Articles

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

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

By Jacqui BanaszynskiMy heart goes out, along with favorite story moments, to all who knew, worked with and loved Bob Giles. It also goes out to those of you who…

By Jacqui BanaszynskiAccording to my pre-Wordle morning scans of social media in recent days, it’s back-to-school time. That seems awfully early to me (What happened to waiting until after Labor…

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

By Jacqui BanaszynskiAt the many writing workshops I lead, the primary struggles reporters raise involve, duh, writing. But when six health-reporting fellows gathered recently, the challenges they brought to the…

By Jacqui BanaszynskiReporter friends after swap tales about the stories and tips they picked up from cabbies when they travel on assignments. That’s seldom been successful for me. First, I’m…

A reporter sat with people in "the worst moments of their lives" but froze when it came time to talk to a famous writer

—An 11-year-old in Wichita, Kansas, challenging a journalist

By Jacqui BanaszynskiPrison stories are a special challenge for journalists. The gold standards of journalism are relevance and relatability. But it can be hard for many readers and listeners, if…