Analysis 1: Germany and the Euro

       In the article, Germany, Grapplin with the Euro, and Its own Complicated History, by Catherine Meyer, Germany’s Frankfurt is first described almost as if one were reading a travel log. She describes the boom of Frankfurt after the war and gives the city an image of being Germanys financial hot spot. This is what she says, makes it the “natural choice” for the location of the European Central bank, which is responsible for overseeing the monetary policy of the Euro. The article begins with a proud sounding representation of Frankfurt, with nicknames such as “Bankfurt” or “Mainhatten”.
     
       The second paragraph changes pace and jumps into the financial crisis now in effect after the European Central Bank’s emergency bailout of Greece, Ireland and Portugal. Meyer describes this as “an economic pileup that threatens the existence of the European currency itself” and she quotes in the article ECB president Jean-Claude Trichet as saying that this is "the worst crisis since World War II." Meyer describes the importance of Germanys next moves in the bailout efforts. “Germany, as the biggest player in the euro zone, has no choice but to determine the fate of the euro zone”
    
       She describes the attitudes of Frankfurters, quoting local business owners and taxpayers towards the bailouts and the bitterness some are feeling towards the benefiting countries. She covers man viewpoints and feelings in the matters, while covering possibilities fir Germanys future and the future of the euro zone based on Germanys actions, and infuses all of this with lively quotes and bits of historical backing.
   
       Meyer’s article is a combination of a hard and soft news story. Not only does she include facts about the current economic system but she includes human interest though her quotes and background coverage. While, the economic crisis is not something to be taken lightly, she does not break into the story with hard force and fact but rather she gives the story interest with a soft lede depicting Frankfurt recovering and then further success after the affects of two world wars.

       All journalism is craft. It has a functional purpose; to inform. It serves a purpose beyond inspiration. However, journalism also contains elements of art.