Associated Press Reporting Handbook

Associated Press Associated Press Reporting HandbookReporting Handbook

Re-creating Reality:Re-creating Reality:

About Narrative ReconstructionsAbout Narrative Reconstructions

Chapter 16Chapter 16

The stories DeSilva has in mind are … the The stories DeSilva has in mind are … the kinds of tales people tell each other in front kinds of tales people tell each other in front of a fire. of a fire.

These stories have central characters that These stories have central characters that you can love or hate, but ______________.you can love or hate, but ______________.

“… “… there has to be an emotional there has to be an emotional investment.” The character has to be investment.” The character has to be someone in whom the reader will be someone in whom the reader will be emotionally invested.emotionally invested.

The central character has to have a ______.The central character has to have a ______.

““real problem that readers will take real problem that readers will take seriously. And the character must struggle seriously. And the character must struggle to solve that problem:”to solve that problem:”

So, what happens if the character solves the So, what happens if the character solves the problem?problem?

If the character has a problem and he or she If the character has a problem and he or she solves it, you have a paragraph. “You don’t solves it, you have a paragraph. “You don’t have a story.”have a story.”

There are four things that make a narrative work:There are four things that make a narrative work:

1. Character1. Character 2. Problem2. Problem

3. Struggle3. Struggle

4. Resolution or Closure4. Resolution or Closure

This is the This is the bad newsbad news. What’s the good news?. What’s the good news?

The good news isThe good news is an awful lot of things in an awful lot of things in life happen that way.life happen that way.

If you start thinking in terms of storytelling, If you start thinking in terms of storytelling, instead of reporting the news, you’ll see instead of reporting the news, you’ll see stories everywhere.stories everywhere.

Most of what we print in the newspaper Most of what we print in the newspaper are ____________are ____________

““endings”endings” We don’t tell the whole We don’t tell the whole storystory..

What we usually report are the resolutions What we usually report are the resolutions to a much longer and very interesting story.to a much longer and very interesting story.

This longer story involves human beings This longer story involves human beings struggling with life.struggling with life.

Information given to people in the form of Information given to people in the form of real storytelling are more likely to be real storytelling are more likely to be understood, read thoroughly and remembered.understood, read thoroughly and remembered.

It’s entertaining, interesting and in most It’s entertaining, interesting and in most cases, fascinating.cases, fascinating.

In storytelling, you are dealing with the In storytelling, you are dealing with the texture of people’s lives and their struggles.texture of people’s lives and their struggles.

This is “life’s” struggle, and it makes everything This is “life’s” struggle, and it makes everything interesting. It’s about relationship.interesting. It’s about relationship.

It’s like saying, “OK, you’re having trouble It’s like saying, “OK, you’re having trouble understanding this. Well, let me tell you a understanding this. Well, let me tell you a story.”story.”

The banking and real estate market collapse The banking and real estate market collapse told through the eyes of a hot-dog vendor.told through the eyes of a hot-dog vendor.

The reporter learns the character through The reporter learns the character through action and dialogue.action and dialogue.

Dialogue is not a quote or two, it is what people are Dialogue is not a quote or two, it is what people are saying to each other in real life. That’s what we want to saying to each other in real life. That’s what we want to reconstruct.reconstruct.

Quotes are for those things that could Quotes are for those things that could reasonably be expected to be remembered.reasonably be expected to be remembered.

““Oh mercy me, I’ve been shot with a Oh mercy me, I’ve been shot with a handgun, illegally purchased on the street.” handgun, illegally purchased on the street.” The rest is just paraphrased.The rest is just paraphrased.

Just like in a movie, you must have a setting Just like in a movie, you must have a setting for telling a story.for telling a story.

Nobody would think of making a movie set Nobody would think of making a movie set in “Nowhere.”in “Nowhere.”

A sense of place means reporting what it’s A sense of place means reporting what it’s like there, what you see and hear and smell like there, what you see and hear and smell and the taste that creates that sense of place and the taste that creates that sense of place on the page.on the page.

You have to report action, and you can only You have to report action, and you can only write scenes through detail.write scenes through detail.

What do you see, smell and hear and taste?What do you see, smell and hear and taste?

