{"id":17166,"date":"2026-05-01T13:02:19","date_gmt":"2026-05-01T13:02:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/niemanstoryboard.org\/?p=17166"},"modified":"2026-05-01T13:08:59","modified_gmt":"2026-05-01T13:08:59","slug":"your-best-advice-for-journalists","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/niemanstoryboard.org\/2026\/05\/01\/your-best-advice-for-journalists\/","title":{"rendered":"Tell us your best advice for journalists in the current moment"},"content":{"rendered":" \n
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Sign up for the Nieman Storyboard newsletter,<\/em><\/a> delivered every Friday in your inbox.<\/em><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n \n

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***<\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n \n

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Dear Storyboard community: <\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n \n

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It’s journalism awards season \u2014 last week were the Peabodys<\/a>, this week it’s the Poynter Institute<\/a> and the National Headliner Awards<\/a>, and on Monday we’ll have the Pulitzer Prizes<\/a> (announced via livestream at 3 p.m. ET).<\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n \n

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One thing to remember amid all the accolades is that every award-winning story starts with a germ of an idea. How can we know where a story might take us unless we look for ourselves? <\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n \n

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This thought struck me as I read Storyboard contributor Emilia Wisniewski’s latest roundup of highlights<\/a> from Boston University’s Power of Narrative conference. From Ken Burns to Boston Globe journalist Giulia McDonnell Nieto del Rio, journalists are constantly pulling on threads and following their curiosity, seeing if one phone call or a day in the archives might lead to a new discovery. <\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n \n

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But then, once armed with an idea, comes other matters: What form will this reporting and storytelling take? How can we get these stories in front of an audience? And who will help fund it? <\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n \n

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These are the critical questions writers and journalists are asking right now, as I learned during a Zoom conversation this week with journalists from the San Francisco Writers Grotto<\/a> (thanks to Storyboard contributor Carly Stern<\/a> for the invite). We pondered the state of nonfiction publishing<\/a>, the pros and cons of building a social media following to promote your work, and whether the written longform feature is still a viable pathway to a book proposal.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n \n

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My mission with Storyboard has always been to focus on the elements that we can control \u2014 the craft, the reporting. But I’d like to hear from you: How are you thinking about your work in this current moment? Whose work is inspiring you? And what advice would you share with fellow journalists on how to keep moving forward? <\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n \n

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Email me at editor@niemanstoryboard.org<\/a>. I’d like to feature your answers in a future newsletter. <\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n \n

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Look beyond the headlines \u2014 and five other lessons for journalists from Power of Narrative 2026<\/a><\/h2>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n \n
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\"Seyward
Seyward Darby and Rhana Natour discussing Natour’s award-winning Atavist story, \u201cComing to America\u201d (Photo by Leire Garrogerricaechebarria)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div> \n
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Storytelling advice from Ken Burns, the Boston Globe, The New Yorker’s Sarah Stillman, The Atavist, Jabari Asim, and Keith O\u2019Brien<\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n \n

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[ <\/strong>Read the story<\/strong><\/a> ]<\/strong><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n \n

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Links of note <\/h2>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n \n
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