27 Days To Nieman

Adrian Nicole LeBlanc in New New Journalism:

Q: What is the first thing you do when you begin reporting a story?

A: I drive around and observe. Then I work up the courage to walk over and introduce myself to the people I'm reporting on, explaining as much as I understand of what I'm doing, and that I just want to "be" with them, and not necessarily do anything. I draw the parallel with making a movie: "Imagine I'm making a movie about your life. Show me the places that are most important to you: your room, the schoolyard, anywhere you like to be. So that someone who knows nothing would be able to get a sense of your life." We go to the store. We go to the park. We sit on the corner and talk. They sometimes can't believe that this mundane stuff is what I want to see, so it takes a while to convince them that I'm not a failure as a reporter, or a fool.