Introduction
The article “Erschreckend! Deutschlands Raucher werden immer jünger” by Hess was sourced at the bild.de website; it was published in 2007.
Description of the article
It reports about the rising cigarette smoking among the young population in Germany which causes 380 deaths per day. The report also included a global view on the negative effects of tobacco as it noted 5 million deaths annually. The report emphasized that deaths related to Glimmstaengel have caused more than AIDS, alcohol, illegal drugs, traffic accidents, murders, and suicides combined.
The influence of smoking among the young, however, was due to their own parents or through orientation to Popstars and Filmidolen. The rise of tobacco use has been consistent especially among young teens and even children as about 1000 are added daily among smokers. The report also assailed the Federal Government for siding the interest of the cigarette industry instead of the health of the citizens.
The news article also provided boxes detailing a summary on tobacco use, among children, effect on women, links on what parents or individuals can do, advertisement on books or videos about education on the dangers of smoking and how to prevent or avoid health complications it brings, among others.
The language used is quite strong as the report is presented as a warning to the reader. It includes factual incidence of deaths related to smoking not only in Germany but on a global scale. The use of superlative comparison on the high rate of deaths due to smoking as against death rate combining AIDS, alcohol, illegal drugs, traffic accidents, murders, and suicides also provided a note of urgency and danger.
By noting the cause and effect of the rising cigarette use among young teens and even children, the report drives home its message to give the issue a high priority. It also tries to get the attention and wants to influence the Federal Government to act immediately on the health issue as it criticizes how it sides with capitalists. However, the article also sufficiently provided that there is also a government action on the issue by placing higher taxes, consequently, higher cigarette prices that have reduced the use of smoking. The frightening effect, as well as the urgency of the issue, is also highlighted through the use of these exact words.
Genre is quite downplayed in the article as there was no emphasis on male or female smokers. However, its effective inclusion of details and comparison provides a high impact on the reader as it was able to point out how dangerous smoking is as well as how important the issue it brings. It seems to influence an immediate action and cause the reader not only to have his own opinion but act on the issue.
Reflections
Personally, I find the article of relevance to almost any reader like me, smoking or not smoking. It may not have highlighted the negative impact of secondary smoke to make even non-smokers beware, it was able to influence the reader to think twice about smoking as it emphasized its deadly effect.
In a broader context, the article failed to include the highly negative effect of secondary smoke inhaled by non-smokers, which could have been gathered a better anti-smoking sentiment. Nevertheless, its suggestion for readers to re-think and re-consider the negative effects of cigarette use and of nicotine as highly addictive supplemented whatever lacking view on related smoking issues were missed.