The Power of NarrativeThe Power of Narrative

Nieman Program on Narrative JournalismNieman Program on Narrative Journalismat Harvard Universityat Harvard University

What is narrative …What is narrative …

… … at a minimum, writing with set scenes and at a minimum, writing with set scenes and characters… characters…

……action that unfolds over time… action that unfolds over time… ……the interpretable voice of a teller, a narrator the interpretable voice of a teller, a narrator

with a somewhat discernable personality…with a somewhat discernable personality………and all arrayed to lead the audience toward and all arrayed to lead the audience toward

a point of realization.a point of realization. -- Mark Kramer, Nieman Narrative Program-- Mark Kramer, Nieman Narrative Program

What is narrative…What is narrative…

… … a simple thing, at bottom: chronology with a simple thing, at bottom: chronology with meaning.meaning.

-- Jon Franklin, author of “Writing for Story’’-- Jon Franklin, author of “Writing for Story’’

What the studies showWhat the studies show

► ASNE Literacy Committee ReportASNE Literacy Committee Report – 1993. – 1993. Over a thousand interviews yielded statistically Over a thousand interviews yielded statistically

significant evidence that: significant evidence that: traditionally organized news stories are the least effective traditionally organized news stories are the least effective

at imparting information; at imparting information; readers stayed longer with stories written in a narrative readers stayed longer with stories written in a narrative

mode; mode; articles that made an effort to explain assumptions and articles that made an effort to explain assumptions and

contexts attracted younger and less well-educated contexts attracted younger and less well-educated readers. readers.

Summary from Dr. Georgia Green, Professor of Linguistics, University of IllinoisSummary from Dr. Georgia Green, Professor of Linguistics, University of Illinois

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What the studies showWhat the studies show

► Readership Institute Impact StudyReadership Institute Impact Study 2001 2001 Many readers are turned off by the inverted pyramid Many readers are turned off by the inverted pyramid

style that is used in 70 percent of newspaper storiesstyle that is used in 70 percent of newspaper stories Feature style, defined essentially as narrative, “increases Feature style, defined essentially as narrative, “increases

satisfaction’’ and improves “brand perception.’’ satisfaction’’ and improves “brand perception.’’ Readers say newspapers that use this approach seem Readers say newspapers that use this approach seem

more “honest, fun, neighborly, intelligent, in-the-know more “honest, fun, neighborly, intelligent, in-the-know and more in touch with their values.’’and more in touch with their values.’’

http://www.readership.org/http://www.readership.org/..

Narrative AroundNarrative Around North America North America

Los Angeles TimesLos Angeles Times

The PremiseThe Premise

““In the vast migration that is changing the In the vast migration that is changing the U.S. thousands of children travel alone U.S. thousands of children travel alone seeking the mothers who went before seeking the mothers who went before them… them…

““This story (a six-part series) chronicles the This story (a six-part series) chronicles the journey of a teen who traveled alone from journey of a teen who traveled alone from Honduras in search of his mother.”Honduras in search of his mother.”

Reporter: Sonia Nazario; photographer: Don BartlettiReporter: Sonia Nazario; photographer: Don Bartletti

ResponseResponse

One thousand e-mails; Pulitzer Prize for feature writing 2003, One thousand e-mails; Pulitzer Prize for feature writing 2003, plus 20 other awards. It will soon become an HBO mini-plus 20 other awards. It will soon become an HBO mini-series.series.

Telling anecdote: Nazario got calls and emails from people Telling anecdote: Nazario got calls and emails from people who were angry that the series did not run on consecutive who were angry that the series did not run on consecutive days, people calling saying they got up early to go get the days, people calling saying they got up early to go get the paper wanting to know "Where the hell is today's paper wanting to know "Where the hell is today's installment?" installment?"

http://www.latimes.com/news/specials/enrique/http://www.latimes.com/news/specials/enrique/

Austin American-StatesmanAustin American-Statesman

The PremiseThe Premise

Jacqueline Saburido is a young woman whose old life vanished Jacqueline Saburido is a young woman whose old life vanished in flames on a September night in 1999. in flames on a September night in 1999.

An 18-year-old drunken driver veered over the yellow line. Two An 18-year-old drunken driver veered over the yellow line. Two passengers in Jacqui's car died, and Jacqui was left burned passengers in Jacqui's car died, and Jacqui was left burned over 60 percent of her body.over 60 percent of her body.

Staff writer David Hafetz and photographer Rudy Gonzalez Staff writer David Hafetz and photographer Rudy Gonzalez spent nearly a year, chronicling Jacqui's life and the spent nearly a year, chronicling Jacqui's life and the devotion of her father, Amadeo, for this 5,000 word feature devotion of her father, Amadeo, for this 5,000 word feature story that became an instrument of public service in the story that became an instrument of public service in the community.community.

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ResponseResponse

““We got hundreds of e-mails from all over the world, from a We got hundreds of e-mails from all over the world, from a tiny village in Colombia to big media outlets in Mexico City. tiny village in Colombia to big media outlets in Mexico City.

““Just last week (March 2004) we got another order for 100,000 Just last week (March 2004) we got another order for 100,000 copies of the reprint that will be distributed in schools copies of the reprint that will be distributed in schools throughout Texas by the Dept. of Transportation. That throughout Texas by the Dept. of Transportation. That brings our reprint total to about a half million. brings our reprint total to about a half million.

Web page views for the project May 2002-July 2003 were 6.98 Web page views for the project May 2002-July 2003 were 6.98 million.” -- Maria Henson, AME, projects. million.” -- Maria Henson, AME, projects.

http://www.statesman.com/specialreports/content/specialreports/jacqui/index.htmlhttp://www.statesman.com/specialreports/content/specialreports/jacqui/index.html

Cleveland Plain DealerCleveland Plain Dealer

ResponseResponse

Four-hundred-fifty e-mails and about as many phone Four-hundred-fifty e-mails and about as many phone calls. Pulitzer finalist 2003.calls. Pulitzer finalist 2003.

