News Friday 10/8/10

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/10/09/arts/music/09lennon.html?_r=1&ref=music

"Long After Death, Lennon Remains and Inspiration." by Allan Kozinn. New York Times.

I think the headline was good because it summarized the main idea of the article, and it shows how John Lennon still has an influence on people, even though he died thirty years ago. The lead of the story was a what lead because it describes what is happening on the day of John Lennon's 70th birthday. The lead tells the reader what events have been planned in commemoration of John Lennon's birthday. Te lead works well with the story because it emphasizes the main point of the story. The main point of the story is to show how people still remember John Lennon and are influenced by him. By telling the reader about all the events planned in commemoration to Lennon's birthday, the author is showing the influece of John Lennon on people. The author is also showing that people have not forgotten about John Lennon, despite the fact that Lennon has long been dead.
The author does not use any people as sources. The only sources used are comments in documentaries about John Lennon and Yoko Ono. I think that the author should have definately used regular Lennon fans as sources. Since the article was mainly about how John Lennon is still remembered until this day, the author should have included quotes from Lennon fans who can show the readers that John Lennon's legacy continues to live. I also think that the author should have also included more information about Lennon's influence on people today and during the 60s and 70s. That way, the author could have compared Lennon's influence on people when he was alive to when he was dead.
The news determinants that went into play for this article were timeliness and prominence. Timeliness was a news determinant because the article was posted on the same day of John Lennon's birthday. Since John Lennon is well-known, a story written about him on his birthday would attract readers more and the story would be more advertised than a story written about him on a regular day where people may not remember of John Lennon. Prominence is also a news determinant because John Lennon is very well-known, especially in New York City, since NYC was his home for a long time. People today can walk into a souvenir store in Manhattan and find something related to the Beatles or John Lennon and New York. Even walking in central park, can one be reminded of John Lennon, e.g., the John Lennon "Imagine" memorial and the people in the stands selling pictures of New York, some of which depict John Lennon.
The reason that I chose this article is because I am a Beatles/ John Lennon fan. Knowing that today was John Lennon's birthday, I decided to see if I found a story on John Lennon.