Sharing Experience Through Journalism

I most often find myself engrossed by the more narrative style of journalism, when the writer reports on an event not with much personal opinion and analytical conclusions, but more of a ‘I was there and this is what I experienced’ vibe, a style interested readers who were not able to attend the event can appreciate and experience vicariously.
Monday night, hip hop artists Jay-Z and Eminem headlined the first concert to take place at the new Yankee stadium in the Bronx. In The New York Times, Jon Caramanica covers the event in his article ‘Masters of Triumph and Pain, With Help From Friends.’ Caramanica recounts the feeling of the evening from song to song and set to set. Caramanica writes of his surprise when Jay Z began bringing out special guests so early in the show, with Kanye West hitting the stage only two songs into Jay Z’s set, but Caramanica believes this proves Jay Z’s completely security with his own talent and fan base, that he can bring out such big names and still be the center of attention and who the fans are screaming for. Jay-Z after all, is New York City’s quintessential rap artist; continually defining the city’s sound while giving its residents something to connect to, and his success and the adoration of fans has not been affected by time.
Caramanica writes of the contrast between Jay Z and Eminem’s show and the micro-tour of which they were wrapping. The tour was called ‘Home and Home’ playing first ten days prior in Eminem’s hometown of Detroit, and ending with a two night show in New York City. Special guests ranged in musical styles and fan basses, Jay Z brought out, in addition to Kanye West, new artist Nicky Minaj as well as front man of Coldplay Chris Martin and his wife Beyonce. Eminem’s guests included Dr. Dre and the band D-12.
In another article reporting on the christening night at Yankee Stadium, NYDailyNews.com reporter Michael J Finney even goes as far to say as it was an event for the ages in an article entitled ‘Yankee Stadium fills up with fervent hip hop fans for Jay Z, Eminem concert’ Finney interviews several attendees and they’re quotes really support the emotion, enthusiasm and excitement that he first writes about too see Jay Z and Eminem live. He talks of the monetary sacrifice is was, with two men from Philadelphia paying hundreds of dollars to travel to the concert, as well as the $600 tickets and souvenirs.
I think both writers were able to capture what they felt were the most important aspects of the concert, and communicate to readers who were not present the feel and general experience of the night.

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/09/15/arts/music/15jayz.html?ref=arts
http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/2010/09/13/2010-09-13_yankee_stadium_fills_up_with_fervent_hiphop_fans_for_jayz_eminem_concert.html