"What's the purpose of your story?"
Today, I showed up to my last interview in Bangladesh hardly on time – it took 30 minutes to get into an Uber, and we were stopped behind train traffic for nearly 10 minutes. I was at the Department of Environment to interview one of their directors.
The security folks at the front desk showed me upstairs. They gestured for me to talk to the woman, who, I surmised, was my source’s assistant. She didn’t ask my name (I wasn’t offended). The first thing she asked me: “What’s the purpose of your meeting?”
I quickly explained to her the project I was working on, and mentioned the director was involved with it.
Yesterday, I sat down to interview a key source – a researcher who studies environmental exposures. He asked me the same question.
“I’m writing a story –” I began.
He cut me off. “I know that’s what you’re doing. But why?”
I had spoken to this guy before – once, over the phone. I’ve gotten a chuckle out of him, too, so I knew he didn’t hate me.
I came up with an answer he was satisfied with. (I can’t share that here because of my story contract’s confidentiality clause). I was genuine in my response– because it’s something I’ve thought about a lot.
It feels comical in a way that I’d walk into any more bureaucratic organization, and the first question people ask is, “what’s the purpose?” But in some way, I think it’s good practice to ask yourself that… all the time? Because really, the question gets to: how can journalism be useful at all for this particular issue?
Many of the stories I cover overseas often involve something terrible that’s happening over time. Whether it’s about the labor issues that plague the oil palm industry, the legacy of nuclear weapons testing, a refugee crisis, the sources I speak to are often vulnerable, and often have experienced some form of trauma.
Whenever I go overseas, I’m thrown into the world of international correspondence. It’s a stark contrast from the work I do at home on a day-to-day basis, which lately involves running a second business, producing a narrative podcast (which means spending a lot of time moving audio segments around on Descript), and working on the occasional content writing assignment.
It’s been four years since I had been overseas. I’d say it was within these four years where I really began thinking critically about the work I choose to publish under my name – and why.
When I look at some of the work that my colleagues have produced about other crises overseas, they’re obviously shining a light on important topics in often extremely challenging reporting conditions. But sometimes, coverage itself isn’t necessarily a net good. Sometimes, that coverage is twisted in a narrative that’s false. Sometimes that coverage becomes sensationalized. Sometimes, vulnerable people are highlighted only for their trauma and not their true humanity.
You can tell the stories of vulnerable people by capturing them in their most empowered moments.
Trauma porn in and of itself isn’t a call for action.
What if there was someone constantly whispering to us, an angel on our shoulder asking: “What’s the purpose?”
I wish I asked myself this question more at the start of my journalism career. There have been stories I’ve wanted to do because it meant prestige (for me). I, too, have fallen into the trap of producing work that’s kinda like, ‘look at these poor people.’ Sometimes, you need to make mistakes to know what to avoid in the future.
I’m excited to share the work that comes out of this trip – it’s been a long, long time in the making.
Announcements!
My anti-hustle podcast about running a freelance business, The Writers’ Co-op, is about to enter into its seventh season. In fact, subscribers already received the newest episode. Everyone else will get it in a week! If you want early access to episodes, consider subscribing via Patreon. All-Access Members also get into our inclusive and psychologically safe Slack community. Join: www.patreon.com/twcpod
TWC’s April event (April 19, noon-1pm PST) is about how to use SEO to passively generate leads for freelance work. Getting work comes in all different forms. Whereas freelancers mostly get work via referrals, having a web portfolio that is optimized to be found by search engines will passively generate leads and is far cheaper than other digital marketing campaigns. My guest is Shane Griffiths, a colleague at my beloved co-working space, who runs a SEO business. Interested? Learn more and register here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/leverage-seo-for-your-freelance-business-with-the-writers-co-op-tickets-577548391787
I am always taking coaching clients on a rolling basis. My latest addition to my slew of coaching services is portfolio reviews – clients (you!) send me their web portfolio for review, and I leave about a 10 minute voice note as I comb through those pages. Learn more about my coaching offerings: www.wudanyan.com/coaching
If you are in Seattle, I’ll be joining award-winning investigative audio journalist Connie Walker in conversation at Town Hall on May 8. I’m really excited to talk to her about her immersive approach to her work, and so much more. Tickets: https://lectures.org/event/connie-walker/