{"id":16502,"date":"2025-12-12T04:45:04","date_gmt":"2025-12-12T04:45:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/niemanstoryboard.org\/?p=16502"},"modified":"2025-12-12T04:45:04","modified_gmt":"2025-12-12T04:45:04","slug":"storyboard-best-of-2025-part-1","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/niemanstoryboard.org\/2025\/12\/12\/storyboard-best-of-2025-part-1\/","title":{"rendered":"Storyboard Best of 2025 (Part 1)"},"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><a href=\"https:\/\/niemanstoryboard.org\/about\/subscribe-to-nieman-storyboard\/\"><em>Sign up for the Nieman Storyboard newsletter,<\/em><\/a><em>&nbsp;delivered every Friday in your inbox.<\/em><\/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 class=\"has-text-align-center\">***<\/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 class=\"has-drop-cap\">Dear Storyboard community:&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>December arrived and with it, a sudden realization: thanks to this community, I discovered so much great writing and reporting this year.<\/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>It&#8217;s impossible to keep up with everything published in print and online, so I asked you to highlight some of your favorite pieces of the year \u2014 stories, books, podcasts, documentaries, and beyond \u2014 <a href=\"https:\/\/niemanstoryboard.org\/2025\/12\/11\/nieman-storyboard-best-of-2025-favorite-stories-part-1\/\">and you more than delivered<\/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>We received so many submissions that I&#8217;m going to separate them into digestible chapters. Today is Part 1, with more on the way next week.&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>Thank you again for a wonderful first year as your Storyboard editor.<\/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-heading   max-w-screen-full mx-auto\">\n            \n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><a href=\"https:\/\/niemanstoryboard.org\/2025\/12\/11\/nieman-storyboard-best-of-2025-favorite-stories-part-1\/\">Nieman Storyboard Best of 2025: Your favorite stories of the year (Part 1)<\/a><\/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.org\/2025\/12\/11\/nieman-storyboard-best-of-2025-favorite-stories-part-1\/\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"853\" src=\"https:\/\/niemanstoryboard.org\/app\/uploads\/2025\/12\/best-of-2025-storyboard-part-1-1024x853.png\" alt=\"Nieman Storyboard Best of 2025 Part 1\" class=\"wp-image-16497\" style=\"width:590px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/niemanstoryboard.org\/app\/uploads\/2025\/12\/best-of-2025-storyboard-part-1-1024x853.png 1024w, https:\/\/niemanstoryboard.org\/app\/uploads\/2025\/12\/best-of-2025-storyboard-part-1-300x250.png 300w, https:\/\/niemanstoryboard.org\/app\/uploads\/2025\/12\/best-of-2025-storyboard-part-1-768x640.png 768w, https:\/\/niemanstoryboard.org\/app\/uploads\/2025\/12\/best-of-2025-storyboard-part-1-1536x1280.png 1536w, https:\/\/niemanstoryboard.org\/app\/uploads\/2025\/12\/best-of-2025-storyboard-part-1-2048x1707.png 2048w\" 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>We asked, you answered \u2014 here are some of your favorite stories, books, and podcasts.<\/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 class=\"has-text-align-center\"><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/niemanstoryboard.org\/2025\/12\/11\/nieman-storyboard-best-of-2025-favorite-stories-part-1\/\">[ Read the story ]<\/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-heading   max-w-screen-full mx-auto\">\n            \n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Links of note<\/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>What might be on the horizon? Don&#8217;t miss <a href=\"https:\/\/www.niemanlab.org\/collection\/predictions-2026\/\">Nieman Lab&#8217;s annual list of media predictions for 2026<\/a>. Submissions range from the optimistic (\u201cThis is the year we recognize that community-rooted journalism is the foundation for any hope of rebuilding trust in news\u201d \u2014\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.niemanlab.org\/2025\/12\/well-celebrate-the-journalists-who-weave-communities-together\/\">Sarabeth Berman<\/a>) to the dystopian (\u201cGambling devoured sports media, and it only took about ten years. It seems clear that something similar is under way with politics coverage, too\u201d\u00a0\u2014\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.niemanlab.org\/2025\/12\/the-media-will-become-terminally-addicted-to-gambling\/\">John Herrman<\/a>).\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>If your 2026 goals include immersing yourself in one project, read <a href=\"https:\/\/alicedriver.substack.com\/p\/artist-residencies?utm_source=post-email-title&amp;publication_id=9225&amp;post_id=166153144&amp;utm_campaign=email-post-title&amp;isFreemail=false&amp;r=lokt&amp;triedRedirect=true&amp;utm_medium=email\">a love letter to artists\u2019 residencies by author Alice Driver<\/a>, who shares a list of the residencies she took advantage of while working on her last book. \u201cI didn\u2019t know much about artists\u2019 residencies before I got an agent and sold my book. I applied only to fully funded residencies. There are many that you can attend if you are willing to pay hundreds or thousands of dollars. I enjoyed the application process because, for the most part, the residencies ask you to submit pages of your book manuscript. Being surrounded by other writers, dancers, visual artists, and musicians who are working on long-term projects made me feel seen, understood, and inspired.