Telling the storyMark Kramer, The Nieman Foundation's writer-in-residence and convenor of the Narrative Journalism Conference at Harvard University, will be the keynote speaker at South Africa's first Narrative Journalism conference in Johannesburg this year. Wits University and the SA Nieman Fellowship will co-host the Narrative Journalism Conference on June 13 and 14 at the Bozzoli Hall on Wits' main campus. The annual Nieman Narrative Journalism Conference (co-hosted by the Poynter Institute and The Boston Globe) is attended by a thousand mid-career journalists from around the globe each year. The Conference offers senior reporters and editors a forum for critical thinking, debate and learning about narrative journalism. It will inaugurate a series of annual conferences seeking to hone the craft of journalism. Kramer says increasing interest in Narrative Journalism favors both readers and writers: "Editorial interest in narrative is up as news media search for remedies to widespread current business problems: declining or stagnant newspaper circulation, aging readership, and decreased minutes spent reading papers. "Narrative is on the remedy list because it engages readers. In this age of mega-corporate media saturation, Web sites and workaholism, readers still savor stories in which people's lives and decision-making are vividly portrayed." Kramer will present two sessions; one about the history, practice and resistance to news narrative and a second on how good narrative gets reported, written and presented. Registration fee is R1 400. There is a reduced registration fee of R450 for registered students and freelance reporters. A 10% discount is offered for companies booking 10 or more participants. To book online, go to www.journalism.co.za and click on Narrative Journalism Conference. Registration forms can be faxed to +27 11 327-0188. |