Analysis of CNN Story by Lisa Respers France.
Why this story is news:
Kim Kardashian West files for divorce from Kanye West
Fame, conflict, immediacy and impact are all present in this story. Kim Kardashian West and Kanye West have already led incredibly public lives with many stories centered around them before and during their relationship. On Friday, CNN obtained proof from the Los Angeles Superior Court that Kim Kardashian West has officially filed for divorce from Kanye West. The reason for filing is cited as irreconcilable differences, noting an obvious conflict between the pair. Additionally, with their mass following, the confirmation of the filing was highly anticipated. Lisa Respers France, the entertainment beat reporter for CNN, quickly generated this story as the information was being released Friday and continued to update the story on Saturday. In her article, she pulls proof of conflict as their current separate living arrangements and states Kardashian West is seeking joint custody of their four children. France’s familiarity is displayed in her use of past statements by the pair. The lede states “Kim Kardashian West has filed for divorce from Kanye West, a court clerk for Los Angeles Superior Court confirmed to CNN on Friday.” This clearly states who is involved and what is happening along with where. The how and why are somewhat discussed as the story progresses in later grafs.
How they reported the story:
France pulls quotes from past interviews with the couple, as well as a clerk for the Los Angeles Superior Court and Christy Welder, a representative for Kardashian West, as her proof of the divorce filings. Additionally, she quotes from Vogue Arabia where West interviewed Kardashian West about their relationship as well as tweets the pair had posted about each other. West’s tweets included those of admiration for his wife, while Kardashian West’s centered around her asking the public for sympathy towards West and his public struggles. There is no apparent critical thinking or inherent bias within the article. This article is a reporting of facts surrounding who they are and what is happening.
How they wrote the story:
The lede is mainly a name recognition lede but there could be an argument for it being an interesting action lede. With both parties being easily recognizable on their own, the confirmation of their divorce could be considered more newsworthy than the pair themselves, but that may depend on who is reading the article. The nut graf cites Welder, Kardashian West’s representative, as direct proof for the divorce filing claim made in the lede and says that Kardashian West had no additional comment at this time.
How I Wrote the Story:
Lisa Respers France, upon hearing of Kim Kardashian West’s divorce filing, wrote an article summarizing what happened, how she obtained this information and who the sources are. I analyzed France’s lede, timelines in generating the story and sources used in order to compile a full analysis.