Covering the Oscars

Throughout the 85th annual Academy Awards on Sunday night, I was considering how journalists would go about covering the numerous different elements. I asked myself whether a reporter should focus on the intriguing blend of host Seth MacFarlane’s unrestricted, crude humor with the formal Hollywood atmosphere, the multi-faceted accomplishment of Director/Producer/Actor Ben Affleck in his masterpiece, “Argo,” or Jennifer Lawrence looking as stunned as everybody else when she won best actress for “Silver Linings Playbook.” Further adding to the possible story lines were the four awards shockingly won by “Life of Pi.” New York Times, you have answered my questions.

Ben Affleck deservingly earned the primary focus of the story for his Best Picture award for “Argo.” Since the film was “once a long-shot contender,” the New York Times connected the award to all the other unexpected results of the night. The article recognized the surprising four trophies awarded to “Life of Pi” and “a flustered Jennifer Lawrence,” who tripped up the stairs on the way to claim her best actress award.

The New York Times article also spent three paragraphs focusing on Ben Affleck’s rise to Academy Award success. Besides that, the report was a summary that successfully captured the tension over MacFarlane’s risky humor. It also gave credit to all the award winners of the night. The New York Times once again provided a learning experience for aspiring journalists, showing exactly how to fuse content, entertainment and one central focal point into its coverage.

 

In an enthusiastic acceptance speech, Ben Affleck manages to quickly thank all his coworkers, family and the country of Canada for the creation of his masterpiece, “Argo.”