8/14/2019 1 - Critiquing Christie Blatchford's Speech

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A Response To A Speech By Toronto Globe & MailColumnist Christie Blatchford – Nov 21.2007

Thoughtful, enlightening, and compelling, Christie Blatchford’s speech was all of these

words and more. She opened with a bang by candidly introducing herself and her career success

without holding back her expressive and intriguing personality. Blatchford’s conversational

delivery and her elaborate descriptions kept the audience at ease.

Recognized for her controversial approach to journalism, her use of profane language

was not surprising, and shockingly it worked to keep the audience attentive. Her vulgarity added

character to her speech and effectively stimulated moments for audience laughter and shock 

value. The stunned, yet also enthusiastic looks on the listeners’ faces were unforgettable.

Blatchford’s speech provided listeners with detailed incites into her career experiences, a

glimpse into her views on the journalism industry, and most significantly, a real feel for her true

character. Caring, emotional, and passionate are three words that can be used to describe

Blatchford. Beyond her tough, intellectual exterior, her inner compassionate character is revealed

through her expressive, and often graphic descriptions of her experiences in Afghanistan. These

experiences seemed to have struck her hard. She said, “I went to cover the war and the war 

covered me.”

To illustrate the emotional impact the war had on her, she effectively used the ‘show

don’t tell’ method to provide listeners with mental pictures of what she saw and will forever 

 behold. For example, she gave a vivid description of her confrontation with a fallen soldier. She

said, “I saw him on a long black stretcher and as I approached him, I stepped in a pool of thick 

 blood.” By describing the colour of the stretcher and the using the words ‘pool’ and thick’ to

describe the size and the quality of the blood, listeners were able to gain a precise vision.

Blatchford’s descriptions become even more graphic in her explanation of the death of 

Captain Trevor Green, a soldier who was axed in the head in Afghanistan. She said, “His head

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