Personal Essays

What journalists need to know when interviewing a transgender person

A transgender activist and former journalist urges reporters to move past the bathroom question and other false stereotypes

By Bethany Grace Howe • June 24, 2021

A sign denotes a universal-access bathroom in a hotel in Durham, N.C., in 2016. North Carolina has been home to continued court battles over it's so-called

A profile gives voice to a transgender teen who is denied her full identity

Samantha Schmidt of The Washington Post follows a girl who struggles to keep her voice and newfound happiness during COVID isolation

By Trevor Pyle • June 23, 2021

Story Annotations

An early portrait of gender transition with no style guides to steer by

Lane DeGregory's profile of Maddie, published in 2002, is a study in sourcing, immersion, empathy and tone

By Madeline Bodin • June 22, 2021

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Narrative News

The power and purpose of a writer’s voice

By Madeline Bodin

March 30, 2021

The founding director of the BU Power of Narrative conference details the most important step you can take towards narrative journalism

Narrative News

How covering prep sports in retirement led to a spot on “60 Minutes”

By Jacqui Banaszynski

March 26, 2021

Sports hall-of-famer Dave Kindred went back to his roots and found new purpose and new acclaim

Narrative News

Journalist Angel Jennings on being in the community and bringing yourself to stories

By Rachael L. Kelley

March 25, 2021

At the BU Power of Narrative conference, Angel Jennings of The Los Angeles Times talks about drawing on personal experiences to guide more authentic reporting

Narrative News

Roy Peter Clark on productive writing through a pandemic year

By Katharine Gammon

March 24, 2021

From The Power of Narrative conference: Writing coach Roy Peter Clark finds that his tried-and-true habits kept him focused during the distraction of COVID

Narrative News

The Power of Narrative: Non-fiction narrative in challenging times

By Dawn Fallik

March 23, 2021

A keynote conversation from the annual conference, hosted by Boston University, which went virtual to a record crowd

From the Editor

Writing about nostalgia for homelands

By Jacqui Banaszynski

March 22, 2021

In profiles of place, a New York Times reporter writes about missing the newsroom, and another carries his mother's name back to Ireland

Narrative News

An emotional award for Sally Jenkins after a lifetime of awards

By Jacqui Banaszynski

March 17, 2021

The Washington Post sports journalist is named the 2021 Red Smith Award winner, following in the footsteps of her father

One Great Moment

“… a space coffin turned shooting star.”

By Jacqui Banaszynski

March 16, 2021

From a profile of Laika, the celebrated canine cosmonaut, by Alex Wellerstein in The New Yorker

Story Annotations

Profiling homeless house-sitters to humanize the housing crisis in America

By Carly Stern

March 12, 2021

"My mission is to make people as excited to understand (housing) as I am," says freelance writer Francesca Mari

Narrative News

More recognition of work by freelancer Katie Engelhart

By Jacqui Banaszynski

March 11, 2021

Storyboard annotated two of her magazine stories in recent months, and her new book on right-to-die issues is the focus of a "Fresh Air" interview

Strictly Q&A

What it takes to cover a foreign country as a woman and during a pandemic

By Cat Woods

March 10, 2021

Indonesia correspondent Anne Barker of the Australian Broadcasting Corp. delivers a mix of breaking news and more personal stories

Story Craft

An award-winning food writer explores the legacy of sexual identity in the food world

By Aiman Javed

March 9, 2021

A profile of the late San Francisco chef Elka Gilmore shows the work it took to highlight her pioneering role as both chef and gay female in a male world