In a now-famous essay known as “The Birth of the New Journalism,” journalist Tom Wolfe wrote about the evolving nature of journalistic craft. Though he unfortunately demeans the novel as a piece of media in this piece, he more importantly highlights what he considers “new journalism.”
“The obvious relationship between reporting and the major novels … took the New Journalism to bring the strange matter of reporting to the foreground,” Wolfe said in the piece.
In other words, Wolfe claims the journalistic craft can be literary — it can discuss culture, arts and other issues in a manner beyond a statement of fact.
New Journalism is no longer “new” — one can find its style in feature reporting from across major newspapers and magazines. Yet its coverage of literature, society, politics and more has also come into competition with new forms of media, such as BookTok, YouTube or podcasts.
Curious about what makes feature reporting so special, The Badger Herald spoke to a variety of journalists in Madison about their work and what they strive to do with it. The journalists had diverse origins and interests. Their writing focus also varied, though they all wrote pieces focused on culture and society.
Some journalists, like Isthmus features editor Linda Falkenstein said pieces about local culture can highlight and spread said culture to citizens who may not have been aware of it. Others, like doctoral student in University of Wisconsin’s School of Journalism and Mass Communication and journalist Carlos Dávalos said a journalistic focus on creative industries is an effective way to reveal aspects of society and how culture is formed.
“Covering the creative industry is just as important as covering politics, science, or international affairs,” Dávalos said.
According UW masters in journalism student Esther Launstein, the best writing that focuses on culture is the sort that forces audiences to confront the truths of their society.
“Social justice journalism forces people to stare issues in the face,” Launstein said.
The Badger Herald also spoke to the journalists about how the written form distinguishes itself from other ways of learning about society and culture.
Dávalos said writing is unique for its ability to present depth in language and may be making a comeback of sorts in the media sphere. According to author and writer for The Capital Times Denise Robbins, reading is often a more immersive way to internalize stories than through audio or video, and written articles therefore require a greater depth of planning than other forms.
“For me, the act of writing is so different from, say, having a conversation … it’s really a creative process in of itself,” Robbins said.
Launstein said written journalism and other forms of content are not necessarily opposed to one another and can, in fact, form composite understandings if audiences are perceptive enough.
Prolific writer and former Madison Magazine editor Doug Moe said written articles contain nuances in language and even storytelling — such as how to open and close a piece — that are fairly irreplaceable in other media.
According to digital editor at Madison Magazine Anna Kottakis, written journalism can portray a more objective tone of voice in contrast to other forms of media, which may influence audiences through positive or negative inflections. Falkenstein, meanwhile, said skilled journalists can include subtle suggestions or storytelling techniques in otherwise objective articles to enhance the reading experience.
“You can deftly sift in [an author interview] that you find their work impressive,” Falkenstein said.
Lastly, the journalists offered insightful advice to aspiring writers.
The journalistic industry rewards journalists who take initiative and reach out to their favorite publishers, Falkenstein said. According to Kottakis, journalists should do their best to connect with those reading their pieces.
“Writing quality and cultivating trust with your audiences will always be a strong long-term strategy,” Kottakis said.
According to Dávalos, if a journalist wants to cover culture, it is best to immerse themselves in said culture and to define what culture means to them and their lives. Robbins said aspiring journalists should find particular writers they enjoy and explore why those journalists are enjoyable before diversifying their palates and even pushing the boundaries of writing in their own work.
Launstein said social justice journalists should approach issues with a degree of complexity and dig into issues to find how policy changes may impact people. Lastly, Moe said the journalistic industry is simultaneously challenging and deeply rewarding for those who continue to dedicate themselves to the craft.
“It was never really easy … [but] if you really like it, you’ll keep doing it, and maybe you’ll do something that really catches somebody’s eye,” Moe said.
