Narrative News

An imperfectly perfect photo that honored content over style

The photographer who took the soon-to-be-memed image of U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders at the presidential inauguration tells Rolling Stone why he chose it

By Jacqui Banaszynski • January 26, 2021

The Bernie and his mittens meme stopped outside the weekly Methow Valley News in the north-central Washington mountains, where he sat in a construction site that is now a brewpub.

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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

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Chip Scanlan

Chip Scanlan

Julia Shipley

Julia Shipley

Roy Peter Clark

Roy Peter Clark

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Story Craft

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

By Jacqui Banaszynski
January 20, 2021

The lack of a simple clips search can tank your idea

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

One Great Moment

“The mountains on the horizon …”

By Jacqui Banaszynski
December 29, 2020

Tana French in her novel "The Searcher"

Story Craft

A master of sports journalism tackles a new writing challenge: narrative on Facebook

By Greg Bowers
November 18, 2020

National Sports Media Hall of Famer Dave Kindred's posts about visits to his ailing wife, his late grandson and life during COVID hit a chord with readers

Story Craft

Challenges of sourcing, safety and reporting for narrative in China

By Kristen Chin
November 11, 2020

Ten-plus years reporting from China has taught Sui-Lee Wee to work around obstacles and lean on the local press for help

Story Craft

How a reporter tracked good intentions to problematic consequences in family court

By Trevor Pyle
October 13, 2020

A Marshall Project/Atlantic investigation into "child-abuse pediatricians" found families misjudged by a system meant to protect children

Story Craft

How a viral tweet led to a sensitive story on family, race and America

By Trevor Pyle
September 30, 2020

A Los Angeles Times reporter used new and old tools (listening!) to gain access and trust

Story Craft

Writing rituals: Superstition or productivity?

By Chip Scanlan
August 12, 2020

A book captures the obsessive habits of great authors — quirks that writing coach Chip Scanlan says help writers focus and summon the Muse

Story Craft

What crisis reporting can teach about better sports reporting

By Reid Glenn
June 30, 2020

An award-winning sports reporter draws on three tools to find relevant stories in any situation

Story Craft

The challenge of precision: As descriptors evolve, the press must be clear

By Patrick Garvin
June 18, 2020

A resource offers terms and definitions within the world of LGBTQ+

Story Craft

Building writing muscles — a postcard a day

By Greg Bowers
April 28, 2020

An award-winning sports reporter learns to relax his professional writing by penning personal notes on postcards

Story Craft

A Writer’s Survival Guide: Tips for defying distraction

By Kim Cross
April 23, 2020

One moderately productive, relatively-sane freelancer’s approach to writing through a crisis

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