This piece is on the longer side, but it?s actually really professional-esque. There are reporters in the main studio, as well as reporters in different countries all over the world! This is really cool to me. I learned so much about international youth culture.
Bloodlights is a Norwegian rock band that recreated itself in 2006 after a ten-year hiatus. They created four albums. Very popular at large venues and small festivals, this band is very popular in Europe, I?d assume. Their music actually is pretty cool.
In Amsterdam, Dutch teenagers smoke less marijuana than British, French, and American teens, although it is legal in the Netherlands. Apparently, one of the major reasons is because after a while, it stops being a rebellious act; another reason why being the idea that if you are around it frequently, it loses its essence after a while.
Singapore is offering a course in flirting. (^_^) That in itself is so cool that it needs no description? although it IS being done to increase the birth rate in the population.
The music is on point. I cracked up laughing listening to how the music perfectly compliments the topic ? like when Macho Man played in the background as ?Masculinity in the Classroom? was discussed. The tones vary depending on the topics; however, the majority of the information is presented in an informational, yet humorous voice. I really enjoyed listening to this piece. I mos def want to hear this on the radio. It is radio personified. I want to tune into 93.9, 102.3, 104.9, 95.5, and 105.9 and hear the Cool things in life being talked about.
This piece really touched home, as many people I know are in, or have been, incarcerated. The title of the piece captivated me. Prison Visiting Hours. I remember quite clearly the long lines and countless security measures that were taken just for a few moments to speak to someone I love. The ambient sound of people in the background really put things in perspective. The emotion that I hear in Jennifer?s voice as she speaks in her beautiful accented voice is priceless. Her tone is well, especially since she enunciates and pronounces most of her words. Additionally, she puts the right emphasis on just the right syllables, giving the listener the feelings of both sympathy and empathy. Very descriptive.
Though the piece is on the short side (playing at a length of two minutes and fifteen seconds), I truly enjoyed hearing another youth?s impression of the prison scene ? not as a ?rehabilitant?, but as a visitor. It saddens me to know that the same big brother who promised to beat up any boy who hurts his sister or makes her cry, is, in effect, the same one who is doing the hurting and paining. Throughout the piece, the conversation with the audience is fluid and well-paced which gives the narrator a personality and sense of self in the ears of the listener.
I absolutely HAVE to hear this on the radio. No doubt about it. It?s raw. It has flair. Most of all, it?s real. Many people ? both kids and adults alike ? can relate to this story. Wonderful job Martinez. Wonderful job.
It?s appalling to think that adults who are fully aware of the law are willing to risk their freedom? all for an underage teen?s want to drink or smoke. Even though there was no ambient sound throughout most of the piece, my attention was constantly piqued. Underage drinking has always interested me as a non-drinker, and I have never understood how it?s possible if stores can?t sell it to minors. Noah did a wonderful job with the interviews and transitions? especially at the end when he includes an example of the procedure that Alaskan officers take. His tone, though monotonous, is very informative. He presents interesting facts in a way that makes his age irrelevant to his job. He sounds professional, and carries that professionalism throughout the whole piece. I enjoyed it and I hope that people everywhere could hear it. It sends a powerful message that underage drinking is serious and whoever takes part of it will be persecuted.
I like the piece overall. It combines a child-like innocence of facing the death of a family member with the more mature aspect of dealing with and overcoming grief. I truly can relate to this piece because when my grandmother died in 2004, I was only 15 years old. She was my best friend, as well as my favorite person in the world, and when she died, I didn?t know what to think ? what to ask? who to blame? I felt lost and confused, just as Krystle did with her cousin. After grieving though, it was easier to deal with.
I like Krystle?s piece because it accurately depicts the emotions going through a young adults mind with things like death? especially when it?s someone young who dies. The sound bytes, especially the music at the end and interviews near the middle, were superb. I really enjoyed listening to the piece. Another thing about it that I liked was how Krystal?s speech went from unsure and sort of mechanical to more confident. It resembled her attitude toward death in a sense.
The piece, in my opinion, could use a little more work. Within the first minute of the radio story, there was a twenty-six second period of silence. It threw me off, especially since the introduction was so on point. It had the wonderful ambient sound that I?m so fond of? the piercing gun drilling away in the background, along with the conversation between the client and the person giving the piercing? as well as good narration.
