Robert De Niro tells NYU grads: “Yeah, you’re f-ed”

Presentation by: Krysta Lewis

Check it out!

• The full story can be found here: http://www.cnn.com/2015/05/22/living/feat-deniro-nyu-grad-speech/index.html

Image Credit: www.cnn.com

Lead

• Robert De Niro stated the truth at New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts graduation on Friday: “You made it- and, you’re f-ed” (Lee, 2015).

Who What When (partially) Where (partially)HowWhy

Could have been more specific and added more information to the lead

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No Stability in Sight

• “De Niro blunted noted that graduates with degrees in nursing, dentistry, business… have a future of stability ahead of them…a choice those other students made using reason and logic, but one that crop of performers could not ever make” (Lee, 2015). Great quote

A successful profile, then, combines quotes, facts, and desriptions to reveal someones true nature”

(Harrower, 2013).

Not a straight path to the future

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Passion Trumps Common Sense

• “You discovered a talent, developed an ambition and recognized your passion. When you feel that, you can’t fight it – you just go with it,” he explained. “When it comes to the arts, passion should always trump common sense. You aren’t just following your dreams, you’re reaching for your destiny… You’re an artist – yeah, you’re f-ed. The good news is that’s not a bad place to start” (Lee, 2015).

Quotes and events were given in chronological order

“Telling the story in a linear, narrative way becomes the most logical, engaging solution” (Harrower, 2013).

Rejection

• “A new door is opening for you – a door to a lifetime of rejection. It’s inevitable…rejection may sting, but feeling is that often, it has very little to do with you… when you’re audition or pitching, the direction may have someone different in mind, that’s just how it is” (Lee, 2015).

Although this is a another great quote provided in the article. There is missing feedback and quotes from the graduates and audience members. “You need good quotes both by and about the person you’re profiling” (Harrower, 2013). Image Credit: channelnomics.com

Final Words

• “Stay in touch…Treasure the associations and friendships and working relationships with the people in your classes…you never know what might come from it” (Lee, 2015).

As you can tell, this is a feature story because it

“offers advice, explores ideas and makes you laugh and

cry” (Harrower, 2013). Image Credit: www.ace8media.com

The Good

Headline that captures people’s attention and includes celebrities name

Great quotes from the ceremony

Good organization of the story and keeps the reader intrigued until the end

Most of the important elements are included in the lead

Image Credit: ratesupermarket.com

The Bad

• Lead could be stronger- doesn’t explain much more than the headline does

• The writer doesn’t include anything about the reactions or opinions of the graduates who watched the speech

• Very straightforward article, no creativity

Image Credit: ratesupermarket.com

Resources

• Harrower, T. (2013). Inside reporting: A practical guide to the craft of journalism (3rd ed.). New York, New York: McGraw-Hill.

• Lee, A. (2015, May 22). Robert De Niro’s NYU graduation speech. Retrieved June 2, 2015 from http://www.cnn.com/2015/05/22/living/feat-deniro-nyu-grad-speech/index.html