Telling environmental stories better
A tipsheet by Hannah Northey, graduate assistant, Knight Center for Environmental Journalism. (This tipsheet was gleaned from the 2006 Society of Environmental Journalists national conference.)
Download a printable version of this tipsheet
Can’t find a creative and courageous approach to pitching a story on fungus? Trembling in your waders at the thought of tackling a series on global climate change? Have trouble wrapping your mind around the complexities of a never-ending story on an invasive species?
Environment stories present loads of complicated, unsexy information that make it hard for journalists to pitch ideas or even write cohesively.
These stories don’t break – they ooze. Zebra mussels may not be eradicated from the Great Lakes for centuries, if ever. There is no schedule for mass transportation to be adopted on a large scale in the United States. And climate change is a story that will unravel for years, decades, centuries.
“A lot of these stories don’t have neat and tidy endings,” said Frank Allen, executive director for the Institutes for Journalism and Natural Resources. “They just keep seeping out.”
But Allen, former environment editor for The Wall Street Journal who has 30-years experience as a journalist, says writing big environment stories smoothly is a manageable task. Here are his tips for tackling the challenges of time and complexity that environment stories often present:
STRUCTURE
To bring life, vivacity, cohesion and strong organization to stories include:
Hey!
Relevant, attention-grabbing introduction
What?
Main point or purpose of the story
Why Care?
Broader significance of the main point
How Much?
Scope, breadth, extent of what’s happening
Flash!
Flash-by list of major consequences, implications
However…
Acknowledgement of contrary factors, viewpoints
Why?
Summary of causes behind the main point
Where From?
Crisp sketch of origins, history, context
What Proof?
Best evidence of main point and its significance
What More?
Deeper analysis of consequences and implications
What Against?
Description, explanation of opponents’ maneuvers
What Next?
Outlook for developments that may yet unfold
Help!
Device to help audience remember the whole story
Allen recommends an “hourglass” structure with an introductory top that tells the news quickly, a transition and then the narrative or chronological telling of events.
The top half of the hourglass provides the main themes, points and consequences. It is here that the main elements of the story, consequences and implications are laid out.
The lower half of the hourglass contains an ending that helps readers remember the significance of the story.
Interest after the lead can be maintained by:
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Concise, well-placed passages of vivid description
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A few compelling central characters
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Ideas presented in a comfortable sequence
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Meaningful indicators of scope
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Sense of continuous movement or progression
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Action-packed examples that reveal attitudes
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Selective use of statistics
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Disciplined self-editing
QUALITIES THAT DISTINGUISH BETTER ENVIRONMENT STORIES
A strong story has a clear sense of purpose, an engaging story concept and an emphasis on significance, Allen says. Purpose answers the questions, “what? what for?” and explores the central point of what is revealed. Significance answers why the audience should care, the broader actual or potential importance about what is reported.
Strong stories require the trust of readers, Allen says. You earn it with thorough reporting, obvious commitment to fairness and an empathetic and explanatory voice.
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