Mark Obbie's Blog, page 4
July 11, 2015
A changed life
I complained in my last post about reactions to my most recent story that caused me to despair about the work that I do. But something happened today to set things right. First, about last week: I wasn’t surprised that many readers disagreed with my story’s conclusions. After all, a story about a woman who … Continue reading A changed life →
July 6, 2015
“I know what I’d do”
Not many people would imagine themselves doing what Linda White has done after losing a child in a violent crime. It’s perfectly natural to imagine taking revenge against the killer, or at the very least seeking his permanent removal from society. And so one key point of my recently published story about White was to … Continue reading “I know what I’d do” →
June 30, 2015
What my crime victim series tries to show
What’s my point about crime victims? During the months I’ve worked on my newly launched series at Slate on crime victims, I’ve blogged here about my work in progress and about some of the themes I’m exploring. In this particular post, I described in broad terms the point I’m trying to make in the stories … Continue reading What my crime victim series tries to show →
Introducing my Slate series
The series I have been blogging about here since starting work on it last year has finally begun to run at Slate today. Here is the series-starter. There’s no set schedule for when the remaining five stories in the series will appear, but Slate editors and I hope to get the remaining installments published in … Continue reading Introducing my Slate series →
Slate series starts
The series I have been blogging about here since starting work on it last year has finally begun to run at Slate today. Here is the series-starter. There’s no set schedule for when the remaining five stories in the series will appear, but Slate editors and I hope to get the remaining installments published in … Continue reading Slate series starts →
June 20, 2015
Spontaneous grace
As yesterday’s remarkable scene in a Charleston, South Carolina, courtroom unfolded — family members of some of the nine victims of the church massacre spoke up at accused shooter Dylann Roof’s first court appearance to deliver their anguish directly to him over an in-court video connection, at the same time offering their forgiveness — my … Continue reading Spontaneous grace →
June 12, 2015
One woman’s legacy
At The Intercept, journalist Liliana Segura today published a powerful story with facts remarkably parallel to the story that will mark the debut of my upcoming series on crime victims. Segura’s story focuses on Paula Cooper, who killed herself in May, two years after her release from prison for a notorious murder. The most remarkable … Continue reading One woman’s legacy →
June 8, 2015
Glass half-full
In the first two parts of a three-part New York Review of Books series on the quality of journalism online, Michael Massing has amassed a thoughtful collection of reported anecdotes that serves as an unusually detailed snapshot of the current state of the industry. Part one evaluates the quality of first-generation online journalism and declares … Continue reading Glass half-full →
May 29, 2015
Charnice and David
I’ve spent the past year interviewing dozens of crime victims and survivors of murder victims, and so sometimes I’m asked what my connection is to victims of crime — whether I’ve been a victim, or lost a loved one. I always say no, that I have been fortunate not to have any direct experience with … Continue reading Charnice and David →
May 17, 2015
The myth of closure
Can someone please tell all elected officials and pundits to strike the word “closure” from their vocabulary when they’re talking about crime victims? Boston Mayor Martin Walsh predictably invoked the term after the jury’s verdict for the death penalty was announced Friday in the trial of Boston Marathon bomber Dzhokhar Tsarnaev. “I hope this verdict,” … Continue reading The myth of closure →
