ABSTRACT
The method of oral or life history, mostly practiced by historians, sociologists, and anthropologists, is one research method that closely mirrors what journalists do. In fact, many texts on the oral history method draw on the work of journalists in describing the practices of this method and recounting its history. Journalists are credited with popularizing the technique of interviewing significant people about their lives. One of the advantages of the oral history approach is the ability to fill in gaps left by reporting norms of the time or history written from the perspective of the dominant social groups. In May 2000, The Wichita Eagle's general assignment reporter and columnist Roy Wenzl wrote a series that serves as a good example of the adaptation of the oral-life history method to journalism. While Wenzl said he did not approach it with oral history in mind, many characteristics of his series about a runaway girl fit the description of this qualitative research method.
