Rather than starting with some personal anecdote contrived for some sort of empathy, as is the common style these days!
Thank you.
Thank you.
“””
“I’ve always hated coffee” said Joe Bloggs, sipping his chai latte as he sits somewhat dishevelled in a grey overcoat that insulates him against the wintry London weather. The Hackney coffeehouse he chose for this interview specialises in Peruvian blends, an apt reflection of his latest film set in South America.
... (insert interview)
... Joe, for one, will be hoping reviews for his next film is more of a blend than a roast.
“””
I think people that write articles that start with long anecdotes (which are usually linked back to in the end) are trying to emulate the writing style you'd usually see in newspapers and magazine going back decades. It doesn't work well on the web I feel when there's an abundance of information where you're trying to filter through what's useful to read and what isn't. It's different when you're e.g. reading a magazine and have limited articles to pick from.
It doesn't work in magazines and newspapers either, but certain writerly circles (mostly American ones) consist of telling each other that this kind of fluff is a good idea.
You will find this kind of writing in Time magazine, but not in The Economist. Which is one of many reasons why TE is a better paper.
Pervasive SEO advice is also to blame. "Google loves long-form" is the common mantra. Just add a personal anecdote at the beginning to reach the target word count.
This is also how most non-fiction books begin.