{"id":15884,"date":"2025-07-31T13:07:12","date_gmt":"2025-07-31T13:07:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/niemanstoryboard.org\/?p=15884"},"modified":"2025-07-31T13:13:06","modified_gmt":"2025-07-31T13:13:06","slug":"pulitzer-lane-degregory-power-of-local-storytelling","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/niemanstoryboard.org\/2025\/07\/31\/pulitzer-lane-degregory-power-of-local-storytelling\/","title":{"rendered":"Pulitzer winner Lane DeGregory on the power of local storytelling"},"content":{"rendered":"    \n    <div class=\"  core-block\">\n        <div class=\"block block--core block--core-paragraph mb-5   max-w-screen-full mx-auto\">\n            \n<p class=\"has-drop-cap\">This week on the <a href=\"https:\/\/niemanstoryboard.buzzsprout.com\/2449998\/episodes\">Nieman Storyboard podcast<\/a>, I&#8217;m excited to sit down with <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tampabay.com\/author\/lane-degregory\/\">Lane DeGregory<\/a>, the Pulitzer Prize-winning enterprise reporter for the Tampa Bay Times covering &#8220;hope and humanity.&#8221;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n        <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n    \n    <div class=\"  core-block\">\n        <div class=\"block block--core block--core-classic mb-5   max-w-screen-full mx-auto\">\n            \n\n\n        <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n    \n    <div class=\"  core-block\">\n        <div class=\"block block--core block--core-paragraph mb-5   max-w-screen-full mx-auto\">\n            \n<p>DeGregory, whose work has been <a href=\"https:\/\/niemanstoryboard.org\/2023\/04\/12\/narrative-journalism-lane-degregory-pulitzer-prize-anthology\/\">featured frequently on Storyboard<\/a> over the years, is now celebrating 25 years at the Tampa Bay Times. She takes us through her process \u2014 from connecting with the community, to developing story ideas, and earning the trust of your subjects. She also reveals who inspires her work \u2014 from fellow journalists to musicians and songwriters.<\/p>\n\n        <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n    \n    <div class=\"  core-block\">\n        <div class=\"block block--core block--core-classic mb-5   max-w-screen-full mx-auto\">\n            \n\n\n        <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n    \n    <div class=\"  core-block\">\n        <div class=\"block block--core block--core-spacer mb-5   max-w-screen-full mx-auto\">\n            \n<div style=\"height:39px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n        <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n    \n    <div class=\"  core-block\">\n        <div class=\"block block--core block--core-classic mb-5   max-w-screen-full mx-auto\">\n            \n\n\n        <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n    \n    <div class=\"  core-block\">\n        <div class=\"block block--core block--core-html mb-5   max-w-screen-full mx-auto\">\n            \n<div id=\"buzzsprout-player-17590207\"><\/div><script src=\"https:\/\/www.buzzsprout.com\/2449998\/episodes\/17590207-pulitzer-winner-lane-degregory-on-the-power-of-local-storytelling.js?container_id=buzzsprout-player-17590207&#038;player=small\" type=\"text\/javascript\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script>\n\n        <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n    \n    <div class=\"  core-block\">\n        <div class=\"block block--core block--core-classic mb-5   max-w-screen-full mx-auto\">\n            \n\n\n        <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n    \n    <div class=\"  core-block\">\n        <div class=\"block block--core block--core-paragraph mb-5   max-w-screen-full mx-auto\">\n            \n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\"><strong>[ Follow us in <a href=\"https:\/\/podcasts.apple.com\/us\/podcast\/nieman-storyboard\/id1804505440\">Apple Podcasts<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/open.spotify.com\/show\/4cN4SOwf5Am05PoA9wckcA\">Spotify<\/a>, or your <a href=\"https:\/\/niemanstoryboard.buzzsprout.com\/2449998\/episodes\">favorite podcast app<\/a>. ]<\/strong><\/p>\n\n        <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n    \n    <div class=\"  core-block\">\n        <div class=\"block block--core block--core-classic mb-5   max-w-screen-full mx-auto\">\n            \n\n\n        <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n    \n    <div class=\"  core-block\">\n        <div class=\"block block--core block--core-spacer mb-5   max-w-screen-full mx-auto\">\n            \n<div style=\"height:39px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n        <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n    \n    <div class=\"  core-block\">\n        <div class=\"block block--core block--core-classic mb-5   max-w-screen-full mx-auto\">\n            \n\n\n        <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n    \n    <div class=\"  core-block\">\n        <div class=\"block block--core block--core-paragraph mb-5   max-w-screen-full mx-auto\">\n            \n<p>DeGregory also hosts the journalism podcast <a href=\"https:\/\/podcasts.apple.com\/us\/podcast\/writelane\/id1342271507\">WriteLane<\/a>, and is the author of the 2023 anthology, <a href=\"https:\/\/bookshop.org\/p\/books\/the-the-girl-in-the-window-and-other-true-tales-an-anthology-with-tips-for-finding-reporting-and-writing-nonfiction-narratives\/18848293\">&#8220;The Girl in the Window and Other True Tales: An Anthology with Tips for Finding, Reporting, and Writing Nonfiction Narratives.