Profile misrepresented subject
By Breanne Palmer | Mar. 3, 2010I am writing in response to staff writer Jared Misner’s article about Marvene Edwards. I was aghast at some of the offensive, condescending phrasing and terminology Mr. Misner employed while telling this woman’s unparalleled story of courage in the face of certain death and unspeakable physical abuse. I found his use of the flashback sequencing in his storytelling quite distracting and a hindrance during reading, and the lack of a proper timeline left the article formless. Mr. Misner’s description of the town of Princeton, Fla., was full of unnecessary data — what was the point of mentioning the racial and financial makeup of said suburb? His likening Ms. Edwards’ drug addiction and HIV infection to leprosy literally left me agape. Mr. Misner’s classification of Ms. Edwards as an inhabitant of another world further alienates her from society as a whole, something I am certain Ms. Edwards would not welcome. I do not believe that this writing style did Ms. Edwards’ story justice, and I hope that in the future your writers will perhaps show some more sensitivity to the subjects of their human interest articles.