The techno music that played during the spanish conversation that he had with his mom was sort of drowning his voice out, but I understand his need to tell his story in an environment where the so-called problem takes place. Teens all across the board can relate to the issue of wanting to make choices that their parents don?t agree with. Not only dealing with piercings, but tattoos as well.
I never knew that Alaska was the largest state. I didn?t know that many Alaskans weren?t able to vote either? neither did I know that Alaska hadn?t voted for a democratic candidate since 1964. Another interesting thing is that, I never knew that Alaska had a problem with the No Child Left Behind Act too. (I?m from DC and the NCLB Act is non-existent in our neck of the woods as well?)
Tonei did a fabulous job in presenting such in depth coverage of something so important, in such a small frame of time. Not only that, but ? even though it has no ambient sound, interviews, or sounds other than his narrative voice ? he managed to keep my focus the ENTIRE time. Presenting facts, ideas, issues, and personality in a single assignment was amazingly done well.
The tone was formal, yet something about it still spoke to me as a teen myself? maybe because he was a teen too? but I enjoyed it very much. Thanks for the facts Glavinic.
Does love make you crazy? That?s the question that is offered in the title. ?Crazy in Love?, Beyonce?s smash hit from the early 2000s, was the opening sound byte for this piece. While it gave many definitions for love, some by males, others by females, still others by elders and youth; I still eagerly awaited the answer to the question. Between the choppy transitions and the silly responses to what people?s ideas of love are, I began getting a little bit restless. The only ambient sound was the children playing during the interviews and Beyonce in the beginning and ending of the piece. It seemed a little unorganized with the interviews during the end, but after listening to eight minutes and fifty-four seconds worth of audio, I did come out with one thing:
Love makes you crazy, only if you were crazy to begin with? =]
(Ms. Lavender, that is the quote of the year!)
The tone was informal, but it didn?t take away from the essence of the topic since love is generally thought of as a youthful entity. The narrator?s spunky personality shined right through the waves, and I definitely am not mad at that. With a little more work, your pieces will be as smooth as ice. Good job though!
The opening sound of the car's engine fit perfectly with the narrator's words, as did all of the other ambient sounds and transitional phrases. The genuineness and sincerity of the tone, in addition to the humorous anecdotes throughout the piece, were comforting. It put me in Natalie's shoes. I don't talk to my mother as much as I use to, but the feelings I have for her are just as strong as they were when I was little... maybe even a bit more since I know that I'll have to one day take her place and wean myself away a little. This piece hit a soft spot, and it's not just because I'm a sucker for love!
The only issue I have with the piece is that weird white noise that I hear when the volume is turned up. Everything else is fine. The transitions are perfect. The imagery? Amazing. Nothing can compare to the precision of this piece's message and I definitely want to hear this on every radio station on Mother's Day. Great job Natalie!
I really enjoyed this piece. It not only tells the tale of a great American Cambodian in the making, but it also has an undertone of how generations culturally differ. I was intrigued when I learned that though her mom still held fast to her Cambodian ideals while living in America, but since Chandra was raised around families who upheld American traditions, Chandra felt the pressures of American culture (such as graduating from high school, participating in extracurricular activities, working hard, and excelling academically).
The cheer in the beginning was a beautiful touch, especially since the picture has her in the cheerleading uniform. The transition from the cheerleading chants to the interview with her mom was a tadbit awkward for me though. Everything else was smooth sailing... sound bytes from the interview, energy from the narration, ambient sound... everything was on key. Kudos to you Chandra Touch, and I hope to hear your story on the waves soon!
I?m glad that he added statistics and sociologists? perspectives. Had he not done that, I?m not sure if I could have forced myself to listen anymore. Someone like me has to have good sound to stay focused on a piece ? whether it?s a dramatic speaker or a group of children playing Miss Mary Mack in the background ? and sad to say, this piece had neither for me. The interviews were much too low compared to the narrator?s audio level and he sounded like he was reading a script because he paused a few times to pronounce words. The introduction is good, but then I was turned off by the lack of interest that the narrator portrayed. His tone was monotonous and boring during the narration, but during the interview part with his mom, he sounded like a true journalist ? conveying passion and ingenuity when teaching his mom how to revert to the dark side of video games. (LOL.) It was confusing for me? making me wonder where that went to once he was on the mic.
I thought that this piece would be a score for the youth who like to play violent video games such as Grand Theft Auto, WWE Smackdown, and Def Jam Vendetta. Unfortunately, I had to chalk this one up as a loss since I took it as just another kid complaining about adults not liking his games.