&#8221;<\/a>\u00a0<\/p>\n\n        <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n    \n    <div class=\"  core-block\">\n        <div class=\"block block--core block--core-classic mb-5   max-w-screen-full mx-auto\">\n            \n\n\n        <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n    \n    <div class=\"  core-block\">\n        <div class=\"block block--core block--core-paragraph mb-5   max-w-screen-full mx-auto\">\n            \n<p>The title story from that book, <a href=\"https:\/\/projects.tampabay.com\/projects\/girl-in-the-window\/\">&#8220;The Girl in the Window,&#8221;<\/a> won the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pulitzer.org\/winners\/lane-degregory\">Pulitzer Prize for Feature Writing in 2009<\/a>. DeGregory told the story of a girl named Dani who had suffered from severe neglect and was adopted by a new family. She <a href=\"https:\/\/projects.tampabay.com\/projects\/girl-in-the-window\/neglect-feral-child-ten-years-later\/\">returned to Dani&#8217;s story ten years later, in 2017<\/a>.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n        <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n    \n    <div class=\"  core-block\">\n        <div class=\"block block--core block--core-classic mb-5   max-w-screen-full mx-auto\">\n            \n\n\n        <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">    \n    <div class=\"  core-block\">\n        <div class=\"block block--core block--core-image mb-5   max-w-screen-full mx-auto\">\n            \n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"618\" src=\"https:\/\/niemanstoryboard.org\/app\/uploads\/2025\/07\/degregory-pulitzer-2009-1024x618.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-15889\" style=\"width:766px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/niemanstoryboard.org\/app\/uploads\/2025\/07\/degregory-pulitzer-2009-1024x618.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/niemanstoryboard.org\/app\/uploads\/2025\/07\/degregory-pulitzer-2009-300x181.jpg 300w, https:\/\/niemanstoryboard.org\/app\/uploads\/2025\/07\/degregory-pulitzer-2009-768x463.jpg 768w, https:\/\/niemanstoryboard.org\/app\/uploads\/2025\/07\/degregory-pulitzer-2009-1536x927.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/niemanstoryboard.org\/app\/uploads\/2025\/07\/degregory-pulitzer-2009-2048x1236.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">DeGregory accepting the Pulitzer Prize in 2009, with editor Paul Tash, Bill Adair (who won for PolitiFact), and managing editor Neil Brown. Photo courtesy Tampa Bay Times.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n        <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n<\/div>    \n    <div class=\"  core-block\">\n        <div class=\"block block--core block--core-classic mb-5   max-w-screen-full mx-auto\">\n            \n\n\n        <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n    \n    <div class=\"  core-block\">\n        <div class=\"block block--core block--core-heading   max-w-screen-full mx-auto\">\n            \n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">On staying with a local beat built over 25 years:&nbsp;<\/h2>\n\n        <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n    \n    <div class=\"  core-block\">\n        <div class=\"block block--core block--core-classic mb-5   max-w-screen-full mx-auto\">\n            \n\n\n        <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n    \n    <div class=\"  core-block\">\n        <div class=\"block block--core block--core-quote mb-5   max-w-screen-full mx-auto\">\n            \n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">    \n    <div class=\"  core-block\">\n        <div class=\"block block--core block--core-paragraph mb-5   max-w-screen-full mx-auto\">\n            \n<p>\u200aWhen my boys graduated and left home and I was empty nesting, I was like, \u201dWell, I can go anywhere I want. What do I want to do?\u201c And I couldn&#8217;t imagine starting over sourcing in the community. I&#8217;ve never had a beat here; I&#8217;ve always been kind of like general assignment.