'Paper Girl' and 'Joyride' are memoirs by journalists who get close to their subjects
In this episode of NPR's Book of the Day, journalists Beth Macy and Susan Orlean discuss the challenges of reporting on communities where they have deep personal connections. Macy shares insights from covering her hometown of Urbana, Ohio, where she witnessed firsthand the impacts of deindustrialization, the opioid crisis, and growing political divisions. The conversation explores how personal history can both enhance and complicate journalistic work.
The discussion also examines the broader changes in rural America and journalism's role in covering these transformations. Macy and Orlean address the sharp decline in local news coverage, the difficulty of maintaining professional distance while reporting, and the importance of moving beyond stereotypes when telling stories about rural communities. Their experiences highlight the complexities journalists face when covering areas and subjects they know intimately.
This is a preview of the Shortform summary of the Oct 24, 2025 episode of the NPR's Book of the Day
Sign up for Shortform to access the whole episode summary along with additional materials like counterarguments and context.
1-Page Summary
Challenges Of Reporting On Hometown and Personal Connections
Beth Macy shares her experience of reporting on her hometown of Urbana, Ohio, where her personal history both enriches and complicates her journalism. Despite growing up in poverty, Macy credits her success to community support and her grandmother's influence. She observes how her hometown has become increasingly divided, noting how political differences have created rifts even within her own family, including her brother unfriending her on social media over political posts.
Macy emphasizes the critical need for journalists to better cover rural areas, pointing to the dramatic reduction in local news coverage. She uses her adopted hometown of Roanoke, Virginia, as an example, where the number of reporters has dropped from sixty to just six.
Risks Of Developing Intimacy With Story Subjects as a Journalist
Susan Orlean discusses the delicate balance journalists must maintain between engagement and objectivity. Drawing from her experience covering the Rajneesh community in Oregon, Orlean describes nearly losing her professional perspective due to the community's allure. She argues that a journalist's initial ignorance about a subject can be advantageous, as it fosters genuine curiosity and helps challenge assumptions.
Evolving Socioeconomic and Political Landscape of Rural America
Macy describes her hometown's transformation into what she calls a "poorer, sicker, angrier, and less educated place," attributing these changes to deindustrialization, the opioid crisis, and political divisions. She highlights the declining power of Pell Grants, contrasting her own fully-funded college experience with current students like Silas James who struggle to stay in school. Macy urges journalists to move beyond stereotypes and provide more nuanced coverage of rural transformation, emphasizing the importance of telling these stories with depth and understanding.
1-Page Summary
Additional Materials
Counterarguments
- While Macy credits her success to community support and her grandmother's influence, it could be argued that individual determination and personal choices also play significant roles in one's success.
- The observation that Macy's hometown has become increasingly divided might be countered by noting that such divisions could also be a reflection of broader national or global trends, rather than being unique to her hometown.
- The rifts within Macy's family over politics might be seen as a personal anecdote that does not necessarily reflect wider societal trends.
- The critical need for journalists to better cover rural areas could be met with the argument that the decline in local news coverage is a complex issue, influenced by economic factors and changing consumer behaviors, not just a lack of journalistic will.
- The reduction in the number of reporters in Roanoke, Virginia, could be challenged by pointing out that digital platforms and citizen journalism are providing new avenues for news coverage and community engagement.
- Orlean's point about the advantages of a journalist's initial ignorance might be countered by emphasizing the importance of background knowledge and expertise in providing context and depth to reporting.
- The description of Urbana, Ohio, as becoming "poorer, sicker, angrier, and less educated" could be seen as an oversimplification that doesn't capture the full complexity of the community or acknowledge positive developments and resilience within the community.
- The declining power of Pell Grants could be contextualized within a larger discussion about the rising costs of higher education and the need for comprehensive reform, rather than solely focusing on the grants themselves.
- The call for journalists to move beyond stereotypes and provide more nuanced coverage could be met with the argument that many journalists are already striving to do so, and that the challenges are often related to resource constraints and access to information.
