Blog Assignment 8

    A great video and article news package from NYTimes called “Bottled Water Delivery! (Pardon the Slobber)” done by NYTimes reporter Jim Dwyer, from March 13, 2013, follows the depending relationships the developed after the devastation of Hurricane Sandy. This story was one of many from a cluster of Hurricane Sandy news pieces on the NYTimes website.  This package stood out from the cluster of hard news pieces about the after-affects of Hurricane Sandy. The reporter found an interesting take on the same story, and placed emphasis on the importance of the smaller things during a time where essentials were the main focus. 

The article explained the story of New York native Riley Fitzsimmons and Midnight, his dog, who developed a helpful habit of delivering food and water bottles to struggling people after the hurricane. Fitzsimmons took care of the straying dog after Midnight showed so much care for Fitzsimmons, who was a stranger, and his neighbors. Midnight helped to carry grocery bags up the long flights of stairs to Fitzsimmons New York apartment, and even delivered his prescription drugs to Fitzsimmons when he was sick in bed. Midnight helped with the typically simple but now difficult responsibilities that many New Yorker’s faced after the hurricane. Neighbors said Riley Fitzsimmons and Midnight were proud to serve struggling neighbors water and food packages during the aftermath of the hurricane. This theme quickly arose in the package, and stuck out as a strong beat in the series of Hurricane Sandy reports. 

    While the article reflected the importance of a dog and his caretaker during a time of aftermath devastation, the video captures the totality of the story. The video story begins with an introduction to the “layers of life lost” during Hurricane Sandy. The camera focuses on Midnight and Fitzsimmons walking through their everyday life. The video provides stills of Fitzsimmons past life as a model for his father’s book, but returns the focus to the neighbors who appreciate the dog’s services and Fitzsimmons living situation. Fitzsimmons lives in an area of New York that now prices condos at millions of dollars, but since he has lived there for decades and receives aid from services that provide affordable housing to artists, Fitzsimmons continues to live in the same apartment. The video provides the viewer with a sense of personality that cannot be obtained in the words of an article. While the text is informative and tells you what this incredible dog does for its caretaker and struggling neighbors, the video shows the dramatic effects after Hurricane Sandy and Midnight in action.

    However, the best part of the video piece is not until the end. Midnight’s “treat” for his services at the end of the day is a personal performance from Riley Fitzsimmons, who the viewer learns has been singing professionally since he was a teenager. The video captures picture and sound by recording Riley Fitzsimmons singing over a pre-recorded song to the dog, who sits patiently while listening at his caretakers side. This package was successful because the text and video pieces told the same story, but were different elements to the story. While the text was able to focus on the history behind Riley Fitzsimmons' life in New York and how he came across Midnight, the video looked more into the present day life of Riley Fitzsimmons' everyday life with the hero dog after Hurricane Sandy. I really enjoyed this package because of its sincerity and the way the piece collectively shows how such an unexpected hero can bring light to a very heavy situation of many struggling New Yorker’s.