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n        <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n\n\n    \n    <div class=\"  core-block\">\n        <div class=\"block block--core block--core-paragraph mb-5   max-w-screen-full mx-auto\">\n            \n<p>But I know somebody, in any institution, on any topic that you throw at me. I know somebody who knows somebody who can get me somebody, and that took 20, 25 years. It&#8217;s nice to feel like I understand the place, where I am, and the people who I need to reach out to.<\/p>\n\n        <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n\n\n    \n    <div class=\"  core-block\">\n        <div class=\"block block--core block--core-paragraph mb-5   max-w-screen-full mx-auto\">\n            \n<p>I love the Tampa Bay Times and, as you know, the industry has changed so much. And my job has changed too, but I get up in the morning, and I&#8217;m so excited about doing this every single day.<\/p>\n\n        <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n        <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n    \n    <div class=\"  core-block\">\n        <div class=\"block block--core block--core-classic mb-5   max-w-screen-full mx-auto\">\n            \n\n\n        <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n    \n    <div class=\"  core-block\">\n        <div class=\"block block--core block--core-heading   max-w-screen-full mx-auto\">\n            \n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">On applying the principles of storytelling to different work:&nbsp;<\/h2>\n\n        <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n    \n    <div class=\"  core-block\">\n        <div class=\"block block--core block--core-classic mb-5   max-w-screen-full mx-auto\">\n            \n\n\n        <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n    \n    <div class=\"  core-block\">\n        <div class=\"block block--core block--core-quote mb-5   max-w-screen-full mx-auto\">\n            \n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">    \n    <div class=\"  core-block\">\n        <div class=\"block block--core block--core-paragraph mb-5   max-w-screen-full mx-auto\">\n            \n<p>\u200aI think storytelling is storytelling, right? Whether you&#8217;re doing a press release or you&#8217;re doing PR for Procter &amp; Gamble, or you&#8217;re writing a novel or writing a song, I think that the elements of storytelling are still universal.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n        <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n\n\n    \n    <div class=\"  core-block\">\n        <div class=\"block block--core block--core-paragraph mb-5   max-w-screen-full mx-auto\">\n            \n<p>I think when people start, a lot of journalists don&#8217;t think about their stories as stories. They think about it as providing information. So even the idea of, \u201cLet me tell you a story\u201d is not forefront in a lot of especially young news reporters&#8217; minds. It wasn&#8217;t for me. It&#8217;s a habit and a mindset to sort of go, \u201cWhat kind of story can I tell with this information?\u201d A news story, you&#8217;re reporting on an event; a narrative story, you want people to kind of follow you along and see what happens.<\/p>\n\n        <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n        <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n    \n    <div class=\"  core-block\">\n        <div class=\"block block--core block--core-classic mb-5   max-w-screen-full mx-auto\">\n            \n\n\n        <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">    \n    <div class=\"  core-block\">\n        <div class=\"block block--core block--core-image mb-5   max-w-screen-full mx-auto\">\n            \n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"825\" src=\"https:\/\/niemanstoryboard.org\/app\/uploads\/2025\/07\/degregory-shadd-mcneill-1024x825.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-15898\" style=\"width:698px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/niemanstoryboard.org\/app\/uploads\/2025\/07\/degregory-shadd-mcneill-1024x825.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/niemanstoryboard.org\/app\/uploads\/2025\/07\/degregory-shadd-mcneill-300x242.jpg 300w, https:\/\/niemanstoryboard.org\/app\/uploads\/2025\/07\/degregory-shadd-mcneill-768x619.jpg 768w, https:\/\/niemanstoryboard.org\/app\/uploads\/2025\/07\/degregory-shadd-mcneill-1536x1237.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/niemanstoryboard.org\/app\/uploads\/2025\/07\/degregory-shadd-mcneill-2048x1650.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">DeGregory at a Tampa Bay Rays game with photographer Dirk Shadd and editor Claire McNeill.