Since I?m so used to such somber and solemn radio pieces, I wasn?t really into it at first. I was waiting for some facts and narration? but was surprised when I heard personal accounts of what happened when children?s innocence was shattered. The narrator(s) are basically non-existent in this piece. It bothered me a little, but then again, the piece IS only two minutes long.
This piece flows very well. After a while, because the music compliments the theme of the piece so well, I forget that it even exists. I became more focused on the anecdotes. No microphone movement was heard, no voices going in and out of the microphone. No overly loud background sound? just cheery responses to how Chicagoan youths idea of Santa Claus?s existence was shattered like other urban dreams, like the Easter Rabbit and Tooth Fairy.
Chris, Porsha, and Jasmine created a very jocular and light-hearted piece about something that people don?t really think about ? who it was that killed Santa Claus for them. It puts me back in the winter of the mid-nineties, back when my older cousin unsympathetically boasted about how jolly ole Saint Nick didn?t exist because she assisted my mother and grandmother in wrapping the gifts. I was hopelessly devastated for about two weeks? so disheartening and disappointing, especially since I was only in about the third grade?
I was somewhat disappointed in this piece because it has no sound other than the narrator?s voice. I like for stories to put me in the mood, to mentally and emotionally put me in the shoes of the people involved in the piece, but in this case, I simply couldn?t. There is no ambient sound ? not even the sound of an envelope being opened or guards in the background or other inmates or? anything! The letters were very realistic and sort of remind me of the letters I send to my friend Mat, who is also in jail; but it?s really repetitive at some points. He appreciates letters being sent just as much as the narrator, Randy, does. He sounds like he wants to display his appreciation through this piece, but it doesn?t quite cut it. At some points, there is some evidence of gratitude, but then it just as quickly dissolves and becomes distant once again.
Not many people are willing to cast a glance at the homeless; however, Zoe High did more than her share to vouch for the homeless in her radio piece. It is basically about what the title states - how people in Portland, Maine view the homeless. Both sides are taken into consideration... the less fortunate, as well as the people who watch and judge them daily. Enunciation and pronunciation are done extremely well in this piece. Her speech is like a river flowing fluidly, with just enough pauses to transition from narration to interviews. It?s like a hook, line, and sinker for me because she didn't have to recast her words. It starts as a question, which really probes into the depths of one's brain: How do you view homeless people? Giving several responses to the question, one can?t help but to visualize each one ? alcoholics, schizophrenia-stricken ones, the ones who rummage through trash. Then she catches me off guard with the interview with the ex-homeless man. Hearing his side, it made me think about how I treat homeless people and my demeanor towards them, as well as what I see as other people?s initial disposition when encountering the poor. A job well done, but, it is very neutral in tone. There could be more emotion, whether it is empathy or anger, just to spark some type of reaction from the reader. And more than neutrality, it is informative. Chronic homelessness is one of the less talked about problems in America and Zoe did an awesome job in presenting this information. A little ambient sound or music wouldn't hurt either, but I would definitely suggest that this piece be played during peak radio hours to get more listeners' attention.
Comments by KaMeisha Jerae Hodge
Comment for "Cool_03272008" (deleted)
KaMeisha Jerae Hodge
Posted on March 31, 2008 at 06:13 AM
Review of Cool_03272008 (deleted)
This piece is on the longer side, but it?s actually really professional-esque. There are reporters in the main studio, as well as reporters in different countries all over the world! This is really cool to me. I learned so much about international youth culture.
Bloodlights is a Norwegian rock band that recreated itself in 2006 after a ten-year hiatus. They created four albums. Very popular at large venues and small festivals, this band is very popular in Europe, I?d assume. Their music actually is pretty cool.
In Amsterdam, Dutch teenagers smoke less marijuana than British, French, and American teens, although it is legal in the Netherlands. Apparently, one of the major reasons is because after a while, it stops being a rebellious act; another reason why being the idea that if you are around it frequently, it loses its essence after a while.
Singapore is offering a course in flirting. (^_^) That in itself is so cool that it needs no description? although it IS being done to increase the birth rate in the population.
The music is on point. I cracked up laughing listening to how the music perfectly compliments the topic ? like when Macho Man played in the background as ?Masculinity in the Classroom? was discussed. The tones vary depending on the topics; however, the majority of the information is presented in an informational, yet humorous voice. I really enjoyed listening to this piece. I mos def want to hear this on the radio. It is radio personified. I want to tune into 93.9, 102.3, 104.9, 95.5, and 105.9 and hear the Cool things in life being talked about.
