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Unity Conferees Hear Tips on Telling Good Stories

By Terrell Bryant
Black College Wire

photo credit: New York Times Jennifer 8. Lee of the New York Times advised, "Think how can I get there or do that?'"

New York Times reporter Jennifer 8. Lee says that successful narrative writing for newspapers requires that a reporter not only master writing techniques but know how to sell the story to editors.

That’s just one of 10 pointers she offered at the Unity conference as part of a the panel “Narrative Journalism: Beyond the 5 W’s.” The presenters were asked to talk about how to offer “a human dimension” to different kinds of stories, from profiles to social issues to statistical topics.

Lee described how she developed an engaging story about a struggling family of Chinese immigrants who moved to rural Georgia, beginning with how she came upon the idea and collaborated with a photographer and describing how she gained the family’s trust. Her advice:

• Be open to stories that evolve unexpectedly. In this case, she came upon the idea while covering a bus accident.

• Speak up when you know you have a good story. Lee overcame her reluctance and pitched the idea to the managing editor. He put it in the pipeline.

• Think about where you can gain access. Lee suggests that reporters think about what they know or the kind of contacts they have that others don’t. It could be language ability, religious affiliation, ethnic ties or non-journalism experiences. Any of them can be advantages when it comes to getting stories that others cannot.

• Know when to pick your battles. Lee described how she struggled to keep in parts of the story that the editors wanted to cut when she felt the content would help readers understand.

• Pick stories that will help you grow personally or morally. Lee says that reporters should not be afraid to embrace subjects that take them out of their comfort zones.

• Invest the time in earning trust. Sometimes the best stories come from people who are not accustomed to dealing with the media.

• Keep tabs on the story, even after you finish. It is the only way to know when developments make a follow-up story necessary.

• Be patient. Lee says narrative stories always seem to take longer than expected. A reporter must be able to go with the flow.

• Let your passion drive you. Reporters should not underestimate their luck in having jobs where they can explore subjects that go beyond the ordinary.

• Dream big; be ambitious. "Set high ambitions for yourself. Know whose work you admire. Think ‘how can I get there or do that?'" Lee said.

More than 150 people heard Lee’s lively presentation.

Washington Post Book World Editor Marie Arana said that although narrative stories tend to be longer than others, a narrative does not have to turn into a book. And all long stories are not narratives.

“You have to be an optimist. What gets you excited about a story will get your readers excited,” she added.

Terrell Bryant is a student at Benedict College.

Posted Aug. 10, 2004