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n        <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n<\/div>    \n    <div class=\"  core-block\">\n        <div class=\"block block--core block--core-classic mb-5   max-w-screen-full mx-auto\">\n            \n\n\n        <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n    \n    <div class=\"  core-block\">\n        <div class=\"block block--core block--core-heading   max-w-screen-full mx-auto\">\n            \n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">On balancing her story mix:&nbsp;<\/h2>\n\n        <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n    \n    <div class=\"  core-block\">\n        <div class=\"block block--core block--core-classic mb-5   max-w-screen-full mx-auto\">\n            \n\n\n        <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n    \n    <div class=\"  core-block\">\n        <div class=\"block block--core block--core-quote mb-5   max-w-screen-full mx-auto\">\n            \n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">    \n    <div class=\"  core-block\">\n        <div class=\"block block--core block--core-paragraph mb-5   max-w-screen-full mx-auto\">\n            \n<p>\u200aIf I&#8217;ve written a bunch of really sad, meaty, important, weighty stories, then I go, \u201cCan I go cover the State Fair?\u201d You know, volunteer to go do something fun or happy. I <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tampabay.com\/narratives\/2020\/08\/24\/in-florida-virtual-clown-dusts-off-his-rubber-chicken\/\">wrote a story<\/a> during the pandemic, one of my dumbest but funnest stories ever, about a clown, because I just wanted somebody to make me laugh when we were all reporting from our little home screens.<\/p>\n\n        <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n\n\n    \n    <div class=\"  core-block\">\n        <div class=\"block block--core block--core-paragraph mb-5   max-w-screen-full mx-auto\">\n            \n<p>And so this clown, he couldn&#8217;t go clowning at kids&#8217; birthday parties, so he was doing it virtually and you could Zoom with the clown for your kid&#8217;s birthday party. And I got to watch him do this 9-year-old little girl&#8217;s birthday party, and he kept bringing a rubber chicken in like over the top of the screen and up the bottom in their face. And it was hilarious.<\/p>\n\n        <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n\n\n    \n    <div class=\"  core-block\">\n        <div class=\"block block--core block--core-paragraph mb-5   max-w-screen-full mx-auto\">\n            \n<p>It was like, probably 700-800 words at the most, but it made me laugh and I think it made some readers laugh.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n        <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n        <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n    \n    <div class=\"  core-block\">\n        <div class=\"block block--core block--core-classic mb-5   max-w-screen-full mx-auto\">\n            \n\n\n        <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n    \n    <div class=\"  core-block\">\n        <div class=\"block block--core block--core-heading   max-w-screen-full mx-auto\">\n            \n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">On finding your own angle and way into the story:&nbsp;<\/h2>\n\n        <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n    \n    <div class=\"  core-block\">\n        <div class=\"block block--core block--core-classic mb-5   max-w-screen-full mx-auto\">\n            \n\n\n        <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n    \n    <div class=\"  core-block\">\n        <div class=\"block block--core block--core-quote mb-5   max-w-screen-full mx-auto\">\n            \n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">    \n    <div class=\"  core-block\">\n        <div class=\"block block--core block--core-paragraph mb-5   max-w-screen-full mx-auto\">\n            \n<p>\u200aI have a problem with, I either want to go really big, really deep \u2014 really long projects&nbsp;\u2014 or like spend a day, dive in, and get out of it. I have a short-range problem. I can&#8217;t find those one-week, one-month-type stories \u2014&nbsp;[and] that basically is what they want for Sundays now.<\/p>\n\n        <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n\n\n    \n    <div class=\"  core-block\">\n        <div class=\"block block--core block--core-paragraph mb-5   max-w-screen-full mx-auto\">\n            \n<p>I think we&#8217;re always waiting for the perfect story, and it&#8217;s kind of like waiting for the perfect time to have a kid. It never happens. It never comes the way you really want it to, so I think being willing to take some [stories] that aren&#8217;t necessarily exactly what you want to do, and figuring out what&#8217;s the best thing you can do with that story.<\/p>\n\n        <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n\n\n    \n    <div class=\"  core-block\">\n        <div class=\"block block--core block--core-paragraph mb-5   max-w-screen-full mx-auto\">\n            \n<p>Maria Carrillo, my old editor, used to ask: \u201cWhat&#8217;s the maximum story and what&#8217;s the minimum story? What can you do if I turn you loose for a day? What can you do if I gave you six months?