This week I’ve read an article written for Wanderlust titled First 24 hours: Portland, Oreog USA. The article was written by Phoebe Smith and tells readers about how she explored Portland by bike.
Smith introduces the article with a well written standfirst. She begins by using sibilance ‘funky, friendly’ to describe Portland and then lists off several things Portland is known for. By Smith using these techniques in the standfirst, readers are excited to continue reading from the offset. I couldn’t wait to read more as in a sentence alone Portland has been made out to be something spectacular.
Having not previously read an article by Wanderlust, I was unaware that features are structured using sub-headings. I found both positive and negatives to this structure. The sub-heading proved easy to read and allows readers to pre-empt what they will be reading about in each section. At the same time I feel the feature didn’t flow as well. Instead of just moving onto the next paragraph, you have to stop to read the title of each section. In a lot of places I felt the titles were unnecessary and that they could have easily been connected to the previous paragraph without the use of a title.
It is cleverly written in the way readers are immediately immerged into the action. The feature opens on a cliffhanger ‘Approaching the busy intersection of a main road when you’re riding a bike always brings with it a quick succession of emotions”. This description is exciting and from the beginning we are expecting action.
One thing Smith did really well was put the reader at ease and make them feel comfortable. The idea of riding round a busy city on a bike can be quite horrifying whether you use a bike frequently or not. Smith relates to readers by describing how she and many may feel when riding a bike round a city “approaching the busy intersection of a main road when you’re riding a bike always brings with it a quick succession of emotions – namely abject fear, terror and dread”. Although this may come across negative, she then goes on to say how pleasantly surprised she was with how polite the drivers in Portland were, stopping for her every time with the understanding that she is the one most at risk on just a bike. This experience is useful for readers to know as it makes Portland look like a safe place and encourages people that are thinking about going and travelling round on bike that they will be safe.
Smith didn’t stop there. Further into the feature, she provides readers with an abundance of useful information and helpful tips i.e. flight days from London to Portland, a list of transport methods when you arrive and even a ‘first day’s tour’ section that recommends where to go. She also provides links to the destinations she recommends so we can check the places out and actually visualize what she is talking about.
In some places I found the article lost its personal touch that she started with when riding the bike round Portland. Around the ‘first day’s tour’ section, I felt bombarded with things to do. I liked the variation in phrases such as ‘refuel at’ and ‘call in at’ but the use of so many in such a small space was overwhelming. By the time I reached the end of the paragraph I could barely remember two of the things on the list. It appears the writer is forcing us to go to these places as opposed to recommending them for the right reasons. Perhaps if the write had suggested roughly 3 things and sold them using descriptive and persuasive language, readers may be more inclined to wantto go.
We cannot ignore that Smith provides readers thinking about going to Portland a useful article that provides facts, tips and tricks to seeing Portland makes the a. The use of links means readers are able to do further research into Portland via the article and could be what persuades them to go to Portland.
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