They make American flags. Here's what it means to them
USA Today
Overall Assessment
The article takes a human-interest approach, focusing on workers' personal relationships with the American flag. It avoids overt political framing while acknowledging the flag’s contested symbolism. Reporting is empathetic, well-sourced, and contextually rich.
"Wearing jeans, pajama pants and T-shirts, Davis and a group of three other young women pushed the fabric of blue handheld flags through sewing machines."
Loaded Adjectives
Headline & Lead 85/100
The headline is accurate and reflective, matching the article's focus on personal meaning rather than political controversy.
✕ Headline / Body Mismatch: The headline focuses on the personal meaning of flag-making to workers, which accurately reflects the article's human-interest angle. It avoids sensationalism and sets a reflective tone.
"They make American flags. Here's what it means to them"
Language & Tone 90/100
The tone is empathetic and restrained, allowing subjects to express emotion while maintaining journalistic neutrality.
✕ Loaded Adjectives: The article uses neutral, descriptive language to portray workers and their environment, avoiding editorializing or loaded adjectives.
"Wearing jeans, pajama pants and T-shirts, Davis and a group of three other young women pushed the fabric of blue handheld flags through sewing machines."
✕ Appeal to Emotion: Emotion is present but stems from quoted subjects, not the reporter’s voice. The tone remains observational and respectful.
"Tears welled in Layne’s eyes as he recounted the story. Voice cracking, he said it moved him to know his work helped someone remember a person they loved and lost."
✕ Scare Quotes: The article avoids scare quotes or dog whistles, using direct quotation fairly and without irony.
Balance 95/100
Strong sourcing from a range of workers, all clearly attributed, with transparent reporting practices.
✓ Viewpoint Diversity: The article features diverse worker voices—different ages, backgrounds, immigration experiences, and personal connections to the flag—providing a balanced, human-centered perspective.
"For her, it’s a reminder of her mother, a military veteran."
✓ Proper Attribution: All claims made by individuals are properly attributed to named employees with clear personal perspectives, avoiding generalizations.
"Sewing the flag, I feel like I still get to pay respect to my mom.""
✓ Methodology Disclosure: The reporter includes her own byline and contact info, enhancing transparency.
"Karissa Waddick covers America's 250th anniversary for USA TODAY. She can be reached at kwaddick@usatoday.com."
Story Angle 88/100
The story emphasizes personal meaning over political conflict, offering a nuanced, non-polarizing take on a symbol often weaponized in public discourse.
✕ Narrative Framing: The story is framed around personal meaning rather than political controversy, which is a legitimate and empathetic angle. It avoids reducing the topic to conflict or moral binaries.
"Yet, the workers who stitch together American flags say they don’t worry much about how people will use them once they are shipped out the door."
✕ Framing by Emphasis: While the article mentions political divisions, it centers worker dignity and personal symbolism, resisting episodic or sensational framing.
"Each holds a different and deeply personal relationship with the symbol."
Completeness 90/100
The article offers rich historical and social context, helping readers understand the flag’s evolving symbolism and the factory’s place within it.
✓ Contextualisation: The article provides historical context about Annin Flagmakers and the symbolic evolution of the American flag, including its use in pivotal moments like 9/11 and Iwo Jima. This enriches understanding of the flag’s shifting meaning.
"Since its founding in 1847, Annin’s flags have marked the country’s highest highs and lowest lows. Its flags hung at President Abraham Lincoln’s inauguration and draped his coffin. They flew atop Mount Suribachi after the Battle of Iwo Jima and rocketed to the moon aboard Apollo 11."
✓ Contextualisation: The article acknowledges changing public sentiment toward the flag, including its use in Jan. 6 riot and protest movements, offering social and political context without oversimplifying.
"Rioters who stormed the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, waved Old Glory as they broke windows and busted doors to prevent the transition of power. Demonstrators protesting President Donald Trump at 'No Kings' rallies have sought to reclaim the emblem..."
✓ Contextualisation: It includes economic and cultural trends affecting flag demand, such as dips during Vietnam and spikes during WWII and elections, adding depth to the narrative.
"Sales of the flag have ebbed through changes in domestic politics. Demand dipped during the Great Depression and Vietnam War and rose amid the patriotic fervor of World War II and the bicentennial."
The American flag is reaffirmed as a legitimate and sacred national symbol through personal, apolitical reverence
By focusing on the workers’ deep personal respect and the flag’s presence in solemn moments (e.g., 9/11 Memorial), the article frames the symbol as inherently valid and emotionally authentic, transcending political misuse.
"Tears welled in Layne’s eyes as he recounted the story. Voice cracking, he said it moved him to know his work helped someone remember a person they loved and lost."
Working-class labor is portrayed as dignified, meaningful, and central to national identity
The narrative centers on the personal pride, dignity, and emotional connection of factory workers, framing their labor not as menial but as patriotic and historically significant.
"You’re driving down the road, and you see a flag, and you’re like, 'Oh, I probably made that,' Doss said. 'You feel accomplished 'cause you had a hand in that.'"
Immigrants are framed as fully belonging and contributing meaningfully to American national symbols
Marilisa Nunez, a daughter of Mexican immigrants, explicitly connects her identity and opportunities to the flag, positioning her and her family as integral to the American story.
"A better life," Nunez said. Her parents emigrated to the United States from Mexico. Because of their sacrifices, she has spent her days gabbing with colleagues and evenings playing Minecraft with her boyfriend."
The American flag is portrayed as enduring and resilient despite societal divisions
The article acknowledges political polarization and misuse of the flag (e.g., Jan. 6), but emphasizes its continued personal and symbolic significance through workers’ stories, suggesting it remains emotionally and culturally intact.
"Once a unifying symbol, the flag has come to represent political alienation for some."
The presidency, particularly under Trump, is subtly framed as a source of division where national symbols are weaponized
While not directly attacking the presidency, the article contrasts patriotic unity with political alienation, referencing Trump-era events (Jan. 6 and 'No Kings' protests) as moments when the flag was used antagonistically.
"Rioters who stormed the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, waved Old Glory as they broke windows and busted doors to prevent the transition of power. Demonstrators protesting President Donald Trump at "No Kings" rallies have sought to reclaim the emblem to show their allegiance to the country’s founding principles."
The article takes a human-interest approach, focusing on workers' personal relationships with the American flag. It avoids overt political framing while acknowledging the flag’s contested symbolism. Reporting is empathetic, well-sourced, and contextually rich.
At Annin Flagmakers in Virginia, employees describe their personal ties to the U.S. flag as they prepare for increased demand around the nation’s 250th anniversary. The company, operating since 1847, continues to produce flags amid shifting cultural and political meanings of the symbol.
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