\u201d I think a lot of times, you don&#8217;t know that until you start reporting. You don&#8217;t know that until you start trying to get your sources to let you in, or figure out what scenes you can cover. I usually ask at the beginning, \u201cWhat&#8217;s at stake?\u2019 So that I know if there&#8217;s a deadline for this person in the story, then maybe I can give myself that: \u2018I&#8217;ll hang out with you until that thing happens.\u201d<\/p>\n\n        <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n        <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n    \n    <div class=\"  core-block\">\n        <div class=\"block block--core block--core-classic mb-5   max-w-screen-full mx-auto\">\n            \n\n\n        <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">    \n    <div class=\"  core-block\">\n        <div class=\"block block--core block--core-image mb-5   max-w-screen-full mx-auto\">\n            \n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"960\" height=\"677\" src=\"https:\/\/niemanstoryboard.org\/app\/uploads\/2025\/07\/525235024_10161794120852149_5710331787209430903_n.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-15896\" style=\"width:714px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/niemanstoryboard.org\/app\/uploads\/2025\/07\/525235024_10161794120852149_5710331787209430903_n.jpg 960w, https:\/\/niemanstoryboard.org\/app\/uploads\/2025\/07\/525235024_10161794120852149_5710331787209430903_n-300x212.jpg 300w, https:\/\/niemanstoryboard.org\/app\/uploads\/2025\/07\/525235024_10161794120852149_5710331787209430903_n-768x542.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">&#8220;My first internship at the Charlotte Observer in 1987 \u2026 I think I wanted to be Princess Di.&#8221;<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n        <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n<\/div>    \n    <div class=\"  core-block\">\n        <div class=\"block block--core block--core-classic mb-5   max-w-screen-full mx-auto\">\n            \n\n\n        <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n    \n    <div class=\"  core-block\">\n        <div class=\"block block--core block--core-heading   max-w-screen-full mx-auto\">\n            \n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Reading &amp; Listening List: Authors, Stories, Books and Artists Mentioned:&nbsp;<\/h2>\n\n        <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n    \n    <div class=\"  core-block\">\n        <div class=\"block block--core block--core-classic mb-5   max-w-screen-full mx-auto\">\n            \n\n\n        <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n    <div class=\"\">\n        <div class=\"block block--core block--core-list mb-4 list max-w-screen-full mx-auto pl-5 \">\n            \n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/bookshop.org\/p\/books\/the-the-girl-in-the-window-and-other-true-tales-an-anthology-with-tips-for-finding-reporting-and-writing-nonfiction-narratives\/18848293\">&#8220;The Girl in the Window and Other True Tales: An Anthology with Tips for Finding, Reporting, and Writing Nonfiction Narratives&#8221;<\/a> (Lane DeGregory, 2023)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/projects.tampabay.com\/projects\/girl-in-the-window\/\">&#8220;The Girl in the Window&#8221;<\/a> (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.pulitzer.org\/winners\/lane-degregory\">Pulitzer Prize-winning<\/a> story, 2008)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/bookshop.org\/p\/books\/telling-true-stories-a-nonfiction-writers-guide-from-the-nieman-foundation-at-harvard-university-mark-kramer\/11189113\">&#8220;Telling True Stories&#8221;<\/a> (Mark Kramer and Wendy Call, Nieman Foundation)&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.tampabay.com\/author\/lane-degregory\/\">Lane DeGregory at the Tampa Bay Times<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/podcasts.apple.com\/us\/podcast\/writelane\/id1342271507\">WriteLane podcast<\/a> (Lane DeGregory and Maria Carrillo)&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/niemanstoryboard.org\/2023\/04\/12\/narrative-journalism-lane-degregory-pulitzer-prize-anthology\/\">&#8220;An annotated guide to narrative magic&#8221;<\/a> (Madeline Bodin, Nieman Storyboard, 2023)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.lanedegregory.org\/teaching\/\">&#8220;A letter to young journalists&#8221;<\/a> (Lane DeGregory)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/niemanstoryboard.org\/2024\/05\/31\/editor-reporter-relationships-narrative-journalism\/\">Mike Wilson<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.poynter.org\/author\/neil-brown\/\">Neil Brown<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.tampabay.com\/narratives\/2020\/08\/24\/in-florida-virtual-clown-dusts-off-his-rubber-chicken\/\">&#8220;In Florida, virtual clown dusts off his rubber