Short Takes

How to write boring wonk

A freelancer laments an editor's directive against compelling copy

By Jacqui Banaszynski • September 19, 2023

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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

Story Annotations

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

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

By Trevor Pyle • September 14, 2023

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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

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

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

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

From the Editor

Helping each other navigate obscure records and obdurate sources

By Jacqui Banaszynski
August 8, 2023

The editor reflects on the need for journalists to support and learn from each other to defend and serve the public's right to know

From the Editor

Back-seat story magic

By Jacqui Banaszynski
August 2, 2023

How 90 minutes stuck in traffic yielded a story about the economy, culture, tradition and family love

From the Editor

Making prison stories relevant and relatable

By Jacqui Banaszynski
July 25, 2023

The editor considers what draws some journalists to prison-based stories or programs, and what we can learn from them

From the Editor

Staying cool in the face of heated criticism

By Jacqui Banaszynski
July 18, 2023

Journalists not only need to remain independent of faction, but unwavering in the face of partisan screeds

From the Editor

The unlimited shelf life of story ideas

By Jacqui Banaszynski
July 11, 2023

A story that isn't ready or doable in the moment may come back around to be a far better one

From the Editor

The necessary work of writing

By Jacqui Banaszynski
July 5, 2023

The editor reflects on a lifetime of the price paid for a career in journalism: having to write

From the Editor

Deadline journalism unplugged

By Jacqui Banaszynski
June 20, 2023

Some creative problem-solving by CNN, complete with paper notebooks, high school students and a pay phone

From the Editor

Inspiration and planning for the next chapter — of life and writing

By Jacqui Banaszynski
May 30, 2023

The editor marks five years and 260 Storyboard newsletters with a little help from a friend

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