Astead Hernon covers current Democratic presidential candidates, which is a difficult subject to do objectively. His writing is very engaging for the reader; he simplifies political issues that can be complex to the point of becoming intimidating. He is matter-of-fact about the issues affecting the candidates at hand, but maintains their nuance.

Herndon’s leads are often a little longer than those we have looked at in class, but they effectively engage the reader. He generally begins with a summary of the issue he will evaluate in the story, which I appreciate; when reading political news, it is refreshing that he gets straight to the point. It seems that clarity is one of his main priorities, considering that stories succinctly describe candidates, conflict between them, and the conversations at stake.

Herndon often covers specific populations that candidates are actively trying to cater to, so his quotes are very interesting in the sense that they aren’t just from political analysts or campaign spokespeople. I appreciate the humanity he incorporates into his story with quotes from normal citizens at townhalls and similar events. His stories are easier to identify with because of the effort he makes to include thoughts of the public. His stories almost always end with a quote from an official on the campaign he discusses in the story, which ties them up nicely by circling back to the focus: the candidates themselves.

I follow Herndon on Twitter, and it has been fascinating to track his engagement with political thought via a more casual platform. He communicates with other journalists and shares more opinion-based articles written by others. His stories show little hint of his ideology, but social media provides different insights.

Herndon’s ability to retain nuance while making stories easy to engage with is a skill that I hope to incorporate into my own writing. As someone who is interested in politics, especially through a social justice lens, it can be challenging to keep content easy to consume while also encapsulating the points that must be made. Additionally, his ability to describe the interests of broader communities while maintaining diversity of thought within them is impressive. He avoids overgeneralization, which I have also learned a lot from.