Rose offers an insightful first-person account of his experience with mental illness. Memoirs of descents into internal hells are getting more common—and that seems like a good thing. They demystify and de-stigmatize what is still a fraught area. Rose happened … Read more
We appreciated, were even grateful for, Streeter’s exploration of moral and political context in this story. He might have tried to make this a piece about overcoming odds, about the generosity of Americans; instead he focused on the girl’s struggles, … Read more
Here’s what Erika Hayasaki wrote us when she sent this piece: "This is an example of going back after the news is ‘over’ and finding the richer story. I read the news story in the LA Times one morning. The … Read more
This is a retrospective narrative, part history and part where-they-are-now. It’s an important and difficult story to tell. Difficult, it seems to us, because of its complexity and nuance. Mundy takes on both the task of filling us in on … Read more
We asked Swidey to tell us about his work on this story. Here’s what he e-mailed us: “I knew what I didn’t want to write: the birth-to-current-day profile of Mitt Romney, the Massachusetts governor and presidential hopeful. That had been … Read more
This series shows how narrative can illuminate complex processes—in this case the machinations of policymaking. It’s a clear, entertaining account of Republican mavericks trying to pass a bill popular among constituents, but thorny in Congress. This is a success story—until … Read more
[Note: The following is an edited transcript from a talk at the 2001 Nieman Conference on Narrative Journalism. It first appeared in the Spring 2002 issue of Nieman Reports.] The ending is something special. The ending is the last word. Read more
Kimber’s story about Tom Martin, a devoted detective, has a strong sense of direction—even though his piece is based on interview. We thought this piece a good example of writing a profile—as opposed to a true narrative—while avoiding a pitfall … Read more
Born to an unwed mother, Frank Beazley was given up to an orphanage as a newborn. His difficult life rolled out from there. We appreciated the historical detail the series provides. Miller emphasizes Beazley’s resilience, generosity and optimism. These themes … Read more
We have to admit that the topic of this story, its high drama, made us a bit wary. Still, the series is well worth reading because it is an engrossing tale. Rose’s pregnancy, it seems to us, makes the story: … Read more