Demi Moore settle out of court with New Idea

Hollywood actress Demi Moore sued New Idea for alleged copyright infringement Source: AFP

The “Ghost” Hollywood star Demi Moore got a settle-out-of-court on her case with the gossip magazine New Idea this week.

ABC, AFP and The Australian got the news. (The links are listed below)

ABC: http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2010/09/27/3022718.html

AFP:http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5jqrrkI6IPHGsybJbPFNQGQP4xdXQ

The Australian: http://www.theaustralian.com.au/business/media/moore-new-idea-settle-out-of-court/story-e6frg996-1225930060967

Reports from ABC and AFP have the same angle. As case reports, they present the factual information prior to other unconfirmed elements, such as quotes and alleged information concerning the case. Such kind of structure provide every reader, whether he/she is familiar with the case or not, with clear and integrated understanding of the case.

Except the structure, the second thing that makes the report successful is the word choice, especially in the case of lawsuit. ABC and AFP report the case in general words, easy to understand. Putting the reports in entertainment section, reporter may have had a clear identification of their audience – average readers. Thus the whole style of reporting is targeting common readers. As one of them, I think I get adequate information of the case.

Then turn to the one on The Australian. Directly clicking into the story, readers, who didn’t know what happened before, may be confused by the intro part and the following paragraph. They just present the current process of the case, no background at all. The factual information of the case was split into two parts – one following the first part of quoting, another on the button of the report. In addition to the factual presentation, the rest of the article is full of quotes and paraphrases, which lack credibility and authority. Readers can get little information they think it’s true from the story. Compared to the one from ABC and AFP, The Australian’s work seems bad.