Actionables
- You can foster understanding in your community by starting a book club focused on regional authors and issues, which can provide insight into the local socio-economic landscape and encourage dialogue among members with differing viewpoints. For example, select books that deal with the impact of deindustrialization or the opioid crisis, and invite local experts or community leaders to discuss these topics during your meetings.
- Enhance your media literacy by creating a personal blog or social media page where you review and analyze different local news sources, highlighting how various outlets cover the same story differently. This practice can help you and your followers appreciate the importance of nuanced journalism and the effects of reduced local news coverage.
- Volunteer to mentor students or adults in your area on writing and reporting skills, focusing on the importance of objectivity and engagement in storytelling. By sharing your knowledge, you can contribute to a more informed community and potentially inspire future journalists to cover underrepresented areas with depth and balance.
Related Shortform Content
Get access to the context and additional materials
Challenges Of Reporting On Hometown and Personal Connections
Beth Macy dives into the complexities of reporting on one's own roots, revealing how her upbringing in Urbana, Ohio, both shapes and challenges her objective journalism.
Beth Macy's Memoir: How Her Urbana, Ohio Roots Shape Her Journalism
Macy recounts her journey from a poor, dysfunctional family in Urbana, Ohio, to becoming a journalist. She had a rocky start to life but credits her grandmother, who instilled a love for reading, and the broader community for helping her succeed. This support system allowed her to escape poverty and acquire a college education. She remembers the kindness of a mom who made her lunch, a friend who drove her to school, and another who picked her up after softball practice.
Macy, With Community Support, Rose From Poverty To College; Unlike Silas James
Beth Macy's personal evolution from poverty to higher education contrasts with the story of Silas James, highlighting the differing trajectories within the same community.
Macy Saw Divides In Urbana and Her Family Amid Unemployment, Addiction, and Polarization, Challenging Her Objective Reporting on Her Roots
In reflecting on these divides, Macy acknowledges the tension within her own family, particularly around politics. She observes how the topic of politics, once not discussed, has now created rifts among relatives. An example is her brother unfriending her on Facebook over her liberal posts. At her mother's deathbed in 2020, the schism was further underscored when her sister spoke of election fraud, indicative of the political polarization.
Additionally, in the town of Urbana — previously recognized for its abolitionist spirit and as a hav ...
Here’s what you’ll find in our full summary
Challenges Of Reporting On Hometown and Personal Connections
Additional Materials
Actionables
- You can deepen your understanding of local issues by subscribing to a small-town newspaper or newsletter. By reading about the concerns and events in a rural area different from your own, you'll gain insight into the challenges and stories that shape these communities. For example, if you live in a city, choose a rural publication from a different state to broaden your perspective.
- Start a 'family news' email chain to share and discuss diverse viewpoints within your family. This can be a monthly or quarterly email where each family member contributes a short piece on a topic they care about, fostering a platform for understanding and connection. Think of it as an internal family magazine that encourages dialogue and empathy.
- Volunteer for a local organization tha ...
Related Shortform Content
Get access to the context and additional materials
Risks Of Developing Intimacy With Story Subjects as a Journalist
Susan Orlean addresses the tightrope walk of journalistic objectivity, particularly the challenge of maintaining the necessary emotional distance from one's subjects.
Susan Orlean Warns Journalists About Becoming "Seduced" by Their Subjects, Risking Objectivity
Susan Orlean learned the risks of becoming "seduced" by her subjects while on the journalistic beat. She speaks from experience, understanding how diving deep into a story's environment with an open heart is a perilous path potentially leading to lost objectivity.
Orlean Reflects On Nearly Losing Distance With Rajneesh Community In Oregon, Having to Pull Back to Maintain Perspective
Orlean reflects on her coverage of the Rajneesh community in Oregon and nearly falling prey to losing journalistic perspective due to the adventure and allure of the community. Nonetheless, she was able to recognize the signs and took steps to distance herself emotionally to prevent the loss of critical professional detachment.
Orlean as a Proxy For Readers' Fascination
Susan's experience demonstrates the fine line between a journalist's necessary engagement with a subject to satisfy reader fascination and th ...