This is a small town: 440 people, filling station, bank, post office, tavern, This is a small town: 440 people, filling station, bank, post office, tavern, blacktop street, grain elevator. Beyond lie rolling meadows, ripening blacktop street, grain elevator. Beyond lie rolling meadows, ripening corn, redwing blackbirds, fat cattle, windmills and silos – a scene off a corn, redwing blackbirds, fat cattle, windmills and silos – a scene off a Sweet Lassy feed calendar. Sweet Lassy feed calendar.

People who write narrative have to relearn People who write narrative have to relearn how to report so they can help the reader how to report so they can help the reader experience the world through the senses experience the world through the senses instead of just telling them what happened.instead of just telling them what happened.

You just need to ask the right questions.You just need to ask the right questions.

You have to ask people what they saw and You have to ask people what they saw and heard and smelled. “What did it taste like?”heard and smelled. “What did it taste like?”


Saving a ChildSaving a Child


The Making of a Rescue:The Making of a Rescue:17 Minutes of Terror17 Minutes of Terror

By CHELSEA J. CARTERBy CHELSEA J. CARTER

This example gives us two stories, one by This example gives us two stories, one by Chelsea Carter and one by Tom Saladino. Chelsea Carter and one by Tom Saladino. What are the major differences in the two What are the major differences in the two accounts?accounts?

Was there anything “wrong” with Was there anything “wrong” with Saladino’s story that moved on the wire?Saladino’s story that moved on the wire?

What had happened earlier that made What had happened earlier that made FitzHenry and Simpson think they should FitzHenry and Simpson think they should do more?do more?

What were the two things FitzHenry gave What were the two things FitzHenry gave Carter as she left to go to Tipton, Ga.?Carter as she left to go to Tipton, Ga.?

Whose story was she to read in DeSilva’s Whose story was she to read in DeSilva’s book?book?

There were two instructions given her as There were two instructions given her as she left.she left.

““Remember to tell the story.”Remember to tell the story.” ““Show me the story.”Show me the story.” Are these different?Are these different?

In the story about Eva Suggs, there was In the story about Eva Suggs, there was someone with O’Neill who helped Eva someone with O’Neill who helped Eva open up. open up.

Who was the guy who helped Ryan open up Who was the guy who helped Ryan open up for Carter’s rescue story?for Carter’s rescue story?

Rick Feld - the photographer.Rick Feld - the photographer. What was the Prodis story about?What was the Prodis story about? There was another book Carter had read by There was another book Carter had read by

Edna Buchanan “The Corpse had a Familiar Edna Buchanan “The Corpse had a Familiar Face.”Face.”

How did that book help her?How did that book help her? What other writer have we read about who What other writer have we read about who

had this incredible way of seeing things?had this incredible way of seeing things? Was Carter able to interview everybody?Was Carter able to interview everybody? Was it necessary?Was it necessary? The story won the APME Association The story won the APME Association

Award for best young AP reporter of the Award for best young AP reporter of the year.year.

““Timing,” she says, “is everything.”Timing,” she says, “is everything.”


Chasing a FireChasing a Fire


Charred Trees, Shattered Dreams:Charred Trees, Shattered Dreams:Chronology of a WildfireChronology of a Wildfire

By DAVID FOSTERBy DAVID FOSTER

Foster begins his story by introducing us to Foster begins his story by introducing us to ____________.____________.

Sam and Kathryn Minor.Sam and Kathryn Minor. What are they doing?What are they doing? Watching the lightning from their cabin in Watching the lightning from their cabin in

Coyote Gulch, Montana.Coyote Gulch, Montana. What does the lightning set up in the story?What does the lightning set up in the story? The lightning started the fires in the The lightning started the fires in the

Bitteroot National Forest.Bitteroot National Forest.

Any comments about:Any comments about:– ““The West is burning as it hasn’t burned in 50 The West is burning as it hasn’t burned in 50

years.”years.” In an ecological sense, fire is a In an ecological sense, fire is a

__________.__________. Fire is a necessity. It cleans house, but it Fire is a necessity. It cleans house, but it

also destroys homes.also destroys homes. What was wrong with Sam?What was wrong with Sam? At age 57, he was disabled after 20 years as At age 57, he was disabled after 20 years as

a roofer.a roofer. Where had he and Kathryn lived before?Where had he and Kathryn lived before? Las VegasLas Vegas What had happened to his two teen-agers?What had happened to his two teen-agers?

