This post was written by Taylor Foster.

As I think of journalism and writing, I think about how I even know which stories are worth writing about or even reading. How does one know though? How do I know? Sometimes by reading the article and asking questions as I read, by actively engaging in the process. These questions usually are: is the topic interesting? Will the readers actually enjoy reading it? Is the information given significantly more biased than is typical? Unbiased information gives the reader clues to speculate upon what they believe and form their own opinions about the article they have read. How a writer discusses and writes on the topic influences and shapes how the reader will view and engage the information. 

Further, I question how much information is written on the topic. Perhaps the more information is given on the topic to be written about, the more trusting I can be in its being factual. Researching the topic beforehand helps my own credibility in writing and helps me avoid the pitfalls of giving my audience misinformation.

Another tactic that I often use is to ask my roommate and my friends to read over the article I have written to see their opinions and reactions on it. Are they interested in the material I gave them? Are they indifferent? Giving my friends an article on a subject that they typically find uninteresting allows for them to give me a genuine reaction. Sometimes, though, I give an article to a friend who is interested in the subject I’m writing on to see if the story makes sense to them, or, even better, if it actively engages them. My friends often help to give an idea of what the potential audience will think of my piece, with differing interests, perspectives, and ideas. Thinking about the diversity of the audience also aids me in figuring out if I wrote the article well enough for everyone to understand the point I am trying to get across. And the point now? Maybe pure reflection… 

Perhaps journalism is storytelling, but with a drive, as there is almost always a point that I’m trying to get across, an end goal. Writing my story with care is deeply important to me, given what I discussed before: you, me, whoever is writing, will influence how the reader relates to the material given. New and fresh stories are often my goal, and the goal of journalists and writers more broadly, but can be intimidating. Since readers tend to enjoy reviewing topics that are in close proximity to them, I like to write about stories that are local to me and the people I’m writing for. I guess, in the end, there are a million little components that go into writing a “good” (whatever that means) story, but this is my own reflection on what it means to me.