In the Bernie Goetz profile, what works well is the third person perspective of the first two sections. These sections read in a story-told way. You could read them without knowing their origins and not be able to discern whether you’re reading a fiction piece or a truth. After the first two sections then we are introduced to an “I” who is our journalist. From here we meet others who can agree with Goetz’s beliefs, but also in contrast other interviewees who counter his story. So what works here is the initial third person, and the non-bias and differences in opinion over the profile subject’s methods.

The second piece about Sean Casey acts more as an advertisement than the Goetz profile. However, I don’t call it an ad in a derogative way, nor as an ad for Casey’s animal rescue project specifically, but as an ad for animal rescuing as a worthy act in general. So the first thing that works here is the general/societal relationship the piece evokes in the reader. Secondly, there is a subtlety to descriptions of Sean Casey even when the descriptions aren’t subtle. His stature is described as non-assuming, and we’re told he hardly makes eye contact, but then we’re told/see that he isn’t when it relates to those he’s helping. In this piece what works is the advertisement for a cause feel, and the handling of Sean Casey’s personality.

I think for now what I could take away from these two profiles is the story telling third aspect of the first piece, and the almost ad feel of the second, but this all depends on who my profile subject turns out to be.