Comment for "Prison Visiting Hours"
KaMeisha Jerae Hodge
Posted on March 31, 2008 at 05:47 AM | Permalink
Review of Prison Visiting Hours
This piece really touched home, as many people I know are in, or have been, incarcerated. The title of the piece captivated me. Prison Visiting Hours. I remember quite clearly the long lines and countless security measures that were taken just for a few moments to speak to someone I love. The ambient sound of people in the background really put things in perspective. The emotion that I hear in Jennifer?s voice as she speaks in her beautiful accented voice is priceless. Her tone is well, especially since she enunciates and pronounces most of her words. Additionally, she puts the right emphasis on just the right syllables, giving the listener the feelings of both sympathy and empathy. Very descriptive.
Though the piece is on the short side (playing at a length of two minutes and fifteen seconds), I truly enjoyed hearing another youth?s impression of the prison scene ? not as a ?rehabilitant?, but as a visitor. It saddens me to know that the same big brother who promised to beat up any boy who hurts his sister or makes her cry, is, in effect, the same one who is doing the hurting and paining. Throughout the piece, the conversation with the audience is fluid and well-paced which gives the narrator a personality and sense of self in the ears of the listener.
I absolutely HAVE to hear this on the radio. No doubt about it. It?s raw. It has flair. Most of all, it?s real. Many people ? both kids and adults alike ? can relate to this story. Wonderful job Martinez. Wonderful job.
?There we are, the closest we will ever be.?
Comment for "Alcohol investigators catch 'em in the act"
KaMeisha Jerae Hodge
Posted on March 19, 2008 at 04:58 PM | Permalink
Review of Alcohol investigators catch 'em in the act
It?s appalling to think that adults who are fully aware of the law are willing to risk their freedom? all for an underage teen?s want to drink or smoke. Even though there was no ambient sound throughout most of the piece, my attention was constantly piqued. Underage drinking has always interested me as a non-drinker, and I have never understood how it?s possible if stores can?t sell it to minors. Noah did a wonderful job with the interviews and transitions? especially at the end when he includes an example of the procedure that Alaskan officers take. His tone, though monotonous, is very informative. He presents interesting facts in a way that makes his age irrelevant to his job. He sounds professional, and carries that professionalism throughout the whole piece. I enjoyed it and I hope that people everywhere could hear it. It sends a powerful message that underage drinking is serious and whoever takes part of it will be persecuted.
Comment for "Short Wave: Dealing With Loss"
KaMeisha Jerae Hodge
Posted on March 19, 2008 at 04:26 PM | Permalink
Review of Dealing With Loss
I like the piece overall. It combines a child-like innocence of facing the death of a family member with the more mature aspect of dealing with and overcoming grief. I truly can relate to this piece because when my grandmother died in 2004, I was only 15 years old. She was my best friend, as well as my favorite person in the world, and when she died, I didn?t know what to think ? what to ask? who to blame? I felt lost and confused, just as Krystle did with her cousin. After grieving though, it was easier to deal with.
I like Krystle?s piece because it accurately depicts the emotions going through a young adults mind with things like death? especially when it?s someone young who dies. The sound bytes, especially the music at the end and interviews near the middle, were superb. I really enjoyed listening to the piece. Another thing about it that I liked was how Krystal?s speech went from unsure and sort of mechanical to more confident. It resembled her attitude toward death in a sense.
Comment for "Getting Pierced" (deleted)
KaMeisha Jerae Hodge
Posted on March 11, 2008 at 06:55 PM
Review of Getting Pierced (deleted)
The piece, in my opinion, could use a little more work. Within the first minute of the radio story, there was a twenty-six second period of silence. It threw me off, especially since the introduction was so on point. It had the wonderful ambient sound that I?m so fond of? the piercing gun drilling away in the background, along with the conversation between the client and the person giving the piercing? as well as good narration.
The techno music that played during the spanish conversation that he had with his mom was sort of drowning his voice out, but I understand his need to tell his story in an environment where the so-called problem takes place. Teens all across the board can relate to the issue of wanting to make choices that their parents don?t agree with. Not only dealing with piercings, but tattoos as well.