This $92,000 piece of property represents This $92,000 piece of property represents everything they own, complete with:everything they own, complete with:– Christmas decorations from Kathryn’s Christmas decorations from Kathryn’s

grandmother, a china hutch, a futon, plastic grandmother, a china hutch, a futon, plastic bags filled with clothes.bags filled with clothes.

Any comments about the humanity in this Any comments about the humanity in this part of the story?part of the story?

They thought they had the rest of their lives They thought they had the rest of their lives to _________.to _________.

Unpack.Unpack. Then the scene changes.Then the scene changes. Who does he bring into the story now?Who does he bring into the story now? A camp of 500 firefighters six miles away.A camp of 500 firefighters six miles away.

The sheriff comes while Sam is playing the The sheriff comes while Sam is playing the guitar. What is the message the sheriff guitar. What is the message the sheriff brings?brings?

Evacuate!Evacuate! Sam and Kathryn go to the home of friends Sam and Kathryn go to the home of friends

and spend two nights.and spend two nights. They go back home.They go back home. How near is the closest fire on Friday?How near is the closest fire on Friday? Three miles (and two ridges) away.Three miles (and two ridges) away. Chip Houde is in charge of 180 firefighters.Chip Houde is in charge of 180 firefighters. They are fighting two fires - the Gilbert fire They are fighting two fires - the Gilbert fire

of 500 acres and the Spade Fire of 1,700 of 500 acres and the Spade Fire of 1,700 acres.acres.

Things turn for the worse.Things turn for the worse. The Minors evacuate again.The Minors evacuate again. You start getting the idea of the uncertainty You start getting the idea of the uncertainty

and the fact that there is really no rest for and the fact that there is really no rest for either the firefighters or the local residents.either the firefighters or the local residents.

““Dante’s Inferno”Dante’s Inferno” ““Unreal, like a movie”Unreal, like a movie” Houde sees a cliché.Houde sees a cliché. ““A wall of flame.”A wall of flame.” 40 mph gusts and 150-foot flames.40 mph gusts and 150-foot flames. House is saved. Memories gone.House is saved. Memories gone. Writer leaves his heroes “devastated,” but Writer leaves his heroes “devastated,” but

helping neighbors and still fighting.helping neighbors and still fighting.

Foster’s office was in Olympia, Wash.Foster’s office was in Olympia, Wash. AP’s Northwest regional reporter knows AP’s Northwest regional reporter knows

what they want.what they want. Real people, real drama, compelling Real people, real drama, compelling

narrative that looks beyond the acres burned narrative that looks beyond the acres burned and homes destroyed.and homes destroyed.

National Forest headquarters at 11 p.m. National Forest headquarters at 11 p.m. when he pulls in.when he pulls in.

He stays in a Super 8 that smells like He stays in a Super 8 that smells like barbequed turkey.barbequed turkey.

Three phases: Three phases: The threat; the chaos and the aftermathThe threat; the chaos and the aftermath

Places Foster looks for leadsPlaces Foster looks for leads Forest Information Center? Good idea.Forest Information Center? Good idea. The Montana Café? A better idea.The Montana Café? A better idea. The spot-news monster.The spot-news monster. Heads to the firefighters camp, where he Heads to the firefighters camp, where he

gets what? Instead of what?gets what? Instead of what? Information instead of a story --Information instead of a story -- 15-minute lesson on fire safety.15-minute lesson on fire safety. Drives himself to the Minors’ home.Drives himself to the Minors’ home. He lets them tell their story, but he does He lets them tell their story, but he does

have questions. -- Takes photographs.have questions. -- Takes photographs. People are essential to the story.People are essential to the story.

Then, he speaks with the soldiers, the fire Then, he speaks with the soldiers, the fire officials.officials.

Struggles with the firefighter lingo when he Struggles with the firefighter lingo when he interviews Houde, the branch director.interviews Houde, the branch director.

90 percent of his story is in his notebooks.90 percent of his story is in his notebooks. Julie Dunlap, THE EDITOR: 200 wordsJulie Dunlap, THE EDITOR: 200 words The phone rings: What next?The phone rings: What next?

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