Author

Jacqui Banaszynski

@JacquiB

Jacqui Banaszynski retired as the endowed Knight Chair in Editing at the Missouri School of Journalism in 2017, is editor at Nieman Storyboard, and a faculty fellow at the Poynter Institute. She won the 1988 Pulitzer Prize in feature writing for “AIDS in the Heartland,” a series about a gay farm couple facing AIDS, and was a finalist for the 1986 Pulitzer in international reporting for her account of the sub-Saharan famine.

"Because the universe is made of stories ..."

“Because the universe is made of stories …”

Dame Maggie Smith as Aunt Ruth in "A Boy Called Christmas"
Can a paper napkin serve your writing?

Can a paper napkin serve your writing?

By Jacqui BanaszynskiAs I indulged in my morning obsession of scanning news headlines one day last week, I paused on something called “napkin stories.” The tease I got included a…
Writing award named for Roy Peter Clark

Writing award named for Roy Peter Clark

By Jacqui BanaszynskiA lot of journalists dream of having their byline on work that wins one of the top industry awards. Many long to see their name on the spine…
Tapping star power for public service announcements

Tapping star power for public service announcements

By Jacqui BanaszynskiStoryboard does not indulge in easy click bait. But I would be foolish to ignore a legitimate opportunity to tap the drawing power of Taylor Swift.There’s this week’s…
Learning from the karma of gratitude

Learning from the karma of gratitude

By Jacqui BanaszynskiThe gratitude essay I wrote recentlyhas given back in multiples — which is how gratitude is supposed to work. I’ve received several lovely notes in response, including one…
A New York Times Insider piece takes readers beyond the public persona

A New York Times Insider piece takes readers beyond the public persona

By Jacqui BanaszynskiThe primary New York Times obit of Henry Kissinger listed it as a “38 MIN READ.” I checked the clock, my to-do list and my energy level. Then…
A "gratitude alphabet" as writing practice

A “gratitude alphabet” as writing practice

By Jacqui BanaszynskiGratitude is hot. Researchers study its benefits on health, happiness and longevity. Therapists teach it as a grounding activity that puts anxiety in perspective. Philosophers write all manner…
Taking aim at gun violence coverage

Taking aim at gun violence coverage

By Jacqui BanaszynskiOn Wednesday last week, I had a plan for the newsletter: All manner of tidbits were collecting in a file and it was time to use the best…
Will history be served by email clutter?

Will history be served by email clutter?

By Jacqui BanaszynskiAccording to the adage, people don’t regret the things they did in life — only those they didn’t.I don’t buy it — anymore than I buy the assurance…
A newspaper re-embraces print

A newspaper re-embraces print

The Guardian again bets on elegant design, elegant writing and a print publication to showcase the best of in-depth nonfiction journalism