Domestic Abuse Photographs

To begin, I took a good look at the photo journal itself.  I had to see what exactly had transpired.  What I found, unsurprisingly, was something very dark and very sad.  Maggie’s story is a tragic one.  What is equally as unfortunate is the fact that Memphis and Kayden were subjected to such negative childhood experiences.  Such moments, I believe, can have a significantly negative impact on one’s development.  My reactions beyond that were mixed.  I am happy that Shane is in jail.  I am hopeful that Maggie’s experience with him will set her and her children on a brighter path.  I am intrigued by what this could mean for journalism. 

The main issue, it appears, is the one of Sara Lewkowicz’s roll in the photography of the events leading up to the incident and the physical attack itself.  I do not believe that attacks just happen.  Shane clearly had a pre-disposition for violence due to his previous jail time.  He probably showed signs of violent tendencies throughout.  This clearly puts Lewkowicz at a conflict of interest.  On the one hand, a violent, dark, and moody Shane creates and interesting antagonist for her story.  Unfortunately, his “character type” causes drama that sells.  I would support this by pointing out that a majority of the pictures taken of Shane portray him as such.  Part of her probably did not want to intervene into any relationship issues in order to preserve the good and evil dynamic of her story.  On the other hand, she has a responsibility as an informed bystander to act.  I do not disagree with the way she individually handled the attack.  I am more disappointed that her and the two other adults in the room did not intervene as a unit.  All that aside, it seems to me that she sold her soul by picking the former and getting the photographs.  I would be greatly surprised if she was never present during a moment that foreshadowed the attack to come.  The fact that she failed to act on this knowledge and perhaps talk to either Maggie or a domestic abuse organization is not a credit to her character.  If I were her, I would have attempted to correct the situation at an earlier point, before the children were subject to such maltreatment of their mother. 

I will stop attempting to destroy her character there.  Ironically, her story could be the major headline that Domestic Abuse Prevention Organizations need to spread their message and their services.  Her photographs could be the wake up call for those in a violent relationship to get out and get help.  Ultimately, debating what she should have or could have done is a pointless.  She made a calculated decision and now has to live with the consequences.  Each journalist put in that position will have to do the same.  It is unreasonable to write a step-by-step code for the way journalists are supposed to handle starkly unique situations like this.  Going forward, I hope the lessons from this photo journal will help. 

Picture with caption

Montaque Gill-Caesar (cq) takes one of his nine attempts from the field tonight over an Arkansas defender.  Gill-Caesar contributed a team-leading 22 points in a heartbreaking 61-60 loss at Mizzou Arena.  The photograph was taken by MUTigers.com

Response to Ira Glass Video

The video of Mr. Glass's commentary was very well done.  The graphics correlated extraordinarily well with the message that he was working to convey.  This was, of course, due to the fact that the graphics themselves were literally the words that Glass was speaking.  I believe the designers of the video did a solid job at using various fonts to hammer in the most important points of the monologue.  Their use of italics and size set words apart that might’ve otherwise been lost in Glass’s stream of consciousness.  All that being said, I believe they could have even improved their work with even more differentiation.  The video failed to use much color.  Color can be very successful at bringing forth emotion in a viewer.  Had the designers used color with the words they wished to stand out, they could have elicited an even stronger emotionally based response from the viewer. 

In regards to the message itself, I believe Glass brings up a notion that I have often encountered in my life.  It is the idea that working through adversity, not around it, is the only sure fire way to reach a better outcome.  These ideals had been instilled in me as a child but were really brought to fruition during my time on the Carrboro High School football team.  Carrboro came into its eighth year of existence this fall.  It is the smallest of the three high schools that are in the Chapel Hill-Carrboro City School District located in central North Carolina.  In its inaugural football game in 2007, the team lost to defending state champion Burlington Cummings by a score of 89-0.  That team would go on to post a record of 1-11, becoming the laughing stock of the greater research-triangle region.  The Head Coach of that abysmal football team was a man by the name of Jason Tudryn.  He taught those players that continued work on their craft, despite the losses, would make them better men and a better team.  They bought in.  By the time I came to Carrboro in 2010, the freshman of that 2007 squad were now seniors and had endured years of adversity.  Their investment was not in vain as the team posted the first winning record in school history and advanced to the third round of the playoffs, securing a 10-4 record.  By the time I was a junior, a winning culture had been established and the team went 15-0, only to lose on the final play in the 2AA State Championship game. Tudryn’s teachings made me realize that there are no shortcuts in life and that only work can deliver the results desired.  Glass echoes this message, saying that working through ones rut is the way to secure level of quality desired. 

On one final note, Glass seemed to have a very strong voice for audio.  Out of curiosity I Googled him and discovered, that yes, he is a radio personality.  He produces and hosts The American Life.  I plan on listening to it sometime soon.