chicken&#8221;<\/a> (Lane DeGregory, 2020)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.chipswritinglessons.com\/2022\/09\/08\/four-more-questions-with-maria-carillo\/\">\u200aMaria Carrillo<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.tampabay.com\/news\/community-news\/2024\/12\/29\/stanley-very-good-boy-saves-other-dogs-lives-blood-donor\/\">&#8220;Stanley, a very good boy, saves other dogs\u2019 lives as a blood donor&#8221;<\/a> (Lane DeGregory, 2024)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/projects.tampabay.com\/projects\/girl-in-the-window\/neglect-feral-child-ten-years-later\/\">&#8220;The Girl in the Window, Ten Years Later&#8221;<\/a> (Lane DeGregory, 2017)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.tampabay.com\/features\/humaninterest\/in-pahokee-football-serves-as-a-way-out\/2209006\/\">&#8220;In Pahokee, football serves as a way out&#8221;<\/a> (Lane DeGregory, 2014)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.tampabay.com\/hurricane\/2024\/09\/28\/gulfport-like-so-many-tampa-bay-communities-picks-up-helenes-pieces\/\">&#8220;Gulfport, like so many Tampa Bay communities, picks up Helene\u2019s pieces&#8221;<\/a> (Lane DeGregory, 2024)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/bookshop.org\/p\/books\/bird-by-bird-some-instructions-on-writing-and-life-anne-lamott\/8649952?utm_source=google&amp;utm_medium=pmax&amp;utm_campaign=gift_cards&amp;utm_content=6443417794&amp;gad_source=1&amp;gad_campaignid=16243514117&amp;gbraid=0AAAAACfld42XG113L3XZXBsW3Up4mHfdz&amp;gclid=Cj0KCQjw4qHEBhCDARIsALYKFNPBZ3ySPJ4zm4pHv1fj9V9LvJCSvx29QJ7-wfQbzUD44gX5A7rvwLoaAqRjEALw_wcB\">&#8220;Bird by Bird: Some Instructions on Writing and Life&#8221;<\/a> (Anne Lamott)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.tampabay.com\/news\/st-petersburg\/2024\/04\/24\/st-petersburg-homeless-people-get-an-apartment-support-fresh-start\/\">&#8220;In St. Petersburg, homeless people get an apartment, support \u2013 and a fresh start&#8221;<\/a> (Lane DeGregory, 2024)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.tampabay.com\/narratives\/2022\/04\/19\/when-i-do-became-i-dont-a-florida-love-story-in-11-podcasts\/\">&#8220;When &#8216;I Do&#8217; became &#8216;I don\u2019t&#8217;: A Florida love story in 11 podcasts&#8221;<\/a> (Lane DeGregory, 2022)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.tampabay.com\/narratives\/2023\/03\/08\/beneath-fort-myers-bridge-captain-longs-return-sea\/\">&#8220;Beneath a Fort Myers bridge, a captain longs to return to sea&#8221;<\/a> (Lane DeGregory, 2023)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.tampabay.com\/features\/humaninterest\/the-aftermath-of-the-orlando-nightclub-shooting-tests-the-courage-of-gay\/2282294\/\">&#8220;The aftermath of the Orlando nightclub shooting tests the courage of gay youth&#8221;<\/a> (Lane DeGregory, 2016)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/by\/eli-saslow\">Eli Saslow<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonpost.com\/people\/john-woodrow-cox\/\">John Woodrow Cox<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonpost.com\/pr\/2024\/09\/17\/kelley-benham-french-joins-washington-post-first-ever-narrative-accountability-editor\/\">Kelley Benham French<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/stores\/author\/B001HMLFMW?ccs_id=e8d1d2cc-e006-41f1-a0ba-99f2bb996113\">Tom French<\/a>&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.johnprine.com\/\">John Prine<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/jonimitchell.com\/\">Joni Mitchell<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.lucindawilliams.com\/\">Lucinda Williams&nbsp;<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bobdylan.com\/\">Bob Dylan<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/neilyoungarchives.com\/\">Neil Young<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.tedeschitrucksband.com\/\">Tedeschi Trucks Band<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.jjgrey.com\/\">JJ Grey &amp; Mofro<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n        <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n    \n    <div class=\"  core-block\">\n        <div class=\"block block--core block--core-classic mb-5   max-w-screen-full mx-auto\">\n            \n\n\n        <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n    \n    <div class=\"  core-block\">\n        <div class=\"block block--core block--core-heading   max-w-screen-full mx-auto\">\n            \n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Show Credits<\/h2>\n\n        <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n    \n    <div class=\"  core-block\">\n        <div class=\"block block--core block--core-classic mb-5   max-w-screen-full mx-auto\">\n            \n\n\n        <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">    \n    <div class=\"  core-block\">\n        <div class=\"block block--core block--core-image mb-5   max-w-screen-full