Syarifah Nur Aida commented on "Toilets become Nairobi's hottest social spots" (29 days ago)

nice job Shanley, i can broadened my knowledge. and i also agree with Kuria statement that says, "People are dying from typhoid but the relationship between death, sickness and sanitation is not clear in their minds.".. here in my country, Indonesia, we also expereienced a same thing. keep up the good work!

Jan Kapple Klein commented on "Kapple puts Northern California on canvas" (4 months ago)

I am Jan Kapple Klein, the artist that Shanley did this piece on .. being a local artist in the
Northern California area for over 20 years, I have had quite a few articles written on me and my work, but I am compelled to tell you that this particular one is the absolute BEST article that has ever been featured about me, by far. The tremendous feedback I have had from the community has been amazing; emails, phone calls, people stopping me on the streets to comment on it. Other articles in the past, done by seasoned journalists, always made me feel embarrassed or cheesy; focusing on mundane details, and missing the big picture. To be honest I have grown to loathe the whole interview process. But Shanley was different; she stayed with me for two hours, and got to know me. She didn’t try to "bend" me to the pre-conceived article she already purposed to write like so many others do.. She didn't pigeon hole me, and take things I said out of context. Most of all she didn’t write anything that was embarrassing; greatest fear of the interviewee. I have had so many friends, family and associates that have known me for a long time comment on how Shanley "captured me perfectly" - WHAT A COMPLIMENT!! ... because, honestly, I felt she presented me as a much more interesting person than I really am... (thank you for that Shanley). All this to say, TED OIFF, I understand you are giving Shanley critical journalistic guidelines and critique, but you have missed the whole point, the big picture, like all those other journalists before ... Shanley wrote something very extraordinary, not only to me, but to our community. Something that made us all feel proud and she got it spot on. The few "changes" I see above, to me, have lessened what Shanley originally did, replacing KLEIN with Jan, and some of the poetic visuals she had previously written now more journalistically clinical and cold. I loved her place in the story – that was the kind of story that had been agreed on. I did not go to college to learn how to do art. And I think I am happy about that now. I feel most times college, professors, the academia at large promote these standardized rules, practices, and policies that steal and suffocate the imagination and the spirit of all ART whether it be visual, or journalistic. Shanley, stay true to your heart. There is a whole community who thinks you are a stand out journalist, someone we will be watching from the sidelines; excited to see where your gifts and wings take you. Enjoy the your flight sweet bird.

PS To Harumi - thank you for encouraging and exciting Shanley's spirit and her extremely, original and extraordinary talents. YOU ROCK!!!

Jan Kapple Klein commented on "Kapple puts Northern California on canvas" (4 months ago)

I am Jan Kapple Klein, the artist that Shanley did this piece on .. being a local artist in the
Northern California area for over 20 years, I have had quite a few articles written on me and my work, but I am compelled to tell you that this particular one is the absolute BEST article that has ever been featured about me, by far. The tremendous feedback I have had from the community has been amazing; emails, phone calls, people stopping me on the streets to comment on it. Other articles in the past, done by seasoned journalists, always made me feel embarrassed or cheesy; focusing on mundane details, and missing the big picture. To be honest I have grown to loathe the whole interview process. But Shanley was different; she stayed with me for two hours, and got to know me. She didn’t try to "bend" me to the pre-conceived article she already purposed to write like so many others do.. She didn't pigeon hole me, and take things I said out of context. Most of all she didn’t write anything that was embarrassing; greatest fear of the interviewee. I have had so many friends, family and associates that have known me for a long time comment on how Shanley "captured me perfectly" - WHAT A COMPLIMENT!! ... because, honestly, I felt she presented me as a much more interesting person than I really am... (thank you for that Shanley). All this to say, TED OIFF, I understand you are giving Shanley critical journalistic guidelines and critique, but you have missed the whole point, the big picture, like all those other journalists before ... Shanley wrote something very extraordinary, not only to me, but to our community. Something that made us all feel proud and she got it spot on. The few "changes" I see above, to me, have lessened what Shanley originally did, replacing KLEIN with Jan, and some of the poetic visuals she had previously written now more journalistically clinical and cold. I loved her place in the story – that was the kind of story that had been agreed on. I did not go to college to learn how to do art. And I think I am happy about that now. I feel most times college, professors, the academia at large promote these standardized rules, practices, and policies that steal and suffocate the imagination and the spirit of all ART whether it be visual, or journalistic. Shanley, stay true to your heart. There is a whole community who thinks you are a stand out journalist, someone we will be watching from the sidelines; excited to see where your gifts and wings take you. Enjoy the your flight sweet bird.

PS To Harumi - thank you for encouraging and exciting Shanley's spirit and her extremely, original and extraordinary talents. YOU ROCK!!!

Ted Iliff commented on "Kapple puts Northern California on canvas" (4 months ago)

By removing yourself in the rewrite, you crafted a fine feature. This version is journalism.
Two notes: You call her Jan at one point, but I think that was just an oversight. The use of her last name was proper form throughout. Also, you jumped occasionally between past and present tense. Sometimes that works, but I'm not sure in this case.

Ted Iliff commented on "Kapple puts Northern California on canvas" (5 months ago)

This is a nice piece of writing, but from a purely journalism perspective it raises two issues.
1. Why are you telling us about this person? If your intent was just to write about someone you found interesting, you succeeded nicely. But it lacks a "so what" element that defines a news feature.
2. As Harumi noted, by injecting yourself into the story, you make the piece a commentary or blog. Again, that's ok if that was your intent. If intended for a news provider like UPI, the first person approach rarely works. A literary magazine, however, might find it quite acceptable.