Story Craft

2024 Power of Narrative: How to bring empathy to your reporting

Separating empathy from advocacy, and practicing it as a tool of better listening and more complete stories

By Esther Landhuis • April 18, 2024

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Personal Essays

How an old story taught new lessons about reporting trauma

A quarter-century after a catastrophic fire, a reporter returned to interview survivors and faced the grief she had carried with her

By Line Vaaben • April 4, 2024

Story Craft

2024 Power of Narrative: Double the power of your story with a braided structure

In a long feature story, two related or resonant threads can be woven to make a piece that is both complex and clear

By Madeline Bodin • April 3, 2024

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Short Takes

A 3,000-word story, 70 email questions ~ and a grateful writer

By Jyoti Madhusoodanan
March 14, 2024

A freelancer praises the meticulous process of fact-checkers

Short Takes

Analytics aren’t the only measure

By Laurie Hertzel
February 8, 2024

A retired journalist revisits letters sent by readers early in her career, and is reminded that stories touch people in ways we never know

Short Takes

Goldilocks interviews: Too little, too much and just right

By Jacqui Banaszynski
October 13, 2023

When it comes to information from sources, journalists confront everything from locked lips to TMI

Short Takes

How to write boring wonk

By Jacqui Banaszynski
September 19, 2023

A freelancer laments an editor's directive against compelling copy

Short Takes

A failed lunar landing and a successful marriage

By Jacqui Banaszynski
September 13, 2023

Alex Traub's straightforward obit of astronaut wife Marilyn Lovell captures history, character and romance through perfectly selected details

Short Takes

Story seeds from the garden

By Jacqui Banaszynski
September 5, 2023

A community columnist serves zucchini in a four-act play, complete with character development and an encore

Short Takes

Who says political writing has to be boring?

By Jacqui Banaszynski
February 9, 2023

Description, detail and sensory imagery tease out the drama and significance of a typically staid political event

Short Takes

Punning the way to a point

By Jacqui Banaszynski
August 5, 2022

Political satirist Dana Milbank of the Washington Post digs deep into Donald Trump's latest tax-deductible venture

Short Takes

When writing sparks writing

By Jacqui Banaszynski
January 28, 2022

Lines from a Muriel Rukeyser poem echoed forward into the heart of a Christmas movie starring Dame Maggie Smith

Narrative News

An imperfectly perfect photo that honored content over style

By Jacqui Banaszynski
January 26, 2021

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

Short Takes

Reading (Stephen King) to learn to write

By Jacqui Banaszynski
June 3, 2020

A "starter's guide" to the king of terror, from the New York Times, is a reminder that learning happens in many forms

Short Takes

Gratitude Notes (#28): A writer’s wish for the ages

December 31, 2019
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