The Laramie Project: News Articles on the Matthew Shepard Case

1. Wyoming Local: (http://www.wyohistory.org/encyclopedia/matthew-shepard)

This is a reliable source because it offers so much information about the Matthew Shepard case. It tells Matthews story from the very beginning of his encounter to the prosecution of his killers. This article offers detailed facts about what happened the day Matthew Shepard was murdered and includes the specific times in which most events took place. The author, Jason Marsden, is the executive director of the Matthew Shepard Foundation. He is a well known reporter, who graduated from Harvard, and has covered a variety of topics for the Casper Star-Tribune. This article does not have bias. It stated the facts as simply and professionally as possible informing the reader of the tragedy that happened in Laramie. I think those who read this article will find it informative but will choose their own side on which they stand on the matter. I would give this article a 10 out of 10. It stated all the information without pulling the reader to one side of the situation.The author was very careful with his words and obviously did his research on the events that happened in Laramie, Wyoming. 

    

2. National: (http://www.nytimes.com/1998/10/13/us/gay-man-dies-from-attack-fanning-outrage-and-debate.html)

This is a reliable source because the article is on one of the most well know news papers in the world, not to mention that it include gruesome (no pun intended) amounts of information about the Matthew Shepard case. The author, James Brooke, is an American journalist who graduated from Yale University. He's now the Bureau Chief for Voice of America, based in Moscow, Russia. The information posted is accurate judging by the reputation of the reporter and that the facts check up with other articles I have read. This article may have a small amount of bias, siding more with the pro-gay front. The article covers a lot on the subject of hate crime and passing acts to protect homosexuals. Those who read this article will get a good perspective on what has happened in Laramie and how the murder of Matthew Shepard has affected the nation. I would give this article a 9 out of 10. The facts were all on point and the author covered the topic well but i felt the slightest hint of bias in the article.

3. World: (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/195158.stm) 

This is a reliable source of information but the information given is more general that that of the articles from the NY Times or Wyoming Local News sources. Instead BBC focuses more on how the event has affected the nation. Bridget Kendall, the reporter, is a graduate of Oxford and is an English contributing editor, radio and television correspondent at the BBC. This information is accurate as BBC is one of the most well know sources for world news. The information was presented without bias as there was no side taken on the situation. Those who read this will get a general idea of what had happened in Laramie and how it has affected the United States. I give this article a 7 out of 10. The article is informative but doesn't include the specific details that made the story as big as it was in the states. 

                   

Works Cited

“Americans Mourn Gay Hate-crime Victim." BBC News. BBC, 17 Oct. 1998. Web. 19 Oct. 2014.

Brooke, James. "Gay Man Dies From Attack, Fanning Outrage and Debate."The New York Times. The New York Times, 12 Oct. 1998. Web. 19 Oct. 2014.

"The Murder of Matthew Shepard." WyoHistory.org. N.p., n.d. Web. 22 Oct. 2014."World: Americas


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