Fantastic piece on a heartbreaking tale

[andykent]

wow. great story.

i'd stop short of saying that this kind of thing saves newspapers because of the unfortunate reality that few newspapers short of the biggest let their writers pursue this kind of story.

Romano's story is 6 pages, 5,000 words, photos, and video. That's the major leagues. But this story can be 600 words and a mug shot for a 1,000-circ weekly. This story is universal: Love, birth, death. Every newspaper I've worked for -- from that weekly to major metros -- would beg you to write it.

Excellent point Dave (and yes, I was paying attention during all of your sessions at Poynter last month).

Stories as compelling as that should never be shot down by an editor, and though at a smaller paper you might not be given the time or resources Romano was given, if you tell it the right way and present it as best as you can within your means, it will still have the same impact on your readers.

 

[Dave Kindred]

wow. great story.

i'd stop short of saying that this kind of thing saves newspapers because of the unfortunate reality that few newspapers short of the biggest let their writers pursue this kind of story.

Romano's story is 6 pages, 5,000 words, photos, and video. That's the major leagues. But this story can be 600 words and a mug shot for a 1,000-circ weekly. This story is universal: Love, birth, death. Every newspaper I've worked for -- from that weekly to major metros -- would beg you to write it.

Excellent point Dave (and yes, I was paying attention during all of your sessions at Poynter last month).

Stories as compelling as that should never be shot down by an editor, and though at a smaller paper you might not be given the time or resources Romano was given, if you tell it the right way and present it as best as you can within your means, it will still have the same impact on your readers.

Andykent has it right. If you're not given the time -- never mind the resources, you make do with what you have in the minors -- you take the time out of your life to do it. If you don't want to take the time out of your life to do that story, you need to find a new line of work.

 

[chazp]

Extremely well-written piece. Extremely sad story.

I second that!

 

[Birdscribe]

What struck me about this story was how long Romano waited to tell the inevitable. I knew how this story would end before I started reading it. And yet it took an incredibly long time to get to that moment, so long, in fact, that in the back of my mind, I started subconsciously thinking it might not happen.

A remarkable piece of writing, and a firm reminder that newspapers do still have a place in this world.

Bingo.

I forwarded this amazing story on to a good dozen people, including my ex-boss at my last paper.

She said it took her 2 hours to get through the story, such were her emotions at reading it. I could sympathize; it took me 45 minutes, although some of that time was spent doing actual work.

She also said that stories like this are why newspapers are more vital than the self-indulgent BLOGS! (following SportsJournalists.com style here) to the body public.

The Pulitzer committee should lock up the feature category now as Romano figures out what he's going to wear to the awards banquet. It's not hyperbole to say end of thread there, folks.

An amazing, amazing piece of work.

 

[playthrough]

Outstanding. Every couple years or so the Times will deliver a pullout-section story like this that is just phenomenal (and some have won Pulitzers, so I don't discount what Birdscribe said one bit.) But I'm just glad John Romano did it, he's a good guy and a terrific journalist.

 

[Your Huckleberry]

That's as strong a piece as you'll find. The part about the dusty overalled baggage handler saluting the casket blindsided me. Excellent, excellent work.

 

[Gorndawg]

Wow, just wow. Amazing story and as well put together as anything I've read in awhile.

 

[spup1122]

That was amazing. I got about 12 words in and started bawling. It was a fantastic piece.

 

[romano]

Thanks everyone.

Probably a little overboard, but I do appreciate it.

john

 

[Ira_Schoffel]

JOHN!

Thanks so much for coming. Would you indulge us by answering a few questions about the piece?

As a learning tool, I'm interested in the writing process. Any info you can share about the outlining of the story? Did the final product reflect the original outline, or was it much different? How many rewrites?

And since Thomas French is one of my favorite writers, I was wondering if you consulted him at all. I would put this right up there with his Angels & Demons.

John, thank you so much for doing this piece. The reporting was incredible, the writing superb, and the editing flawless. This was your perfect game.

And no, I don't think we're not being over the top.

 

[Moderator1]

Thanks everyone.

Probably a little overboard, but I do appreciate it.

john

Probably not. Outstanding work.
Do not be a stranger.

 

[Tom Petty]

yes, very touching.

 

[andykent]

Thanks everyone.

Probably a little overboard, but I do appreciate it.

john

No, not overboard, trust me on this one. I just forwarded it on to a slew of people and already got two responses that mirror what has been posted here.

Top-notch, and I'm commenting again to prevent this thread from dropping off the front page here. It deserves more exposure. ;D

 

[imjustagirl2]

This is the part that got me:

Most news reports say only that a high-ranking officer was killed on a Baghdad street at age 37, one of 106 U.S. soldiers to die during the month.

The reports will not mention he was a great skier. That he was a procrastinator. That he had a goofy sense of humor, or made the world's best cheese popcorn.

So humanizing. So amazing.

 

[Birdscribe]

Thanks everyone.

Probably a little overboard, but I do appreciate it.

john

Uhhh no. Nothing overboard about any of it, John. The kudos is not out of line.

The reviews keep coming in. Ex boss -- a former editor at the Virginian Pilot, Riverside Press-Enterprise, Desert Sun and Inland Valley (LA) Times -- said:

"It took about two hours for me to read it -- I had to keep walking away to get my emotions under control. This is what real journalism is all about, and why it's still relevant.... If it doesn't win a Pulitzer, there's no justice in the world."

Even though it took me "only" 45 minutes to read it in a golf media center, I couldn't agree more.

Feel free to comment on Ira Schoffel's questions and we'd love to hear some insight on how this transpired.

 

[Claws for Concern]

Makes me so proud to know that journalism does still exist.

So powerful, so sad, so necessary for everyone to read -- regardless of how you feel about the war.

 

[gingerbread]

Beautiful piece. And nice use of the paper's multimedia devices.

John answers questions about the interview and reporting process here:

http://www.poynter.org/column.asp?id=101&aid=123767

 

[Birdscribe]

Beautiful piece. And nice use of the paper's multimedia devices.

John answers questions about the interview and reporting process here:

http://www.poynter.org/column.asp?id=101&aid=123767

Thanks for this, Gingerbread. Good, good stuff.

225 inches.... Wow.

 

[awriter]

Thanks everyone.

Probably a little overboard, but I do appreciate it.

john

The praise is deserved. Take a bow.

 

[andykent]

Beautiful piece. And nice use of the paper's multimedia devices.

John answers questions about the interview and reporting process here:

http://www.poynter.org/column.asp?id=101&aid=123767

I second that thanks to gingerbread for posting that link to the Q&A. Those were some very interesting and honest answers by John.