I would have loved this course in J-school back in the 80s. Your point about being transparent as a way to build trust that humans are producing this work is important.
Thank you, Wendy! I think that sense of transparency is so important. Part of the distrust in media comes from a lack of understanding of how journalists go about their work. The more we can pull back the curtain on the process (by using the first person and other techniques, depending on the story), the better.
I love this for your students! I am currently putting together a plenary for Physicians and it is very first person heavy… Which is definitely not the standard for medical conferences. I’ve been questioning a little bit whether I’m going the right direction… rather than just sticking to the data. your examples are a reminder of why we need so much more first person in all of these spaces
As I am French, I am amazed by how Anglo-Saxons handle the matter of writing as something you can learn and polish with tools that can be taught.
The great example of the “I” is for us French people Albert Londres. And also more recently, Florence Aubenas. In “Le Quai de Ouistreham” she tells the story of the women employed by ferries to do the cleaning chores, a dreadful job. In order to better report on their working conditions she enlisted. At one point she tells how she is so uneasy about the fact that she is faking it: at the end of her two months she’ll be back to her normal life, these women can’t escape. They’ll return to their back-breaking chores.
In her articles and reportages Florence Aubenas uses the first person.
Mallary, this sounds like an incredible class. In these dark times, maybe we shouldn't forget the reported essay that involves humor. NYT magazine journalist Taffy Brodesser-Akner's recent essay on her first cold plunge brightened my day by making me laugh so hard so many times. It's incredible. One less incredible (and not funny) is my Texas Observer essay on the Fort Hood shooting. It doesn't cover the big story. It covers more of what I consider the "in between"--what's going with the people surrounded by the story. I don't know if it's categorized as a reported essay, but Gary Cartwright's Texas Monthly story about his son's death is so powerful that I was nearly in tears while reading it. And to me, an essay needs to be powerful. The better ones are thought-provoking, too. And the best ones exhibit vulnerability that the reader feels in her soul.
Thank you, Suzy. I appreciate your point about humor, and I look forward to reading Taffy’s piece. I’m so glad you mentioned your essay, and Gary’s, too. I plan to read each of these pieces in the week ahead. Grateful for your recommendations!
I would have loved this course in J-school back in the 80s. Your point about being transparent as a way to build trust that humans are producing this work is important.
Thank you, Wendy! I think that sense of transparency is so important. Part of the distrust in media comes from a lack of understanding of how journalists go about their work. The more we can pull back the curtain on the process (by using the first person and other techniques, depending on the story), the better.
I love this for your students! I am currently putting together a plenary for Physicians and it is very first person heavy… Which is definitely not the standard for medical conferences. I’ve been questioning a little bit whether I’m going the right direction… rather than just sticking to the data. your examples are a reminder of why we need so much more first person in all of these spaces
I’m so glad to hear this, Lauren! And I couldn’t agree more!
How cool is this. The bit about building the course around the essays that shaped you as a reader is great.
Thank you, Felipe!
As I am French, I am amazed by how Anglo-Saxons handle the matter of writing as something you can learn and polish with tools that can be taught.
The great example of the “I” is for us French people Albert Londres. And also more recently, Florence Aubenas. In “Le Quai de Ouistreham” she tells the story of the women employed by ferries to do the cleaning chores, a dreadful job. In order to better report on their working conditions she enlisted. At one point she tells how she is so uneasy about the fact that she is faking it: at the end of her two months she’ll be back to her normal life, these women can’t escape. They’ll return to their back-breaking chores.
In her articles and reportages Florence Aubenas uses the first person.
This is so interesting, Elena. I appreciate your perspective; your comments always introduce me to new realities and ideas, so thank you!
Mallary, this sounds like an incredible class. In these dark times, maybe we shouldn't forget the reported essay that involves humor. NYT magazine journalist Taffy Brodesser-Akner's recent essay on her first cold plunge brightened my day by making me laugh so hard so many times. It's incredible. One less incredible (and not funny) is my Texas Observer essay on the Fort Hood shooting. It doesn't cover the big story. It covers more of what I consider the "in between"--what's going with the people surrounded by the story. I don't know if it's categorized as a reported essay, but Gary Cartwright's Texas Monthly story about his son's death is so powerful that I was nearly in tears while reading it. And to me, an essay needs to be powerful. The better ones are thought-provoking, too. And the best ones exhibit vulnerability that the reader feels in her soul.
Thank you, Suzy. I appreciate your point about humor, and I look forward to reading Taffy’s piece. I’m so glad you mentioned your essay, and Gary’s, too. I plan to read each of these pieces in the week ahead. Grateful for your recommendations!