Comment for "If I could talk to a presidential candidate"
KaMeisha Jerae Hodge
Posted on February 15, 2008 at 04:27 PM | Permalink
Review of If I could talk to a presidential candidate
I never knew that Alaska was the largest state. I didn?t know that many Alaskans weren?t able to vote either? neither did I know that Alaska hadn?t voted for a democratic candidate since 1964. Another interesting thing is that, I never knew that Alaska had a problem with the No Child Left Behind Act too. (I?m from DC and the NCLB Act is non-existent in our neck of the woods as well?)
Tonei did a fabulous job in presenting such in depth coverage of something so important, in such a small frame of time. Not only that, but ? even though it has no ambient sound, interviews, or sounds other than his narrative voice ? he managed to keep my focus the ENTIRE time. Presenting facts, ideas, issues, and personality in a single assignment was amazingly done well.
The tone was formal, yet something about it still spoke to me as a teen myself? maybe because he was a teen too? but I enjoyed it very much. Thanks for the facts Glavinic.
Simple and right to the point. Love it.
Comment for "Does Love Make You Crazy"
KaMeisha Jerae Hodge
Posted on February 15, 2008 at 04:12 PM | Permalink
Review of Does Love Make You Crazy
Does love make you crazy? That?s the question that is offered in the title. ?Crazy in Love?, Beyonce?s smash hit from the early 2000s, was the opening sound byte for this piece. While it gave many definitions for love, some by males, others by females, still others by elders and youth; I still eagerly awaited the answer to the question. Between the choppy transitions and the silly responses to what people?s ideas of love are, I began getting a little bit restless. The only ambient sound was the children playing during the interviews and Beyonce in the beginning and ending of the piece. It seemed a little unorganized with the interviews during the end, but after listening to eight minutes and fifty-four seconds worth of audio, I did come out with one thing:
Love makes you crazy, only if you were crazy to begin with? =]
(Ms. Lavender, that is the quote of the year!)
The tone was informal, but it didn?t take away from the essence of the topic since love is generally thought of as a youthful entity. The narrator?s spunky personality shined right through the waves, and I definitely am not mad at that. With a little more work, your pieces will be as smooth as ice. Good job though!
Comment for "Letter to My Mom: You Haven't Lost Me"
KaMeisha Jerae Hodge
Posted on February 15, 2008 at 03:47 PM | Permalink
Review of Letter to My Mom: You Haven't Lost Me
The opening sound of the car's engine fit perfectly with the narrator's words, as did all of the other ambient sounds and transitional phrases. The genuineness and sincerity of the tone, in addition to the humorous anecdotes throughout the piece, were comforting. It put me in Natalie's shoes. I don't talk to my mother as much as I use to, but the feelings I have for her are just as strong as they were when I was little... maybe even a bit more since I know that I'll have to one day take her place and wean myself away a little. This piece hit a soft spot, and it's not just because I'm a sucker for love!
The only issue I have with the piece is that weird white noise that I hear when the volume is turned up. Everything else is fine. The transitions are perfect. The imagery? Amazing. Nothing can compare to the precision of this piece's message and I definitely want to hear this on every radio station on Mother's Day. Great job Natalie!
Comment for "The All-American Cambodian"
KaMeisha Jerae Hodge
Posted on January 26, 2008 at 11:29 AM | Permalink
Review of The All-American Cambodian
I really enjoyed this piece. It not only tells the tale of a great American Cambodian in the making, but it also has an undertone of how generations culturally differ. I was intrigued when I learned that though her mom still held fast to her Cambodian ideals while living in America, but since Chandra was raised around families who upheld American traditions, Chandra felt the pressures of American culture (such as graduating from high school, participating in extracurricular activities, working hard, and excelling academically).
The cheer in the beginning was a beautiful touch, especially since the picture has her in the cheerleading uniform. The transition from the cheerleading chants to the interview with her mom was a tadbit awkward for me though. Everything else was smooth sailing... sound bytes from the interview, energy from the narration, ambient sound... everything was on key. Kudos to you Chandra Touch, and I hope to hear your story on the waves soon!
