The embedded stories we read for this week all seem to have one common theme: they try to give a voice to issues otherwise overlooked. This mission, which often takes months or years of reporting, is a core belief of long-form journalism that is especially pronounced in these types of stories. If not for journalists doing this type of work, unjust actions from powerful parties would go unchecked, and it is why I believe journalism is a public service integral to the maintenance of democracy.
The In the Dark podcast is a clear example of excellent narrative journalism. This format of episodes allows the New Yorker to present the story that otherwise would have taken up enough pages to fill a book, in an engaging manner. The listener is also able to see the actions of the reporter, their diligent work traveling to so many countries to find the right people to interview. In this open method of communication, the reporter derives their authority to tell the story, showing their work along the way.
I was also especially impressed by the reporter who, when covering the Darien gap, made the journey twice herself. It is one thing to record the experiences of immigrants who survived the daunting trip, but it is another to make the trek along with the main subjects of the story. Far easier, the reporter could have found families who were willing to speak about the struggles of crossing the almost 70 miles of land in the jungle, but this would not have been able to capture the true feelings of the immigrants in the moment. By reporting in-person in high-risk areas, journalists are best equipped to tell stories of people living in those conditions. This holds true for front line war reporting as well. Just as soldiers are needed to fight wars, journalists are needed to ensure the public is kept informed about the conflict.
The reporting about Israeli intelligence agency coercion towards the International Criminal Court was an example of a different type of embedded coverage. In this piece by the Guardian, they were acting more as investigators, collaborating with other media sources in Palestine in order to gather the best information.
For me personally, this type of reporting is really appealing because it offers the opportunity to fully investigate an issue and report something that is brand new. Often many news organizations cover public events in very similar articles. This reporting is also important because it maintains coverage on the day-to-day happenings of the government and other organizations, but I find myself more attracted to the reporting that is new when published. Learning about the types of projects these journalists have taken on is inspiring and helps me begin to think about what type of reporter I want to be in the future.
