As humans we are primarily interested in ourselves, then in our neighbors, then in the rest of the world, according to sociologist theory by Walter Lippman. In searching for interesting stories, I have searched for relatable stories, which readers will feel a personal connection to. Tal’s electoral debut is a story that effects Brandeis students, as he is our newly elected representative. But he is also our neighbor, who we live with and see everyday, making him an intuitive subject of curiosity. This desire to know what is going on around us, combined with the emotional appeal of Tal’s time in the army and his heartfelt desire to lead the Class of 2020, makes this a prime public interest story.
Ashley and Josh’s story is very interesting to the reader, because it is a tale of friendship. Friendship is a universal experience, and their particularly close friendship inspires elements of nostalgia in the reader. As male/female best friendships are more unusual, this creates an underlying theme of potential story-tale romance, further hooking the reader. The promise of a kitten or puppy is the clinching aspect of this story, as baby animals are widely loved, and cats and dogs are considered to have near-familial levels of importance here in the US. All in all, this is a sweet, quirky story, that is a fun read for all audiences.