Why Narrative Is Not Enough

Long-form narrative ¹ has become the sacred totem of American journalism and, to judge from some of the chapters in this book, of many non-American journalists as well. It is held up as the best way to balance journalism’s contradictory pressures. On the one hand, constructing dramatic tales infused with emotion provides a way to attract and keep the easily bored audience. On the other hand, narratives go beyond the politicians’ sound bites to humanize issues, to show the concrete impact that policies have “on the ground.” As New York Times immigration reporter Nina Bernstein once publicly remarked, “individual stories are a powerful way to convey larger forces.” ²