A Wall Street Journal column, which ran in the paper on June 3, 2025, was titled this way: "JD Vance Defies the Market’s Gravity." The column was authored by Matthew Hennessey, who identifies himself as "a journalist." Presumably, this is to make sure that readers don't confuse him with the football player Matthew Hennessey.
At any rate, I appreciated the Hennessey column for its journalistic advice to writers. The advice seemed on point, to me, so I am sharing it right here. And for those who might have been beguiled, by the picture, into thinking that I was going to dilate upon my views of JD Vance, please be advised: I am not. Vance is a "writer," too, of course, but he's not one of my favorites.
Here is some writing advice from Hennessey the journalist. All those who write - who write anything at all - should consider this guidance (numerals added):
I am a journalist. My profession is governed by well-known laws — (1) get the facts, (2) double-source, (3) don’t bury the lead, (4) tell readers something they don’t know. It helps if you can (5) write in short, declarative sentences. You won’t be arrested for occasionally breaking these laws, but you won’t last long if you ignore them consistently. They are the rules because they work. They represent the collected wisdom of countless generations. They are, after a fashion, true.
The five rules outlined provide good advice for writers. If you want to think about Vance, click that first link, in the first paragraph, to see if you can elude the paywall that is almost certainly in place to foil non-subscribers!
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