Every week, I shine the spotlight on some of the best storytelling in the business and offer my comments. “3 Great Stories of the Week” will post every Monday at 8 AM.
I struggle some weeks to fill this space.
Namely, I struggle, amidst the ocean of journalism, media, and content available online, to find three pieces from a given week that obviously stand out.
This week, I had no trouble.
The following are three great stories from last week, each of which pushes the bar higher in its own way:
Hopes of a generation ride on Indian vote (5/15/14, New York Times): The New York Times is really figuring it out.
For years online content providers have tried a slew of different methods of creating distinct forms of journalism and storytelling. Many advances have focused heavily on technology — interactive maps and graphics, reader polls, etc. — but few have offered a blueprint for aiding the reader in a natural way.
The above article is an example of when online storytelling techniques elevate an already powerful story.
Times writer Ellen Barry gracefully captures the mood of the Indian electorate, in the days and months before this past week’s momentous national elections. Her work receives a great boost from the screen-wide photos and video provided by Daniel Berehulak. This feels like a magazine article, but it brims with vibrancy and emotion because of the layout — and power — of the visuals.
It is an all-around terrific piece.
Michael Jackson’s Xscape doesn’t belong to him — it belongs to us (5/14/14, Grantland): Another prominent question surrounding 21st-century journalism is: “Do critics of the arts matter anymore?”
Movie and music lovers, should they even want to read reviews of new releases, are more likely to go to Rotten Tomatoes or Metacritic — aggregators of numerous reviews — than rely on an individual critic.
But here is an example where a music review can be powerful — even vital.
Grantland ace Steven Hyden offers his review of Michael Jackson’s new album, Xscape. But he forgoes the “Did you like this song and that song?” approach for something more meaningful. He ponders his ambivalence over posthumous releases and wonders whether, if Jackson were still alive, he would release an album like this. Xscape hearkens back to 70’s-and-80’s Michael, not 2000s Michael. But which Jackson are we trying to remember and celebrate?
Hyden uses the vehicle of music to tackle hefty matters. Many albums don’t require such contemplation, but Hyden picks his spots, and then he delves deep.
Young cancer patients find comfort in therapy dogs (5/14/14, WTVF-TV Nashville): Here is a tragic example of a headline submarining a great story.
I can only hope viewers of Nashville’s NewsChannel5 were able to watch the piece without the above spoiler. I was fortunate enough to do so, and I was surprised and rewarded when, two minutes into a powerful profile of a young boy with cancer, a dog pops up.
The story, reported by Chris Conte and photographed by Bud Nelson, discusses the effect of therapy dogs on children who get ultra-anxious at hospitals. The dog in this story is adorable enough, but so is the child being helped. Bryce Greenwell, all of five years old, is charming in numerous ways, including his penchant for the phrase, “Like a boss!”
From start to finish, Conte and Nelson keep you hooked.
Have a suggestion for “3 Great Stories of the Week”? E-mail me at matt@tellingthestoryblog.com.