Description
Book Synopsis
A first-of-its-kind guide for new media times, this book provides practical, step-by-step instructions for writing first-person features, essays, and digital content.
Combining journalism techniques with self-exploration and personal storytelling, First-Person Journalism is designed to help writers to develop their personal voice and establish a narrative stance. The book introduces nine elements of first-person journalismpassion, self-reporting, stance, observation, attribution, counterpoints, time travel, the mix, and impact. Two introductory chapters define first-person journalism and its value in building trust with a public now skeptical of traditional news media. The nine practice chapters that follow each focus on one first-person element, presenting a sequence of voice lessons with a culminating writing assignment, such as a personal trend story or an open letter. Examples are drawn from diverse nonfiction writers and journal
Table of Contents
Contents
Preface: Personal Journalism for Challenging Times
PART ONE: What Is First-Person Journalism?
Chapter 1: How I Became a First-Person Journalist
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- Defining first-person journalism
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- Permission to say "I"
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- Is it ever too personal?
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- Self-reporting: "What do I know?"
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- How to use this book
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- Why gonzo got it wrong—and right
Chapter 2: The Ethics of Personal Reporting
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- He said, she said
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- The limits of objectivity
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- Liars, thieves, and postmodernists
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- Fictional selves versus true selves
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- Embracing the active "I"
PART TWO: Developing an Active "I" Voice
Chapter 3: Locating Your Passion: What do I want to write about?
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- Don’t bore yourself
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- Don’t perform your emotions
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- Don’t scream at readers
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- Cultivating curiosity: passion for facts
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- Responding to the world
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- Personal story: write about a "wart"
Chapter 4: Investigating Yourself: How do I know my own story is true?
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- Why memories are not facts
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- Fact checking the basics
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- Fact checking with family and friends
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- Reporting on your "I"
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- Reporting on what you haven’t said
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- Admitting what you’ll never know
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- Memory essay: write about an early memory
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- Sample story: "Hurricane Warnings"
Chapter 5: Establishing Your Stance: How close am I to the story?
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- From POV to first-person stance
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- Determining your emotional distance
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- Personal example: reining in myself
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- Addressing readers: five stances
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- Rethinking voice: active response
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- Review: your personal take on a media work
PART THREE: Reporting Beyond the Self
Chapter 6: Observing Real Life: How do I describe people and places?
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- Relevance versus vagueness
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- Three kinds of details
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- Conveying the feel of a place
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- Reporting what people do and say
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- Direct reporting of events
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- The art of capsule description
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- Local profile: write about a neighborhood place
Chapter 7: Attributing Sources: Where do my facts come from?
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- What is attribution?
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- Sources in first-person features
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- Attribution tags and linking
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- Danger! Avoid voice hijacks
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- The curse of knowledge
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- How-to piece: explain with three tips
Chapter 8: Convincing Readers: What’s my argument and who disagrees?
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- The curse of unconscious feeling
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- Point-counterpoint
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- Not all experts are the same
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- Establishing first-person authority
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- Open letter: address a public figure or topic
PART FOUR: Storytelling to Make an Impact
Chapter 9: Moving Through Time: How have I and the world changed?
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- Sequence: what comes first?
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- Chronology: orienting readers in time
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- Time machine: shifting between past and present selves
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- Trends: personal and cultural
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- Personal trend story: write about changes in food, music, or weather
Chapter 10: Organizing a Story: How do I mix everything together?
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- What’s in the mix?
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- Classic feature formula: lead + nut graf
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- Scene breaks and dramatic tension
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- Essays: emotional journeys
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- New mix: feature or essay?
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- Sample outline: "Why I’ll Never Surf Again"
Chapter 11: Revising for Impact: What do I really want to say?
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- Test your idea: pitching
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- Focus your idea: taglines
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- Focus your voice: cutting and selecting
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- Connect to the world: your impact
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- Story revision: complete a feature or essay
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- Impact Plan: how do you know?
End Note: Witnessing the World with Empathy
25 Rules for First-Person Journalism
Index
