The ‘wow’ quotient

I’m certain you’re aware of journalism’s cherished mantra, that bit of grit around which the pearl of news grows: the five Ws.

In case you’ve forgotten, here they are: Who. What. Where. When. Why.

Those five small words—the core of Journalism 101—form the foundation of virtually any news story, a sort of litmus test for completeness, accuracy and readability.

But there’s another important W, one which rarely gets the star billing of its better-known cousins. This W is “Wow.”

An article’s “wow quotient” often determines whether it shows up on Page 1 or on a back page, tucked next to an ad for an indigestion remedy. “Wow” is an editor’s measure of how interesting, how compelling a story is. That’s OK.

Like most publications, we use the “wow quotient” here at The Catholic New World. It helps us decide what stories to write about and fit into our limited space and share with Catholics of Cook and Lake counties.

Though “wow” is a legitimate journalistic maxim, it’s too bad when the measure of a story’s interest appears to diminish the subject being written about, or makes faith an object of curiosity. That can happen with stories concerning dimensions of faith.

Because The Catholic New World exists to share the news—good and sometimes bad—about the church, we might carry a story about the blessing of a senior citizens’ home or even a gaggle of motorcycles and their riders.

Most such blessings—especially the more mundane ones, like senior homes—won’t rate much in the way of secular media coverage. Yet, in the greater scheme of things, calling upon God to bless and make holy for our use a place where the dignity of older people will be fostered makes a lot of sense. Not much “wow” quotient, however.

But when Father Tom Pelton of Maternity BVM Church agreed to bless a public works project—a sewer under construction, of all things—secular media swarmed to the event. Loads of “wow” there.

Despite some great explanations by Pelton, there was just the hint of a snicker in the coverage, as though sewer projects were somehow beneath God to bless. “Ceremony prays for holy waters,” read one headline.

It’s unfortunate when a story’s “wow” quotient is connected to making light—however innocently—of an integral action of faith.

Even Cardinal George fell afoul of this a few years ago when he blessed a new business establishment. Because the business sold automobiles, luxury ones at that, news stories poked fun. What he said later in a column then still works:

“To bless means recognizing the holiness in God … To think that only people can be blessed and not chalices, churches, cars and animals betrays a mindset that does not respect material reality. … We are a blessed people able to bless others. We make God’s blessings visible in the sign of the cross and other blessings given us by church, blessings we pass on to other people and things.” (Complete column here)

Blessings are an acknowledgment of the presence of God in the world. That ought to be enough to raise a “wow” quotient. Sadly, it’s not, and sometimes even for people who say faith is important to them.

* * *

For the past several weeks, you may have noticed a new byline in our pages. Jennifer Sladek, a student at Boston College, has spent the summer interning with TCNW. Though her first loves, she says, are philosophy and theology, she wanted to take a shot at journalism, especially Catholic journalism.

Those subjects aren’t really that disparate: journalism in a religious publication, if it’s done well, helps make philosophy and theology a little more understandable to more people. In other words, it looks for ways to build up their “wow” quotient.

During her internship here, Jennifer accomplished some of that. We’ll miss her efforts.

Tom Sheridan
Editor and General Manager

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