Here’s what you’ll find in our full summary
Risks Of Developing Intimacy With Story Subjects as a Journalist
Additional Materials
Counterarguments
- While maintaining objectivity is crucial, some argue that complete emotional detachment can lead to a lack of empathy in reporting, which may not do justice to the subject's human experience.
- The concept of objectivity in journalism is itself debated, with some suggesting that true objectivity is unattainable and that transparency about one's perspectives is more important.
- The idea that ignorance can be a journalistic strength might be challenged by the argument that a certain level of expertise or knowledge is necessary to ask the right questions and understand the context of a story.
- Some might argue that becoming "seduced" by a subject does not necessarily mean losing objectivity; instead, it can lead to a deeper understanding and more nuanced storytelling, as long as the journalist remains aware of their biases.
- There is a perspective that suggests the risk of losing objectivity is not unique to journalism but is a pr ...
Actionables
- You can practice objective writing by keeping a journal where you deliberately write about daily events from a third-person perspective. This exercise helps you detach from personal biases and view situations more neutrally. For example, instead of writing "I felt angry when my friend canceled our plans," try "A canceled plan led to a display of frustration."
- Develop a habit of asking yourself "What don't I know?" when learning about new topics or meeting new people. This approach encourages curiosity and helps you challenge preconceived notions, leading to more open-minded interactions. For instance, if you're learning about a new technology, instead of assuming its benefits, start by listing questions about its development, impact, and potential drawbacks.
- Create a "perspective balance sheet ...
Related Shortform Content
Get access to the context and additional materials
Evolving Socioeconomic and Political Landscape of Rural America
In the changing world of rural America, the decline is evident, shaped by various socioeconomic and political factors.
Macy's Report Highlights Urbana's Decline From Deindustrialization, Opioid Crisis, and Political Divides
Macy provides a somber view of her hometown, Urbana, which she sees as degenerating into a "poorer, sicker, angrier, and less educated place." The deindustrialization, an enduring opioid crisis, and growing political divides have reshaped the community substantially since her upbringing.
Macy Saw Political Differences Tear Her Family Apart, Leading To a Member Cutting Ties
The impact of these political schisms within Macy's own life is deeply personal. She recounts how her brother, Tim, unfriended her on Facebook, objecting to the "liberal crap" she frequently posted. This disagreement grew past the boundaries of social media and led to a very real estrangement within her family.
Erosion of Opportunities For Urbana's Youth: Pell Grants' Declining Purchasing Power Widens Divide
Macy also discusses how the waning purchasing power of Pell Grants exacerbates the divide in education for America's poor. The contrast between her college experience, which was fully funded by Pell Grants, and that of a newer generation, represented by individuals like Silas James who struggles to stay in school due to financial constraints, is striking. Macy's reflections highlight the erosion ...
Here’s what you’ll find in our full summary
Evolving Socioeconomic and Political Landscape of Rural America
Additional Materials
Counterarguments
- While deindustrialization, the opioid crisis, and political divides are significant issues, it's also possible that some rural areas like Urbana are finding new paths to economic development through technology, remote work, and renewable energy projects.
- Political differences causing family rifts are a personal and sensitive issue, but it's also true that such challenges can sometimes lead to deeper discussions and understanding over time, as opposed to permanent estrangement.
- The issue with Pell Grants is concerning, but there may be other scholarships, state-funded education programs, or community college initiatives that are helping t ...
Actionables
- You can foster understanding in your community by starting a book club focused on narratives from diverse American towns. Choose books that explore the socioeconomic changes in different regions, including the impact of deindustrialization and the opioid crisis. This encourages empathy and a deeper understanding of the issues facing communities like Urbana.
- Bridge the political divide in personal relationships by initiating a 'common ground' dinner series with friends or family. During these meals, discuss shared values and experiences rather than political beliefs. This can help mend personal rifts by focusing on what unites rather than what d ...
Related Shortform Content
Get access to the context and additional materials
Create Summaries for anything on the web
Download the Shortform Chrome extension for your browser
