“The focus of news has shifted to storytelling,” said Weldon. “No longer must a story just be relevant, it has to be compelling as well.”

 Weldon cited the shootings at Northern Illinois University. “After the NIU tragedy, we saw stories about the shooter, his psychological profile, his family. It was more than the news unfolding.”

 Yet it was the tragedy of 9/11 that changed the style of journalism, says Weldon.  

In the chaos that followed, there was no official source of news. 

“We had raw reporting with a very intimate tone, these very emotional stories from the street by observers,” said Weldon. 

The New York Times’ ‘Portraits of Grief ’ that profiled World Trade Center victims reflected this trend of in-depth, human interest pieces. In literature this narrative form of reporting began in the 1970s with Joan Didion and Tom Wolfe.

 Another major factor in today’s journalism is that the Web has made average citizens reporters. “We are in an age that worships the amateur,” Weldon explained. “Even bloggers can get press credentials to cover national conventions.”

 Weldon urged participants to get busy blogging. Though unpaid, blogging can bolster your image and go far to reinforce your personal brand of journalism. (See box below.) 

An authority on women’s issues and advocate of writing as healing, Weldon is the author of the award-winning memoirI Closed my Eyes and Writing to Save Your Life.

Helpful Sites: 

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Find millions of blogs

www.alternet.org

On-line news, mostly alternate sources

www.micheleweldon.wordpress.com

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www.womensenews.org