This is the interpretation of a story and the way in which the journalist portrays it, be it fictional or non-fictional.

Narrative journalism is also commonly referred to as literary journalism, which is defined as creative nonfiction that, if well written, contains accurate and well-researched information and also holds the interest of the reader.

* 1 Narrative Journalism basics

In 2003, The Poynter Institute, a school for journalists, hosted a virtual roundtable about the craft to see what writers, editors and readers considered to be the key definition of narrative journalism.

Chip Scanlan, a senior faculty member at Poynter, offers this definition of narrative journalism: "A story that features characters rather than sources; communicates experience through the five senses and a few others: a sense of people, sense of place, sense of time, and, most important, a sense of drama; has a beginning that grabs a reader's attention; a middle that keeps the reader engaged, and an ending that lingers in the reader's mind like the reverberations of a gong."

Other contributors to Poynter's roundtable discussion, entitled What is Narrative Anyway? also offered the following elaborations on the subject:

"Narrative" means any technique that produces the visceral desire in a reader to want to know what happened next. - Bob Baker, Los Angeles Times

"Narrative: story with heart, honest and true." — Mary Lou Nolan, The Kansas City Star

"Narrative is writing rather than just reporting. A reporter gathers information and regurgitates it — sometimes projectile-vomits it — into the computer. A writer arranges the information in a way that draws pictures, evokes tears, holds the reader's attention. A good writer does this without emotional manipulation and forced phrasing, but like telling a story over a cup of coffee at the kitchen table." - Suzy Fleming, Florida Today

* 2 History

"A narrative does not depart from the cardinal rule: Make nothing up or you'll be out of here and working at the Sunglass Hut so fast it'll make your head spin around. A narrative is a journalistic form that has fallen into considerable disfavor in the wake of our craft's ceaseless, self-flagellating credibility crisis" — Patrick Beach, Austin American-Statesman

Since so much of narrative journalism is based on a writer reconstructing his or her experiences, many professionals in the news industry find themselves wary of using this technique because it is often harder to verify facts within the story. In a post-Jayson Blair era, those concerned with the ethics of honest reporting and writing are cautious of journalistic storytelling that may be manipulating facts to make the reader more emotionally invested. Jayson Blair Jayson Thomas Blair (born 23 March 1976) is a former New York Times reporter disgraced for committing repeated journalistic fraud. ...

* 3 Online narrative journalism

With the availabilty of free publishing online, narrative journalism has become a popular form used by writers eager to give their personal perspectives on noteworthy events and public issues.

Six Billion, founded in 2003, is an online magazine of narrative journalism that attempts to tackle an issue from 360 degrees. Each issue (themed by one topic such as "Battleground States" or "Veterans of Foreign Wars") features stories told in text, film/video, photography, sound, illustration, and interactive media.

One of the earliest and most high profile examples of effective usage of narrative journalism online can be found in the Philadelphia Inquirer's nonfiction serial "Black Hawk Down". The online newspaper series chronicled the dramatic American raid of Mogadishu and based their stories on interviews with the soldiers who fought in the battle.

* 4 References and External links The Poynter Institute - A school dedicated to teaching and inspiring journalists and media leaders.

Six Billion - an online magazine of narrative journalism

[1] The Philadelphia Inquirer's serial about the raid on Mogadishu