In this essay I will compare the ways in which two journalists have managed to give reportage of an event. The first reportage is by Marie Colvin and the text is known as 'Baghdad under fire'. The second is by Primo Levi and the text is known as 'On The Bottom'. These two pieces are quite different in their actual subject matters and also in the way that they are expressed. Colvin's intentions were, by writing this piece to expose some of the realities of the Allied (mainly American) bombing campaign. The facts were very often silenced and or blurred in order to keep the general public supporting the war effort. The realities were that many innocent civilians were also being killed or having their livelihoods ruined. Colvin wanted to allow the general public to be able to see through the propaganda circulating at the time. Levi has written 'On the Bottom' in an attempt to expose the truths about what happened to Jews in concentration camps. He also wants to tell other people how he is feeling, as he is clearly disturbed by what he has been through. Perhaps he believed that by expressing himself in this way he might rid himself of an emotional burden.

Levi was indeed concerned that public get to know what happened in the work camps, as I believe he thought it would allow for a more peaceful world.

Levi uses other characters in his report to mirror his own thoughts. For example:

The language that Levi uses in his reportage makes everything somehow seem as though the events he describes are nothing out of the ordinary. He tends to avoid showing his own emotion, which leads to a seemingly emotionless piece; of course Levi is very much emotionally affected. Perhaps Levi is trying to make sure that the reader makes up his own mind. This is of course a basic rule of good journalism. Colvin does the same thing, except for she seems even more deed pan because the material she has produced is very controversial, yet she sees no need to back this up with her own emotions, simply what she says she sees.

Some common words found in the essay are:
Levi Colvin, Primo Levi, Chimney Levi, Surprisingly Levi, Saddam Hussein, Levi's Journalistic, Marie Colvin, 'baghdad fire', direct emotional involvement, bombing campaign, concerned public, direct emotional, primo levi, levi trying, marie colvin, 'on bottom', emotional involvement,
Approximate Word count = 1101
Approximate Pages = 4 (250 words per page double spaced)