Telling anecdote: Schultz said that she was about Telling anecdote: Schultz said that she was about three months into the reporting for the series three months into the reporting for the series when one of the main characters she was when one of the main characters she was reporting on was standing on the lawn watching reporting on was standing on the lawn watching her get into her car and he said, "I can't believe her get into her car and he said, "I can't believe you keep coming back here and it's not because you keep coming back here and it's not because someone got murdered."someone got murdered."

http://www.cleveland.com/burden/http://www.cleveland.com/burden/

Portland OregonianPortland Oregonian

The PremiseThe Premise

Sukhwinder Sing Dhillon lied, cheated, committed bigamy _ Sukhwinder Sing Dhillon lied, cheated, committed bigamy _ and murdered using strychnine. The immigrant had gone and murdered using strychnine. The immigrant had gone back to find wives in his native India, and returned with back to find wives in his native India, and returned with them to his new home in Canada. them to his new home in Canada.

Then he killed them.Then he killed them.For years he got away with it, until an insurance investigator For years he got away with it, until an insurance investigator

and two determined detectives brought him to justice. and two determined detectives brought him to justice. On Jan. 25, 2003, two days after Dhillon went to prison, the On Jan. 25, 2003, two days after Dhillon went to prison, the

Spectator began publishing Spectator began publishing PoisonPoison, a 31-part series that ran , a 31-part series that ran two broadsheet pages each weekday and SIX in the two broadsheet pages each weekday and SIX in the weekend edition.weekend edition.

Reporter: Jon Wells, photographer Scott GardnerReporter: Jon Wells, photographer Scott Gardner

ResponseResponse

Five percent increase in daily single copy sales for the Five percent increase in daily single copy sales for the Spectator, a newspaper with about 105,000 daily circ and Spectator, a newspaper with about 105,000 daily circ and 15,000 single copy. Fifty-eight thousand hits on Spectator’s 15,000 single copy. Fifty-eight thousand hits on Spectator’s website.website.

Telling anecdote: “Prior to launch our circulation director Telling anecdote: “Prior to launch our circulation director predicted that such an unwieldy piece would send our predicted that such an unwieldy piece would send our readers fleeing in droves.readers fleeing in droves.

““Before the series was over, the circ. director was asking if we Before the series was over, the circ. director was asking if we could somehow extend it.” -- Kevin Cavanagh, training and could somehow extend it.” -- Kevin Cavanagh, training and development editor. development editor.

http://www.thespec.comhttp://www.thespec.com (click on feature reports, then poison) (click on feature reports, then poison)

Chicago TribuneChicago Tribune

ResponseResponse

Several hundred e-mails, numerous phone Several hundred e-mails, numerous phone calls and letters.calls and letters.

Telling anecdote:Telling anecdote: “Many readers were “Many readers were moved to shared their own stories with us. moved to shared their own stories with us. Some of them were opening up about Some of them were opening up about family secrets for the first time. Their stories family secrets for the first time. Their stories were often as dark as my mother’s yet they were often as dark as my mother’s yet they held nothing back.” – Howard Reichheld nothing back.” – Howard Reich

www.chicagotribune.com/features/chi-031130reich-specialpakcage.specialwww.chicagotribune.com/features/chi-031130reich-specialpakcage.special

Arkansas Democrat-GazetteArkansas Democrat-Gazette

The PremiseThe Premise

““He could see his 13-year-old prey framed in the living-room He could see his 13-year-old prey framed in the living-room windows – cozy in her favorite nightclothes and typing windows – cozy in her favorite nightclothes and typing speedily at the family computer …speedily at the family computer …

““He stepped closer. Kacie was there for the taking – typing, He stepped closer. Kacie was there for the taking – typing, distracted, her silhouette melding with that of the computer distracted, her silhouette melding with that of the computer monitor before her…”monitor before her…”

““Caught in the Web", a four-part series, tells the story of the Caught in the Web", a four-part series, tells the story of the abduction and murder of Kacie Woody, shedding light on the abduction and murder of Kacie Woody, shedding light on the risk of Internet chat roomsrisk of Internet chat rooms

Reporter: Cathy Frye, photographer: Karen E. SegraveReporter: Cathy Frye, photographer: Karen E. Segrave

ResponseResponse

ASNE award, non-deadline writing. ASNE award, non-deadline writing. Series is being reprinted in booklet form Series is being reprinted in booklet form

because of the volume of requests to have because of the volume of requests to have it as a teaching tool.it as a teaching tool.

Telling anecdote: One teacher wrote to say Telling anecdote: One teacher wrote to say he'd canceled his lesson plan for the week he'd canceled his lesson plan for the week and was having his students follow the and was having his students follow the series instead. series instead.

http://www.ardemgaz.com/Prev/Web/http://www.ardemgaz.com/Prev/Web/..

Your Narrative Here…Your Narrative Here…

Compiled by Amanda St. Amand and Dick Compiled by Amanda St. Amand and Dick Weiss, St. Louis Post-Dispatch…Weiss, St. Louis Post-Dispatch…

In cooperation with Mark Kramer and the In cooperation with Mark Kramer and the Nieman Narrative Program at Harvard Nieman Narrative Program at Harvard UniversityUniversity

http://www.nieman.harvard.edu/narrative/http://www.nieman.harvard.edu/narrative/kramer2@fas.harvard.edu kramer2@fas.harvard.edu rweiss@post-dispatch.comrweiss@post-dispatch.com

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