Tue Aug 18, 2009 5:23 am

Two English newspapers:
A) SCMP
Headline reads:
Baby mix-up inquiry points to 3 staff
[http://www.scmp.com/portal/site/SCMP/menuitem.2af62ecb329d3d7733492d9253a0a0a0/?vgnextoid=b6899170ca823210VgnVCM100000360a0a0aRCRD&ss=Hong+Kong&s=News]

B) The Standard
Headline reads:
Breast-feeding error adds to mix-up moms' miseries:
[http://www.thestandard.com.hk/news_detail.asp?we_cat=11&art_id=86508&sid=24978364&con_type=1&d_str=20090818&fc=2]

1) What are the differences in style between the two articles?
As suggested by their respective headlines, the SCMP article takes an objective news reporting style while the Standard article carries the report in a story-telling style. Both articles report the latest development of the investigation into this incident. The SCMP article then goes on to give details about the investigation, the relevant procedures and possible follow-ups. The Standard article plays up the negative effects of the incident on the parents before quoting the latest comments and responses of officials. It then recaps what has happened. Standard article uses words such as "error, miseries, traumtized, came under fire" to spice up the report while the SCMP article just quotes sayings from idenfitied sources.

2) Which article did you find easier to read? Why?
I found the Standard article easier to read because the style of narration makes it interesting for readers to read on and see how this whole incident is rolling out. The SCMP article gives dry facts and quotes from officials which are informative, but not at all engaging.

3) What sort of person do you think reads the printed edition of each newspaper?
Students whose schools have subscribed to the printed edition of SCMP are regular readers of this major English newspaper based in Hong Kong. Researchers also read it for getting the facts and more importantly, for the reliability and credibility of this news agency. The rest of us, myself included, get the freely distributed printed edition of the Standard. All we need is somthing to gossip about during lunch with our friends.
hkvivian
 

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