Reading Diary #3 - Sources

Mazen Hassan

2/11/11

“Apple’s Jobs Calls Shots From Home” by Yukari Iwatani Kane (Wall Street Journal)

With the release of a new IPad and IPhone expected later this year, when Apple Chief Executive

Steve Jobs said he would be taking medical leave for health issues, many people were left very nervous as to the state of the company. Considering that the company’s worth is an estimated $200 billion dollars, a lot of people have been concerned that as the face and brain behind this large conglomerate, things may spin out of control if he is not present.

The article quotes Mr. Jobs himself stating he needs to “focus on his health,” while an Apple spokesperson released an obligatory statement assuring consumers and share-holders alike that even at home, Mr. Jobs will still be very much in control and involved in any key-decision making regarding the company.

The last quote of actual, substantial relevance was by a fund manager at Thrivent Asset Management, which hold Apple shares as a part of their $70 billion in assets they manage. He states that although it is “is a concern because people view [Mr. Jobs] as the head innovator,” he believe Apple could go on to be just as strong without him.

I do not feel that the sources and quotes in this article were in strong enough correlation with who the effected people are regarding this topic – the consumers and shareholders. We essentially got one quote from a business perspective, and the rest are quotes funneled through Apple (which just strive to reassure people, not tell the truth). I think it would have been more useful to speak to more personal shareholders who have a stake in the company; as well as views from everyday Apple consumers and users as to what they think. I do not feel there was a wide variety of sources/quotes, or that the main people affected are represented.

Though the journalist did use a lot of assertion, first claiming that “medical experts” believe he may possess a form of cancer, or had complications from a transplant – all due to his severe weight loss. Also using assertion when discussing Apple’s future stock drop, decrease in profits, and withholding the “seriousness of judgment” until the Apple conference later in the summer.

He does not use any reliable sources when making these assertions just vague titles such as “Apple watchers,” or the general “people”, or “Wall Street seems unfazed by Mr. Jobs leave.” I feel had he backed these assertions up with actual names/positions instead of random innuendos, the story would have been a lot stronger.

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704629004576136383642742472.html?mod=WSJ_hp_mostpop_read

“Mubarak Steps Down, Ceding Power to Military” by David D. Kirkpatrick and Anthony Shadid (The New York Times)

`Obviously a lot of special attention has been paid to the political issues over in Egypt, but a great victory has been put in place today – Hosni Mubarak, president of Egypt has officially resigned, ending a thirty year reign of dictatorship.

The article begins with quotes from several protesters who have been battling it out on the streets of Cairo for over 12 days now. “Egypt is free, if you’re an Egyptian lift your head…he’s finally off our throats, and soon we will bring someone good.”

I think it was very wise of the New York Times to first use quotes in the article from citizens off the streets of Egypt; because although the story maybe focused on Mubarak – it’s really all about the people who are affected the most.

The story then delves in deeper, giving accounts and quotes from Omar Sulieman, the Vice President of Egypt, as well as quotes from President Obama regarding the situation. The writer also obtained quotes from Wael Ghonim, who is cited as a key figure in the youth-led protest, and is seen as a prominent voice of “the people.” I personally had never heard of him, so I thought it was a great resource to showcase.

Throughout the entirety of the story, the writer used even more quotes from a variety of sources – Vice President Joe Biden, well known protest organizers, the foreign ministry of Switzerland (who state they have frozen Mubarak’s assets) , and from official members of Parliament and members of the Muslim Brotherhood.

I think the journalist did an amazing job of getting a vast number of different quotes and perspectives from sources that have entirely different standings and oppositions. I think it is always important to speak to and reach out to as many people as possible, especially within such a hard news story.

Though he did not explore assertions that much in this article, I believe it’s because he already had so much information from various parties. I believe that the writer did a fantastic job, and gave a very well-rounded, well sourced& quoted hard news story.

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/02/12/world/middleeast/12egypt.html?pagewanted=2&_r=1&hp