Washington Post (Winning Article)-Gunman Kills 32 at Virginia Tech In Deadliest Shooting in U.S. History

         I felt that this winning article of work done by Ian Shapira and Tom Jackman was a very well written piece of work. The two members of the Washington Post staff truly put their minds and most importantly their hearts into this work. I find that such purposeful documentation of serious events is what makes journalism the intriguing field that I've always found it to be. These two Washington Post staff writers did an excellent job with their documentation of the Virginia Tech shooting last April. The way that the two writers involved such clarifying details of the event coverage was also very impressive. They seemed to reach deep into the facts of the shooting and clarified every detail that took place on that tragic afternoon in Blacksburg. I paid attention to how they involved all the essential details in order for the reader to almost feel as if they were there themselves. They also took information from several of the victims in order to expand the overall point of view of the experience. This gave the reader the ability to see the story from all sides and from a variety of perspectives. Quotations also caught my eye as coming from a wide range of those involved in the mayham that morning. The next close detail that caught my attention was the way in which the writers included such meaningful quotes. For example, "I'm really at a loss for words to explain or to understand the carnage that has visited our campus," said Charles W. Steger, president of Virginia Tech. Quotes such as theme seem to grab the reader and make them think deeply about the situation. Overall, one can easily view why this was a Pulitzer Prize winning piece of work. From the great detail involved, to the strategic use of victim’s quotes, this is well-rounded work. To me this has served as an example of how to properly handle a dramatic event in the news. I one day hope to implement this proven style of writing in my work as I progress in my journalism experience.