characters

Getting the story: How 7 writers found their idea and main characters

Getting the story: How 7 writers found their idea and main characters

From the Nieman Storyboard archives: Here are the strategies journalists use to find their next big story
March 12, 2026
Emilia Wisniewski
Soledad O’Brien on character-driven storytelling in documentaries, and the power of being a witness

Soledad O’Brien on character-driven storytelling in documentaries, and the power of being a witness

The veteran journalist and documentarian shares how her late mother’s act of defiance is a practice we should all embody
February 5, 2026
Christina M. Tapper
Meet the main characters: How six writers introduce their subjects to the reader

Meet the main characters: How six writers introduce their subjects to the reader

From the Nieman Storyboard archives: the descriptions, the scenes, and the internal thoughts that bring characters to life in narrative nonfiction
November 7, 2025
Emilia Wisniewski