Speakers Carolyn Brown and Stephen Koff

Listening Response

Speakers Carolyn Brown and Stephen Koff were able to bring a lot of experience to the table, with both very distinctive careers. Koff was able to highlight political coverage in the print medium. I especially enjoyed hearing how his career path took him to a couple of smaller cities, and eventually to Washington D.C. Explaining his coverage of various events such as the election of President Obama. Carolyn Brown was able to bring her experience of storytelling through the broadcast medium. I enjoyed her describe the filmmaking process, how she had about nine subject for her latest documentary and had to cut that down to three or four. It was interesting to hear how she approaches her documentaries as a journalist going to a new area, and then finding the story. I thought she was excellent in showing the raw emotion of those in the story. If I were to have one critique however, it would be the quality of her video. There were beautiful shot, but mixed with other shots that were shaky and had low lighting, I wish the quality was even throughout, or perhaps this was the look she was going for.

Lawrence Downes piece on border town culture was exquisite. Using descriptive details of the desert landscape; showcasing the plants, shadows, describing the environment, placing the reader in the location of the story. She also successfully described Lisa Ronstadt's family life and what it was like to grow up in Sonora. I enjoyed the flow the reporter took this story, at first explaining Ronstadt's musical background that was instilled by her family, then visiting places that are significant for her family, such as the museum that her father had founded. It was little details such as the Sonoran hot dog, or having lunch at the family friend's house, that draws in the reader, giving a little context to the culture. A person from New York reading this story probably has never seen cuisine quite like this. It's sad to read that Ronstadt now has Parkinson's disease, but the inner joy of Ronstadt is shown when Downes rights that she is joking around and having a few laughs, such as the heroin joke.