Source: Philip Nel, associate professor of English, Kansas State University
RADIO
REPORT: 1 Wrap
1 Actuality
You have selected a report on the popularity of the Harry Potter phenomenon. The wrap and sound bite follow in 3,2,1.
WRAP 1: The Harry Potter books are so popular because young and old alike can identify with the characters.
TIME: 42
SUGGESTED LEAD: IF YOU THINK THE HARRY POTTER BOOKS ARE JUST FOR KIDS, THEN YOU HAD BETTER THINK AGAIN. AN EXPERT AT K-STATE ON HARRY POTTER EXPLAINS WHY BOTH YOUNG AND OLD ARE FANS OF THE POPULAR FANTASY SERIES. LANICE THOMSON REPORTS.
LOOK ONCE, AND YOU MAY SEE A CHILD ENGROSSED IN ONE OF THE SEVERAL POPULAR HARRY POTTER BOOKS. LOOK AGAIN, AND YOU MAY SEE AN ADULT JUST AS ABSORBED IN THAT SAME SERIES. PHIL NEL, ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR OF ENGLISH AT K-STATE, SAYS ONE REASON WHY HARRY POTTER IS SO POPULAR IS THAT ALTHOUGH THE BOOKS HAVE A FANTASY SETTING, THE READERS CAN EASILY IDENTIFY WITH THE CHARACTERS . . .
(Nel :14 "We have all met the teacher who is a bully. We know the studious person who is mindful of the rules, like Hermione. They're recognizable character types and I think that helps readers care about them. And we do care about them."
NEL SAYS HE FEELS ONE CENTRAL MESSAGE TAUGHT THROUGHOUT THE SERIES IS THE IMPORTANCE OF TOLERANCE. WRITTEN BY J.K. ROWLING, THE LATEST BOOK "HARRY POTTER AND THE HALF-BLOOD PRINCE" WAS RELEASED LAST SUMMER. LANICE THOMSON, KANSAS STATE UNIVERSITY.