I particularly enjoy reading news pieces from journalist who craft their work with not only an authoritative grip, but appear that they’re interested in the subject being covered. Dennis Overbye’s New York Times article, “Two Earth-Size Planets Are Discovered,” is constructed in a way that displays a fondness Overbye has for this recent discovery and what it means to those who made it.
The lede opens by comparing the discovery of two planets similar to Earth and Venus to a seasonal gift from outer space to astronomers. This already shows the writer’s fun appreciation of the new discovery. Throughout the rest of the article Overbye quotes from astronomers who are extremely proud of the discovery made by the Kepler spacecraft. Overbye puts his own assertions in the piece when he mentions that the two new planets are unlivable and that scientists are not yet at the point where inhabitable planets have been found. Even though the writer makes statements that do not have direct quotes for support, other quotes are added from scientists who still consider this discovery to be important.
Overbye’s explanations about the nature and location of the two planets are filled with technical information that proves accurate and intelligent even without constant quotes from sense makers. I would usually be critical of journalists who go on without frequent checks of information being listed, but Overbye sticks to hard facts already proven by research. In addition to his intelligent narration of the circumstances surrounding the new discovery, Overbye will cite e-mail’s from scientists for the purpose of validation to facts he already referenced. This is useful because with these quotes Overbye continually supports his own knowledge on the subject matter of his piece.
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