Local Paper Front Page

My local paper is The Boston Globe. In the interest of full disclosure, I also freelance for them.

Don Lyman

Several stories appeared on the front page this morning (2/1/14).

1. "20 licenses OK'd for medical marijuana"

• this story belongs on the front page as it is timely and involves breaking news -- voters approved medical marijuana in the state last year, and state health officials in Massachusetts just issued the first licenses yesterday.
• what grabbed my attention were the number of licenses issued and the map showing the communities they were issued in.
• the piece seemed largely devoid of opinion, although it did close with a quote from a woman who is the president of a group who opposed medical marijuana legalization in Massachusetts, perhaps to provide an alternative viewpoint to legalization of pot.

2. "Planning a different course for struggling Restaurant Week

•  hmmmm... This story is sort of entertaining, about the decline of Restaurant Week, "... which featured noted chefs serving up three course meals at reasonable fixed prices ..." at Boston area restaurants, and how it's trying to revive diner participation by revamping the meal options and prices.
• don't think this really belongs on the front page, at least not above the fold. I suppose you could argue it's a local business story, but I still don't think it rises to the level of front page news.
• a photo of a chef preparing a dish grabbed my attention.
• no opinion evident in the piece.

3. "Tsarnaev team may favor a trial here"

• belongs on front page as it involves breaking news from earlier this week that Federal prosecutors will seek the death penalty for alleged Boston Marathon bomber Dzhokhar Tsarnaev. The story is about Tsarnaev's attorneys possibly pushing to have the case tried in Boston because of the strong anti-death penalty attitude in Massachusetts. They apparently feel trying the case in Boston might spare their client from the death penalty.
• newsiness grabbed my attention.
• no opinion evident in the article.

4. "In his district, issues of race complicate views on Henriquez"

• belongs on front page because it involves a story that's been in the Boston news for the past few weeks, since state representative Carlos Henriquez was arrested on domestic violence charges. Apparently Henriquez returned to the Massachusetts state house last week "... as an unshaven inmate, his hands cuffed and chains around the waist of his dark blazer...". The release of a photo of him at the state house "... has triggered powerful emotions and sharply divergent responses", mostly evolving around race, because Henriquez is black, and apparently many of his supporters feel that a white politician would not have been treated this way.
• the fact that the story had been in the local news grabbed my attention.
• it does seem like opinion is included in the piece, with paragraphs like this standing out: "His conviction by an all-white jury, his immediate imprisonment, and, now, the push by mostly white House leaders are feeding a deep distrust some blacks and Latinos feel about the criminal justice system and government in general." 
• seems like opinion is included in the piece to give the perspective of minority residents from Henriquez's district.

5. "An inspirational voice lives on in hearts of fans"

•  story about a 15 year old high school student from the Boston area, whose life, and death in 2010 from thyroid cancer, has spawned two inspirational books, and a legion of fans.   
• not breaking new, but an inspirational story that I think has a place on the front page. Provides balance with the straight news stories.
• title and photos of the girl captured my attention.
• yes, it has opinion, but I think that's appropriate for a piece like this. Brought tears to my eyes.