Is Modern Technology Bringing Back Narrative Journalism?

We read novels, watch movies, and play video games with a subconscious conviction that fiction is actually more rich with meaning and interest and fascination than real life.  We love being absorbed into fiction and allegory.  Until you hit the newsroom.

Naturally, of course, there is no room for fiction when commenting or reporting on a real, live state of affairs; one of the cardinal rules of journalism means reporting facts and nothing more.  But there exists a wonderful marriage between traditional journalism and the creative crafting and structuring of words and sentences that makes storytelling so appealing to us in the first place.  It is called “creative nonfiction.”

I like to call it “narrative journalism” because that is exactly what it is—it is journalism, and that’s all there is to it.  It creates a literary arena where a writer can, in effect, reconstruct real life experiences, especially his or her own, in plain black and white on the blank page.  And mind you, the “creative” part of this genre does not diminish the dignity and nobility of journalistic reporting.  But here’s the problem: Some people really think so.

However, for all you literary skeptics and traditionalists who scowl and turn your nose up at the supposed “inferior” style of creative nonfiction, here’s a little exercise for you: Take a picture of the most beautiful natural site you can access; it could be the view from your back yard or the breathtaking gaze over the ocean from your neighbor’s patio.  Now upload that photo into your computer.  Create two versions of the photograph, one color and one black and white.  These two photos illustrate the difference between traditional reporting and narrative reporting.  You’ll notice, of course, that the image is exactly the same.  And mind you, there is always a place for black and white photography (one of my personal favorites).  But when you view the color version, it comes to life! It lives! Your brain even becomes more aroused by the beauty and richness of the color.  Because colors make images come to life.  The same is true with a narrative, creative approach to reporting: It does not diminish facts and journalistic approach in any way.  It enriches it.

Narrative, or creative journalism, by the way, isn’t anything new.  It has long been the favorite stylistic approach for many a journalist.  Truman Capote’s “In Cold Blood,” as an example, is a tremendous instance of the style.  Although Capote claims to have invented the genre, it actually traces clear back to the writings of men like Daniel Defoe (18 century), Mark Twain (19^th century), and others such as James Agee, Ernest Hemingway, and John Steinbeck, who wrote during the World War II era.  There has always been a welcome home by many contemporary magazines and online media for creative reporting.  Just not when it comes to real, brass tacks news.

But having said all of that, is technology “bringing back” narrative journalism?

Websites like Twitter and Facebook almost create a microcosmic environment that demonstrates narrative journalism by the second.  Reporting facts but narrative, painted with human emotion and concern.  Mind you, they aren’t of the same caliber as a 1,500 word feature on the front page of a daily newspaper most of the time.  But let me read you some of the things my friends have recently posted on their Facebook profile:

“I GOT THE JOB…I GOT THE JOB…THANKS FOR ALL YOUR FINGERS AND TOES AND PRAYERS.  I LOVE YOU!”—by Lori. 

  “OFF TO CALI…” by Jonathan.

  “SNOWING HEAVILY TODAY.  AND I WAS JUST GETTING USED TO THE MUD.”—by Missy.

  “IT’S GOING TO BE AN EPIC NIGHT.  I GET TO OPEN FOR ONE OF MY FAVE SEATTLE METAL BANDS EVER…SANCTUARY.” by Tony.

None of these statements are ideas I would take to my editor as story ideas; technically, they aren’t even newsworthy.  But they are facts, nonetheless.  Facts painted with human perspective and concern.  And that, my friends, epitomizes narrative journalism.  You see, mankind has been conditioning itself over the past five years especially, to accept news and narrative reporting on a minute-by-minute basis.

Now, take the principles behind the appeal of such “instant news” sources and inflate them, expand them into the realm of real world reporting.  Then, you have a prominent situation in contemporary journalism: many publishers who once upon a time, just like most everyone else, were delighted to receive a cut and dry, black and white compilation of cold facts, are now calling for submissions that perspire with human emotion, feeling, perception, and perspective.  The facts are still very much there and intact, but now it is more kosher to “color in” the lines with the pigment of human experience.

There’s nothing wrong with what I like to call “the Jack Webb approach”: “just the facts, ma’am…” (For those of you who remember, or have seen “Dragnet.”) But there is a delightful reformation of literary and journalistic approach and acceptability occurring right before our eyes, and I believe as do many that we owe a thank you to social media for that.  Because you see, it is when we learn as writers and journalists how to transform cold facts into warm truths, that we learn what being human is all about.