📰Narrative Journalism Unit 5 – Developing Characters and Sources

Key Concepts

• Narrative journalism combines the storytelling techniques of fiction with the factual reporting of traditional journalism
• Character development involves creating vivid, multi-dimensional portraits of the people in a story
• Sources provide the raw material for narrative journalism through interviews, documents, and observation
• Effective interviewing requires active listening, empathy, and the ability to elicit revealing details and anecdotes
  • Open-ended questions encourage sources to share their experiences and perspectives in depth
• Ethical considerations include obtaining informed consent, protecting vulnerable sources, and avoiding exploitation
• Narrative structure shapes the arc of the story and keeps readers engaged from beginning to end
• Compelling dialogue brings characters to life and advances the story through revealing conversations
• Descriptive details and sensory language help readers visualize characters and scenes

Character Development Techniques

• Conduct extensive interviews with the character to understand their background, motivations, and inner life
• Observe the character in action to capture telling details about their appearance, mannerisms, and behavior
• Research the character's past through documents, interviews with others, and visits to significant places
• Use dialogue to reveal the character's personality, relationships, and conflicts
  • Choose quotes that capture the character's unique voice and perspective
• Describe the character's physical appearance, including clothing, gestures, and facial expressions
• Provide insight into the character's thoughts and feelings through interior monologue or interpretation
• Show the character's development over time in response to the events of the story

Finding and Cultivating Sources

• Identify key players in the story through research and preliminary interviews
• Develop a source list that includes people with direct knowledge of the events or issues
• Cultivate relationships with sources through regular communication and demonstrations of respect and empathy
  • Build trust by being transparent about the purpose and scope of the story
• Attend events or visit places where sources gather to make new contacts and observe interactions
• Use social media to identify and connect with potential sources
• Follow up on leads and referrals from initial sources to expand the range of perspectives
• Protect confidential sources through secure communication and data storage practices

Interviewing Skills

• Prepare for interviews by researching the subject and drafting open-ended questions
• Establish rapport with the source through friendly conversation and active listening
• Ask follow-up questions to clarify details or explore new angles that emerge during the interview
  • Use silence strategically to give the source space to reflect and elaborate
• Take detailed notes or record the interview with the source's permission for later review
• Observe the source's nonverbal communication and surroundings for additional context
• Conclude the interview by thanking the source and discussing next steps for fact-checking and publication
• Evaluate the information gathered and identify gaps or inconsistencies to address in future interviews

Ethical Considerations

• Obtain informed consent from sources by clearly explaining the purpose and potential impact of the story
• Protect vulnerable sources, such as children or trauma survivors, from harm or exploitation
  • Consult with experts on how to interview sensitive populations responsibly
• Verify information through multiple sources to ensure accuracy and fairness
• Disclose any potential conflicts of interest or biases that may affect the reporting
• Give sources the opportunity to review and respond to the final story before publication
• Consider the long-term consequences of the story for the characters and communities involved
• Reflect on the power dynamics between journalist and source and strive to minimize harm

Narrative Structure and Pacing

• Begin with a compelling scene or anecdote that introduces the central character or conflict
• Use a non-linear structure to create suspense or reveal information gradually
  • Flashbacks or flash-forwards can provide context or foreshadow future events
• Alternate between scenes and summary to maintain a brisk pace while providing necessary background
• Withhold key information until pivotal moments to create dramatic tension and reader engagement
• Build to a climax that brings the central conflict to a head and forces characters to make critical choices
• Resolve the story with a satisfying conclusion that ties together the narrative threads and themes
• Vary sentence length and structure to create a dynamic rhythm and keep readers engaged

Writing Compelling Dialogue

• Capture the unique voices and speech patterns of each character
• Use dialogue to advance the plot by revealing new information or shifting character relationships
  • Subtext and implication can communicate characters' true feelings beneath the surface of their words
• Intersperse dialogue with action beats that describe characters' movements, gestures, and expressions
• Minimize dialogue tags like "he said" or "she exclaimed" in favor of action beats
• Break up long stretches of dialogue with brief descriptions of the setting or characters' inner thoughts
• Ensure that each line of dialogue serves a clear purpose and avoids unnecessary exposition
• Read dialogue aloud to test for authenticity and natural flow

Bringing Characters to Life on the Page

• Show characters' personalities and quirks through specific details rather than general descriptions
  • A telling habit (biting nails) or possession (lucky charm) can be worth a paragraph of explanation
• Describe characters' physical appearances in ways that reveal their inner lives and social roles
• Use sensory details to make characters feel vivid and real to readers
  • The scent of a character's perfume or the sound of their laugh can be memorable touchpoints
• Reveal characters' backstories gradually through dialogue, flashbacks, or other characters' perspectives
• Let characters' actions and choices speak to their values and motivations
• Show characters' growth or change over the course of the story in response to challenges and revelations
• Create a strong sense of empathy or identification between readers and characters