I chose the piece, Obama After Dark: The Precious Hours Alone from the Don Van Natta list. The piece, published in the New York Times gave insight into President Obama’s day-to-day life. It detailed how he spent his nights working, having dinner with his family or watching sports. The writer interviewed several sources about the president’s various habits and the relationships he had with his aids. Something I noticed about this piece is that it does not have the “suitcase lede” that Clark talks about. It’s clear, straightforward, and not bogged down by too many details.
This is how the article starts:
“Are you up?”
The emails arrive late, often after 1 a.m., tapped out on a secure BlackBerry from an email address known only to a few. The weary recipients know that once again, the boss has not yet gone to bed.
It’s oddly specific without giving away the subject (President Obama) or the location (The White House). It leaves enough mystery for the reader to want to continue.
Similarly, the nutgraph is straightforward, clear and easy to understand
Mr. Obama calls himself a “night guy,” and as president, he has come to consider the long, solitary hours after dark as essential as his time in the Oval Office.