At a time of gloom for the news business, it's important to remember the power of stories,
even the power of one little story.
It took me some time Tuesday to remember that the date was September 11, the sixth
anniversary of the terrorist attacks upon America. Less often remembered are the dates of 9/12 and 9/13, the
days when reporters and editors reclaimed their roles as
chroniclers of life, death, hope, courage, loss, fear and devastation. (Those were important dates for Poynter and the coming of age of Poynter Online as well, as we tried to invent ways to
serve journalists during times of personal crisis and national
emergency.)
Such reflection was inspired by an e-mail message this September 11 from
Michelle Clements of Raleigh, N.C. She found a little story I had
written six years ago about my cousin Theresa Leone, who escaped on
9/11 from the 57th floor of the first tower minutes before it crumbled
to dust.
Michelle writes:
I want to express my appreciation for the story you posted on the Internet regarding your cousin Theresa. It was deeply
moving. This past Sunday I was asked to speak in church.
For the week preceding the talk, I felt compelled to find a personal
account from 9/11 that would touch deeply those attending the
meeting. After reading more stories than I can count, I chose
Theresa's story. I can't begin to tell you how moved the audience
appeared. After the talk was finished, I had so many people
approach me and state that "I can't imagine what she went through," or "I'd never heard a personal story from the tragedy before." It
really made a strong impact.
"She's an amazing woman," writes Michelle of Theresa. "I will
never forget her story."
Think for a minute, my fellow writers, about that last thought.
Michelle didn't say that she would never forget MY story, but HER story. Theresa's story.
So we are sharing with you again that
little story and
another
commentary I wrote that day that records the story behind the
story. Back in the day, Theresa's might have appeared in newsprint
rather than online,
surviving only in brittle, yellowed copies and dusty microfiche.
But thanks to
the Internet it can outlive me, capturing readers around the
world.
Its power comes, as you will see, not from my craft but
from the way in which narrative stories transport the reader to another
time and place where they can feel the jet hit the building and walk
down the narrow flights of stairs in Theresa's "sensible shoes." As
New York Times reporter Jim Dwyer has taught me, "the bigger, the
smaller." The greater the scope of the news event (9/11, Katrina,
Iraq), the more power is conveyed by the small, focused human story.
The pen is mightier than the sword. If we are to survive as a
civilization, let's pray that stories of courage and recovery turn out
to be mightier than weapons of mass destruction.
If it was at all possible to "enjoy" being a...
