Which story would you put on the front page?
From Sex, Drugs, and Cocoa Puffs by Chuck Klosterman:
Defying all expectation, a group of Scottish marine biologists capture a live Loch Ness Monster. In an almost unbelievable coincidence a bear hunter in the Pacific Northwest shoots a Sasquatch in the thigh, thereby allowing zoologists to take the furry monster into capacity. These events happen on the same afternoon. That evening, the president announces he may have thyroid cancer and will undergo a biopsy later that week. You are the front-page editor of The New York Times: What do you play as the biggest story?
I am posting this, even though a question of mine from this same list of question was removed by a mod for repetitiveness, saying that all questions should be asked in the same thread. To any objecting mod: I spoke with a mod about the issue, presented my opinion, and was told it would be considered. I never heard any word back. This was a few weeks ago, so I figured I’d give it another go. This is a different question then the one that was previously removed. If this is a problem, let me know pronto. I just never heard from anyone regarding the decision on the original objection.
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10 Answers
If George Bush was still the president, the Loch Ness Monster and Sasquatch stories would take precedence over his thyroid cancer. I know this sounds mean but so was all the bad things Bush did to America and her citizens when he was in office.
Since President Obama appears to be much more competent as president at this early date, I’d be running his thyroid cancer story first followed by Sasquatch and the Loch Ness Monster.
…. Loch ness. we all know sasquach is real. I really hope Nessy exists….
President may have cancer gets the bottom of the front page.
President has been diagnosed with terminal cancer. Doctors give him one month to live” gets the #1 slot.
National Enquirer headline: “President diagnosed with terminal cancer. Doc gives him one month to live. Bigfoot and Nessie come out of hiding to share secrets of survival.”
good one tb :)
First of all, I don’t see the problem with this question, and it’s actually a good one.
Secondly, two of the stories are the same, I’d like a more diverse choice. I guess that for a US newspaper (you did say NYTimes) the president’s health would be more important, as it affects people’s everyday lives a lot more.
If this was MY newspaper though (and I’ve thought of making one like that), all stories would be prioritised based on their long-term importance to world history. 100 years from now, 2009 would not be remembered as the year just another president died, but it could be remembered as the year a prehistoric monster was discovered. So in that sense Nessie would come first, with Bigfoot as a close second. Bigfoot would come first if the first results from biologists said he was a humanoid though (since it would be of more interest to the human race than the dinosaur).
The front page is big. The NYT usually has many more than three stories on it. I don’t have to make a choice. Now, as to headline size and column space, if it’s the NYT. clearly the President gets the nod. The New York Post, on the other hand, is a very different story.
It depends. Am I out for meaningful journalism, or for circulation numbers?
For meaningful journalism: the President having health issues is important for people to know. There have been sightings of Bigfoot and the Loch Ness Monster before, some even with photographic evidence; they can wait for a day.
For circulation: biggest photos I can find of Nessie and Bigfoot, and the President winds up somewhere on page 2.
” Monsters Caught – Cancer Still At Large ”
Nessie and Sas caught on tape in motel love nest. Vow to check in to rehab and cancer treatment.
the nessy things strikes me personally as more worthy of front page news, mostly because it’s a worldwide sort of thing. nessy is a far spread legend, and has been debated/talked about for years and years and years. also, i’d like to start peoples’ day off with something positive (though sasquatch being shot is not exactly positive, but is more positive than the president having cancer).
that being said, i don’t see “front page” as synonymous for “most important”.
Well in the real world even if it did happen they wouldn’t let you put Loch Ness or Sasquatch… Papers don’t wanna be considered tabloids. Unfortunately Thyroid Cancer would win (even if it was Bush).
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