Comment for "Video Game Violence"
KaMeisha Jerae Hodge
Posted on January 26, 2008 at 10:35 AM | Permalink
Review of Video Game Violence
I?m glad that he added statistics and sociologists? perspectives. Had he not done that, I?m not sure if I could have forced myself to listen anymore. Someone like me has to have good sound to stay focused on a piece ? whether it?s a dramatic speaker or a group of children playing Miss Mary Mack in the background ? and sad to say, this piece had neither for me. The interviews were much too low compared to the narrator?s audio level and he sounded like he was reading a script because he paused a few times to pronounce words. The introduction is good, but then I was turned off by the lack of interest that the narrator portrayed. His tone was monotonous and boring during the narration, but during the interview part with his mom, he sounded like a true journalist ? conveying passion and ingenuity when teaching his mom how to revert to the dark side of video games. (LOL.) It was confusing for me? making me wonder where that went to once he was on the mic.
I thought that this piece would be a score for the youth who like to play violent video games such as Grand Theft Auto, WWE Smackdown, and Def Jam Vendetta. Unfortunately, I had to chalk this one up as a loss since I took it as just another kid complaining about adults not liking his games.
Comment for "Who Killed Santa Claus For You?"
KaMeisha Jerae Hodge
Posted on January 22, 2008 at 11:01 AM | Permalink
Review of Who Killed Santa Claus For You?
Since I?m so used to such somber and solemn radio pieces, I wasn?t really into it at first. I was waiting for some facts and narration? but was surprised when I heard personal accounts of what happened when children?s innocence was shattered. The narrator(s) are basically non-existent in this piece. It bothered me a little, but then again, the piece IS only two minutes long.
This piece flows very well. After a while, because the music compliments the theme of the piece so well, I forget that it even exists. I became more focused on the anecdotes. No microphone movement was heard, no voices going in and out of the microphone. No overly loud background sound? just cheery responses to how Chicagoan youths idea of Santa Claus?s existence was shattered like other urban dreams, like the Easter Rabbit and Tooth Fairy.
Chris, Porsha, and Jasmine created a very jocular and light-hearted piece about something that people don?t really think about ? who it was that killed Santa Claus for them. It puts me back in the winter of the mid-nineties, back when my older cousin unsympathetically boasted about how jolly ole Saint Nick didn?t exist because she assisted my mother and grandmother in wrapping the gifts. I was hopelessly devastated for about two weeks? so disheartening and disappointing, especially since I was only in about the third grade?
Comment for "Letters from the Outside"
KaMeisha Jerae Hodge
Posted on January 22, 2008 at 10:35 AM | Permalink
Review of Letters from the Outside
I was somewhat disappointed in this piece because it has no sound other than the narrator?s voice. I like for stories to put me in the mood, to mentally and emotionally put me in the shoes of the people involved in the piece, but in this case, I simply couldn?t. There is no ambient sound ? not even the sound of an envelope being opened or guards in the background or other inmates or? anything! The letters were very realistic and sort of remind me of the letters I send to my friend Mat, who is also in jail; but it?s really repetitive at some points. He appreciates letters being sent just as much as the narrator, Randy, does. He sounds like he wants to display his appreciation through this piece, but it doesn?t quite cut it. At some points, there is some evidence of gratitude, but then it just as quickly dissolves and becomes distant once again.
Comment for "How We See the Homeless"
KaMeisha Jerae Hodge
Posted on January 16, 2008 at 08:02 AM | Permalink
Review of How We See the Homeless
Not many people are willing to cast a glance at the homeless; however, Zoe High did more than her share to vouch for the homeless in her radio piece. It is basically about what the title states - how people in Portland, Maine view the homeless. Both sides are taken into consideration... the less fortunate, as well as the people who watch and judge them daily. Enunciation and pronunciation are done extremely well in this piece. Her speech is like a river flowing fluidly, with just enough pauses to transition from narration to interviews. It?s like a hook, line, and sinker for me because she didn't have to recast her words. It starts as a question, which really probes into the depths of one's brain: How do you view homeless people? Giving several responses to the question, one can?t help but to visualize each one ? alcoholics, schizophrenia-stricken ones, the ones who rummage through trash. Then she catches me off guard with the interview with the ex-homeless man. Hearing his side, it made me think about how I treat homeless people and my demeanor towards them, as well as what I see as other people?s initial disposition when encountering the poor. A job well done, but, it is very neutral in tone. There could be more emotion, whether it is empathy or anger, just to spark some type of reaction from the reader. And more than neutrality, it is informative. Chronic homelessness is one of the less talked about problems in America and Zoe did an awesome job in presenting this information. A little ambient sound or music wouldn't hurt either, but I would definitely suggest that this piece be played during peak radio hours to get more listeners' attention.