From the Editor

For the love of the (story) game

The editor reflects on what she learned about reporting and writing narrative from reading and covering sports

By Jacqui Banaszynski • September 26, 2023

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Short Takes

How to write boring wonk

A freelancer laments an editor's directive against compelling copy

By Jacqui Banaszynski • September 19, 2023

Personal Essays

Four girls, 60 years, 11 students, 2,800 miles and a new awareness of history

A journalist-turned-teacher takes students on the U.S. Civil Rights Trail to explore the nation's challenges through a journalistic lens

By Herbert Lowe • September 15, 2023

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Story Annotations

A revealing profile of a family that defied their faith’s edict on home schooling

By Trevor Pyle
September 14, 2023

"You keep showing up, you keep watching and listening, and you hope that you observe something interesting." ~ Peter Jamison, Washington Post

Short Takes

A failed lunar landing and a successful marriage

By Jacqui Banaszynski
September 13, 2023

Alex Traub's straightforward obit of astronaut wife Marilyn Lovell captures history, character and romance through perfectly selected details

From the Editor

Seed money for news, narrative and democracy

By Jacqui Banaszynski
September 12, 2023

A consortium of foundations gives $500 million to support and sustain local news, which is is the foundation of true story work

Short Takes

Story seeds from the garden

By Jacqui Banaszynski
September 5, 2023

A community columnist serves zucchini in a four-act play, complete with character development and an encore

From the Editor

A writer’s education, from pen pals to bylines

By Jacqui Banaszynski
August 29, 2023

Then editor muses on her background in writing to be read and understood by others

Story Craft

How a 9/11 narrative guided a gun violence narrative 22 years later

By Talia Richman
August 25, 2023

Reporters from The Dallas Morning News pieced together a tick-tock of a deadly mall shooting, starting with "normal aspects of life"

Strictly Q&A

A meditation on violence, grief and healing in Uvalde, Texas

By Trevor Pyle
August 24, 2023

The rivers that run through southwest Texas inspired author Kimberly Garza to tell a different story of her hometown's tragic school shooting

From the Editor

Read not just for the what of the story, but for the how of the writing

By Jacqui Banaszynski
August 22, 2023

The editor has made a lifelong practice of studying other writers – not to write like them, but to understand how writing works

Strictly Q&A

Sally Jenkins on her intimate interview with Martina Navratilova and Chris Evert

By Esther Landhuis
August 18, 2023

The Washington Post sports columnist used a career of trust and "sincere curiosity" to talk to the tennis greats about rivalry, cancer and friendship

From the Editor

J-school beyond the textbook

By Jacqui Banaszynski
August 17, 2023

The editor cites a few teaching resources that are all around — and free

Narrative News

Honor due reporter, editor and Nieman curator Robert H. Giles, 1933-2023

By Jacqui Banaszynski
August 17, 2023

The journalist's career shepherded coverage through the Vietnam War, civil rights, gay and women's rights, and a changing newspaper industry

Why's This So Good?

A profile of rival athletic greats becomes an exploration of a great friendship

By Dale Keiger
August 10, 2023

Washington Post sports columnist Sally Jenkins aces an off-court story about Chris Evert, Martina Navratilova, competition, cancer, battles and bonds

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