\u201d\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>I&#8217;m always interested in how news organizations are pushing boundaries in digital storytelling, and here&#8217;s an example taking on the topic of digital scams in India: Bloomberg <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bloomberg.com\/features\/2025-india-digital-scams\/?accessToken=eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJzb3VyY2UiOiJTdWJzY3JpYmVyR2lmdGVkQXJ0aWNsZSIsImlhdCI6MTc2NDk2NzEwMywiZXhwIjoxNzY1NTcxOTAzLCJhcnRpY2xlSWQiOiJUNlM1WFlLSVVQU04wMCIsImJjb25uZWN0SWQiOiIwMDAxMjc5NURCNEY0QTUyODg2NDFGQjBENTgzOTJEQSJ9.uIreiHf9kkyIJerhBgIKOZgKq9B2jyaIddszjrKHYiY&amp;leadSource=uverify%20wall\">has published an ambitious feature story<\/a> paired <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bloomberg.com\/graphics\/2025-india-digital-arrest-by-phone-graphic-novel\/?accessToken=eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJzb3VyY2UiOiJTdWJzY3JpYmVyR2lmdGVkQXJ0aWNsZSIsImlhdCI6MTc2NDk2Njk1MSwiZXhwIjoxNzY1NTcxNzUxLCJhcnRpY2xlSWQiOiJUNlEyWjBLR0lGUEkwMCIsImJjb25uZWN0SWQiOiIwMDAxMjc5NURCNEY0QTUyODg2NDFGQjBENTgzOTJEQSJ9.YlSl3v8lP5Q_kguTuOKmmHEV28ulzkukos0pNZVS2vs\">with a graphic novel-style illustrated piece<\/a>, by Anand RK, Suparna Sharma, Natalie Obiko Pearson, and Ruhani Kaur. Anand RK&#8217;s illustrations convey the terrifying experience of a neurologist who was placed in &#8220;digital custody&#8221; and put under surveillance while being scammed out of her savings.\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>For writers working on memoir, <a href=\"https:\/\/janefriedman.com\/its-not-about-you-your-memoir-is-someone-elses-story\/\">Allison K. Williams reminds us that the person on the page isn\u2019t the person writing the book: <\/a>\u201cIf the memoir is any good, if your life has changed enough to write about and share with others, you aren\u2019t that person anymore.\u201d One additional tip on creating a story arc: \u201cStart the memoir in the scene where you were farthest from that new self.\u201d<\/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-paragraph mb-5   max-w-screen-full mx-auto\">\n            \n<p>Keep growing and learning, and keep sharing your stories,<\/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>Mark Armstrong<br><a href=\"https:\/\/nieman.harvard.edu\/mark-armstrong-named-editor-of-nieman-storyboard\/\">Editor<\/a><br>Nieman Storyboard<br><a href=\"https:\/\/niemanstoryboard.buzzsprout.com\">Follow the Nieman Storyboard Podcast<\/a>&nbsp;<br>On Bluesky: <a href=\"https:\/\/bsky.app\/profile\/did:plc:nejd5yomd3xtdcdg267bqim5\">@niemanstoryboard.org<\/a>&nbsp;&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=\"block block-subscribe full-width\">\n            <h2 class=\"subscribe-title\">Subscribe to Storyboard<\/h2>\n        \n            <div class=\"subscribe-content\">\n            <p>Get insights into the craft of journalism and storytelling in your inbox, delivered on Fridays.<!-- wp:spacer {\"height\":\"39px\"} --><\/p>\n\n        <\/div>\n    \n                <div class=\"subscribe-embed\">\n                            <div class=\"mt-5\">\n                 <div translate=\"no\" class='mailmunch-forms-widget-1154494'><\/div>\n\n                <\/div>\n               \n                    <\/div>\n    \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\">Follow the Nieman Storyboard Podcast<\/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-html mb-5   max-w-screen-full mx-auto\">\n            \n<div id=\"buzzsprout-player-18295769\"><\/div><script src=\"https:\/\/www.buzzsprout.com\/2449998\/episodes\/18295769-photojournalist-stephanie-keith-on-documenting-ice-and-capturing-a-moment-that-became-the-cover-of-new-york-magazine.js?container_id=buzzsprout-player-18295769&#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&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/podcasts.apple.com\/us\/podcast\/nieman-storyboard\/id1804505440\">Apple Podcasts<\/a>,&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/open.spotify.com\/show\/4cN4SOwf5Am05PoA9wckcA\">Spotify<\/a>, or your&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/niemanstoryboard.buzzsprout.com\/2449998\/episodes\">favorite podcast app<\/a>. ]<\/strong><\/p>\n\n        <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Your favorite stories of the year. Plus: The joy of artists\u2019 residencies and finding the character in your memoir<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":6,"featured_media":16506,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[429,487,425],"topics":[],"authors":[410],"issue":[],"class_list":["post-16502","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-from-the-editor","tag-books","tag-longform","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>Storyboard Best of 2025 (Part 1) - Nieman Storyboard<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Your favorite stories of the year. Plus: The joy of artists\u2019 residencies and finding the character in your memoir\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/niemanstoryboard.org\/2025\/12\/12\/storyboard-best-of-2025-part-1\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Storyboard Best of 2025 (Part 1) - Nieman Storyboard\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Your favorite stories of the year. 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