Narrative News

America’s first hip-hop inaugural poem ties history to the present, optimism to urgency

Youth poet laureate Amanda Gorman draws on Hamilton, MLK, scripture and slavery to capture and prod America in the moment

By Lisa Grace Lednicer • January 21, 2021

American poet Amanda Gorman reads a poem during the 59th Presidential Inauguration at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, Wednesday, Jan. 20, 2021.

Lessons in the purpose of poetic language from a presidential inauguration

Writing master Roy Peter Clark reflects on the power of words in politics, and how they mirror the times we live in

By Roy Peter Clark • January 21, 2021

Story Craft

#4 rule of pitching: Know what’s come before

The lack of a simple clips search can tank your idea

By Jacqui Banaszynski • January 20, 2021

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Story Craft

When writing news requires a distance from neutrality to “tell it like it is”

By Roy Peter Clark

January 14, 2021

Writing guru Roy Peter Clark analyzes an "astonishing lead," and unpacks the notions of objectivity and detachment in light of current events

Strictly Q&A

How a top LinkedIn journalist quit with no what’s-next ideas, then woke up to a big one

By Julia Shipley

December 9, 2020

The Pivot: Novice podcaster Isabelle Roughol on the love of journalism that "lets you enter infinite worlds"

Strictly Q&A

The keys to global journalism: curiosity, open-mindedness and a broad network

By Cat Woods

December 8, 2020

BBC news presenter Jackie Leonard talks about what it takes to create an engaging podcast out of global news

Strictly Q&A

How an editor guided coverage of racism in the life and death of George Floyd

By Carly Stern

December 2, 2020

Steven Ginsberg, national editor at The Washington Post, grounded a sensitive project with this question: "Are we qualified to do this story?"

Strictly Q&A

Writing past politics to a “female way of approaching things” in commentary

By Bonnie Miller Rubin

November 17, 2020

Schmoozing with 2012 Pulitzer winner Mary Schmich of the Chicago Tribune on interviewing sensitive subjects, sharing her life, and aging

Strictly Q&A

What happened when a journalist tracked the origins of the rape evidence kit

By Monique Brouillette

November 4, 2020

Pagan Kennedy dug beyond stories about the backlog in rape kit testing to reveal the woman who invented the kit and how she was shelved by history

Strictly Q&A

The fashion critic of The New York Times sees clothing as an extension of culture

By Cat Woods

November 3, 2020

A "lucky mistake" made Vanessa Friedman become a major voice in fashion

Strictly Q&A

How the road led out of and back into journalism

By Julia Shipley

October 30, 2020

The Pivot: A young journalist was dumped out of newsrooms, found a new life, then was lured back with better boundaries

Strictly Q&A

Pitching the IWMF: Focus on undercovered issues, think big and dare to stretch

By Carly Stern

October 22, 2020

For 30 years, the International Women's Media Fund has helped fund women journalists and ambitious projects around the world

Strictly Q&A

Wisdom from Melissa Fay Greene about deep reporting on sensitive subjects

By Bonnie Miller Rubin

September 23, 2020

Her Atlantic story following the fate of adopted Romanian orphans delves into science, psychology and the tricky shoals of parenthood

Strictly Q&A

How limitations — COVID, budgets, access and more — can spark fresh ideas

By Kristen Chin

September 17, 2020

From coaching camera skills to honoring drone laws, the lifestyles production unit at GBH in Boston chases creative documentary work

Strictly Q&A

Introducing “The Pivot,” in which journalists find their way through industry chaos

By Julia Shipley

September 9, 2020

National Magazine Award winner Chris Jones loses his job and his marriage, so writes his way to Mars