mx-auto\">\n            \n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large is-resized\"><a href=\"https:\/\/niemanstoryboard.buzzsprout.com\/2449998\/episodes\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/niemanstoryboard.org\/app\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Nieman-Storyboard-Podcast_Square-Logo-Sharp-A-1024x1024.png\" alt=\"Nieman Storyboard podcast\" class=\"wp-image-15145\" style=\"width:338px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/niemanstoryboard.org\/app\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Nieman-Storyboard-Podcast_Square-Logo-Sharp-A-1024x1024.png 1024w, https:\/\/niemanstoryboard.org\/app\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Nieman-Storyboard-Podcast_Square-Logo-Sharp-A-300x300.png 300w, https:\/\/niemanstoryboard.org\/app\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Nieman-Storyboard-Podcast_Square-Logo-Sharp-A-150x150.png 150w, https:\/\/niemanstoryboard.org\/app\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Nieman-Storyboard-Podcast_Square-Logo-Sharp-A-768x768.png 768w, https:\/\/niemanstoryboard.org\/app\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Nieman-Storyboard-Podcast_Square-Logo-Sharp-A-1536x1536.png 1536w, https:\/\/niemanstoryboard.org\/app\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Nieman-Storyboard-Podcast_Square-Logo-Sharp-A-2048x2048.png 2048w, https:\/\/niemanstoryboard.org\/app\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Nieman-Storyboard-Podcast_Square-Logo-Sharp-A-40x40.png 40w, https:\/\/niemanstoryboard.org\/app\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Nieman-Storyboard-Podcast_Square-Logo-Sharp-A-600x600.png 600w, https:\/\/niemanstoryboard.org\/app\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Nieman-Storyboard-Podcast_Square-Logo-Sharp-A-100x100.png 100w, https:\/\/niemanstoryboard.org\/app\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Nieman-Storyboard-Podcast_Square-Logo-Sharp-A-200x200.png 200w, https:\/\/niemanstoryboard.org\/app\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Nieman-Storyboard-Podcast_Square-Logo-Sharp-A-180x180.png 180w, https:\/\/niemanstoryboard.org\/app\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Nieman-Storyboard-Podcast_Square-Logo-Sharp-A-360x360.png 360w, https:\/\/niemanstoryboard.org\/app\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Nieman-Storyboard-Podcast_Square-Logo-Sharp-A-115x115.png 115w, https:\/\/niemanstoryboard.org\/app\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Nieman-Storyboard-Podcast_Square-Logo-Sharp-A-230x230.png 230w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n        <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n<\/div>    \n    <div class=\"  core-block\">\n        <div class=\"block block--core block--core-classic mb-5   max-w-screen-full mx-auto\">\n            \n\n\n        <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n    \n    <div class=\"  core-block\">\n        <div class=\"block block--core block--core-paragraph mb-5   max-w-screen-full mx-auto\">\n            \n<p>Hosted and produced by Mark Armstrong<br>Episode editor: Kelly Araja<br>Audience editor: Adriana Lacy<br>Promotional support: Ellen Tuttle<br>Operational support: Paul Plutnicki, Peter Canova<\/p>\n\n        <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n    \n    <div class=\"  core-block\">\n        <div class=\"block block--core block--core-classic mb-5   max-w-screen-full mx-auto\">\n            \n\n\n        <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n    \n    <div class=\"  core-block\">\n        <div class=\"block block--core block--core-paragraph mb-5   max-w-screen-full mx-auto\">\n            \n<p>Nieman Foundation interim curator: Henry Chu<br>Music: \u201cGolden Grass,\u201d by Blue Dot Sessions (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.sessions.blue\/\">www.sessions.blue<\/a>)<br>Cover design by Adriana Lacy<\/p>\n\n        <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n    \n    <div 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backyard<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":6,"featured_media":15885,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[443,7],"tags":[468,454,425],"topics":[],"authors":[410],"issue":[],"class_list":["post-15884","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-podcast","category-5-questions","tag-local","tag-newspapers","tag-podcasts","authors-mark-armstrong"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.5 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Pulitzer winner Lane DeGregory on the power of local storytelling - Nieman Storyboard<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"The journalist reflects on 25 years at the Tampa Bay Times, and how to find stories in your own backyard\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, 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