in talbots "New Yorker" article about david simon, its easy to see the reporter come through in simon's quotes. his (over)analysis of people shows that he is always looking for a story in everyone he observes. this is something that reporters do and something that i do often for my own writing (be it a news article or a short story). simon also takes pride in the power of "The Wire," the HBO show for which he is the producer. “ ‘The Wire’ is dissent,” he says. “It is perhaps the only storytelling on television that overtly suggests that our political and economic and social constructs are no longer viable, that our leadership has failed us relentlessly, and that no, we are not going to be all right.” his thoughts on the social commentary of his work and his hope that it will become bigger than television or art is something that i think all writers and artists of all kinds live for. i dont know if this answers the question of simon's "reporter's-way of thinking" but it's definately easy to see the writer in him.

Steve Lopez analysis:

'60s Still Alive on a Corner in Echo Park : http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-lopez17oct17,1,3304383.column

In this article, Lopez tells us about Art Goldberg, a "lifelong rabble-rouser" who runs a law office for people who dont have a lot of money. Goldberg is also an avid anti-war and free speech advocate since the 60s. The way Lopez tells this story is more like painting a picture rather than reporting the news. He picked an interesting person and wrote about him descriptively, telling us things like Goldberg's office being above a Vietnemese bakery and how Goldberg likes the moon cakes there. These things may seem (and may very well be) unnecessary, but they give both Goldberg and Lopez a face. A more interesting and personal read makes the story more powerful and lasting. The fact that Goldberg protested the Vietnam war and is now protesting this war from above a Vietnemese bakery is something better than fiction. It is a fact. By telling us about this person who has a lot to say but may not have much power, Lopez is telling us far more than his less than 1000 word article appears to. By telling the story in this way, Lopez makes us observe ourselves in a way. This article in particular was almost a call-to-arms, giving us a look at the past, the present and ourselves. We need to "cause enough disruption and chaos to make a difference." This quote is taken from the most powerful part of the article. Lopez is able to say such powerful and volitile things because he is speaking through his subject. Lopez turns reporting into an art and his reporting becomes more effective and powerful for it.

we were assigned to answer the question "what letter was filed off of the typewriters at the Boston Herrald when Donald Murray started working there; would this work in Illinois; would this work in your own writing?" or something to that degree.
the answer is that the letter 'i' had been filed off of the typewriters. this was done in attempt to prevent the reporters from speaking in the first person. in illinios, this would work, but may become a problem since we would use the 'i' more often as the state begins with that letter. writing illinois chamber of comerce or illinois industrial incinerators incorporated would be more difficult. removing the 'i' from my personal keyboard would help me. it would be a reminder to not speak in the first person so often in my newswriting, as that is something that i struggle with.