"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 journalism—passion, 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 journalists, including Ta-Nehisi Coates, Joan Didion, Helen Garner, Alex Tizon, and James Baldwin. Together, the book provides a fresh look at the craft of nonfiction, offering much-needed advice on writing with style, authority, and a unique point of view.
Written with a knowledge of the rapidly changing digital media environment, First-Person Journalism is a key text for journalism and media students interested in personal nonfiction, as well as for early-career nonfiction writers looking to develop this narrative form."
By:
Martha Nichols
Imprint: Routledge
Country of Publication: United Kingdom
Dimensions:
Height: 234mm,
Width: 156mm,
Weight: 430g
ISBN: 9780367676483
ISBN 10: 0367676486
Pages: 196
Publication Date: 12 November 2021
Audience:
College/higher education
,
Further / Higher Education
,
Further / Higher Education
Format: Hardback
Publisher's Status: Active
"Contents Preface: Personal Journalism for Challenging Times PART ONE: What Is First-Person Journalism? Chapter 1: How I Became a First-Person Journalist Defining first-person journalism Permission to say ""I"" Is it ever too personal? Self-reporting: ""What do I know?"" How to use this book Why gonzo got it wrong—and right Chapter 2: The Ethics of Personal Reporting He said, she said The limits of objectivity Liars, thieves, and postmodernists Fictional selves versus true selves Embracing the active ""I"" PART TWO: Developing an Active ""I"" Voice Chapter 3: Locating Your Passion: What do I want to write about? Don’t bore yourself Don’t perform your emotions Don’t scream at readers Cultivating curiosity: passion for facts Responding to the world Personal story: write about a ""wart"" Chapter 4: Investigating Yourself: How do I know my own story is true? Why memories are not facts Fact checking the basics Fact checking with family and friends Reporting on your ""I"" Reporting on what you haven’t said Admitting what you’ll never know Memory essay: write about an early memory Sample story: ""Hurricane Warnings"" Chapter 5: Establishing Your Stance: How close am I to the story? From POV to first-person stance Determining your emotional distance Personal example: reining in myself Addressing readers: five stances Rethinking voice: active response 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? Relevance versus vagueness Three kinds of details Conveying the feel of a place Reporting what people do and say Direct reporting of events The art of capsule description Local profile: write about a neighborhood place Chapter 7: Attributing Sources: Where do my facts come from? What is attribution? Sources in first-person features Attribution tags and linking Danger! Avoid voice hijacks The curse of knowledge How-to piece: explain with three tips Chapter 8: Convincing Readers: What’s my argument and who disagrees? The curse of unconscious feeling Point-counterpoint Not all experts are the same Establishing first-person authority 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? Sequence: what comes first? Chronology: orienting readers in time Time machine: shifting between past and present selves Trends: personal and cultural Personal trend story: write about changes in food, music, or weather Chapter 10: Organizing a Story: How do I mix everything together? What’s in the mix? Classic feature formula: lead + nut graf Scene breaks and dramatic tension Essays: emotional journeys New mix: feature or essay? Sample outline: ""Why I’ll Never Surf Again"" Chapter 11: Revising for Impact: What do I really want to say? Test your idea: pitching Focus your idea: taglines Focus your voice: cutting and selecting Connect to the world: your impact Story revision: complete a feature or essay Impact Plan: how do you know? End Note: Witnessing the World with Empathy 25 Rules for First-Person Journalism Index"
Martha Nichols cofounded Talking Writing, a nonprofit digital magazine. A longtime writer, journalist, and editor, she is a faculty instructor in journalism at the Harvard University Extension School. She is also the editor of and a contributor to Into Sanity: Essays About Mental Health, Mental Illness, and Living in Between.
