So, Kym Worthy charged Kwame Kilpatrick Monday, and it was all over the news; from editorials to page one stories. I liked the lead of the story that ran in the Detroit News, but the New York Times won for my favorite last paragraph. They used Worthy's quote, "Even children understand that lying is wrong." It just summed up the whole case so perfectly. Both the Detroit News and the Detroit Free Press used that quote, but it was combined with her comments about Detroit's money being used wrongfully by the mayor. Standing alone, the quote has a lot more impact.
In the New York Times article, they also emphasized local reaction to the charges, talking to Detroit residents in a local sports bar. That was an angle typically used in follow-up stories, but it was good to see that aspect in the Times' breaking story.
Finally, the Free Press did a nice job of packaging everything together. All along, it has been on the front of the paper's Web site, very easy to find. Then, when the story broke, they also had an exclusive interview with Worthy. She said she would not accept his resignation in return for excusing Kilpatrick of a criminal trial. That bit of information — which was posted as a video and written out — was a great angle, and answered everyone's burning 'What now?!" question.
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I think often writers forget about saving something good for the ending of the story. The New York Times did that by using that quote at the end. A good story needs a solid beginning, middle and end. A good reporter tries to save a good kicker for the end.
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