Pupils generally positive about accounting paper – The Argus

Description
A snap survey lists the views of Western Cape matriculants about their accounting paper.

Analysis
The article is gender-aware and gives an opportunity to both male and female students to comment on their accounting exam. All the students are confident, and agree to be photographed for the article. This story challenges the stereotype that women cannot succeed in subjects like accounting. Historically, women were associated with “softÀ fields. Accounting is generally considered the preserve of males, but this article shows that this trend is changing with female students showing the same confidence as males.

Headline
The headline captures what is in the story. Having interviewed four students, two female and two male, the reporter uses this information to generalise how the students in the Western Cape generally felt about the accounting paper.

Sources
There are four sources, two female and two male. Thus the story is balanced.

Language
The reporter does not have to qualify the gender of the students by using the words “he saidÀ or “she saidÀ because the sex of the students is clear. The language is simple and accessible to all. Students’ commentary is captured verbatim and reflects their voices.

Visual image
The commentary is brought forth via picture captions. The writer does not have to qualify the gender of the students as this is clear from the pictures. They all give confident answers and are optimistic they have done well. The pictures are used side-by-side and give the impression that male and female input is equally important.

Story angle and perspective
The story is told from the students’ point of view and their general feeling is captured and put as direct quotes in the story.

Placement or positioning
Although the story is placed in the inside pages, and is not necessarily the lead on the page, the use of images helps the story to stand out and catches the reader’s eye.