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A Major Story

One month later

November 1988

The business press continues to be dominated by the RJR Nabisco story, but the story also moves to newspaper front pages and editorial pages.

Tinker-Toy Capitalism
Many companies are collections of huge businesses that can be put together or taken apart — like so many tinker toys — for profit and power.

Editorial: Washington Post, 2 November 1988, A21.

Newspaper Article Characteristics
WRITTEN BY: Journalists (for articles), newspaper editors (for editorials)
AUDIENCE: General public
TIMELINESS: Provides the most up-to-date information available, except for news web sites and TV/radio news
CONTENT: Articles include explanations of terms like "LBO" and interviews with experts or people directly involved in the story. May have photographs, tables, or graphs. Editorials are opinion pieces that represent the editorial board's viewpoint.
TYPE OF SOURCE: Primary

The story also crosses over from business periodicals to popular magazines.

Where's the Limit?
Born in Winnipeg, Man., [RJR CEO Ross Johnson] had parlayed a keen eye for a deal and the nerves of a gunslinger into the top job at three major corporations.

Greenwald, John. Time, 5 December 1988, 66.

Popular Magazine Characteristics
WRITTEN BY: Journalists
AUDIENCE: General public
AUTHOR: Journalists
TIMELINESS: Usually several days to a week behind events
CONTENT: Uses stories about people to grab the reader's interest. Does not publish new research, but may report new developments about an event. Contains lots of pictures and advertisements. Does not give footnotes or references for information.
TYPE OF SOURCE: Primary

WANT MORE on magazines?
Unit 9 > Evaluating Sources > Type of Periodical

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