I’m a staunch believer in the idea that consuming great work improves the ability to create your own. Just as some of your favorite musicians were inspired by The Beatles, Led Zeppelin, The Rolling Stones and Bob Dylan, it’s up to you to seek work that inspires you in whatever you choose to do. Hell, last year I spent plenty of time hounding reporters and editors at The Torch with copies of The Register-Guard and The Oregonian, urging them to read something that would interest them (and I wasn’t above hurling different sections at people in order to get their attention, either.)
That said, countless books and articles have been recommended to me over the years that I just haven’t had time to dive into. That changes this summer. In fact, I’ve already started the first book in my journalism-centric summer reading list. I’m only two chapters in and There Are No Children Here by Alex Kotlowitz already has me spellbound.
I’ve chosen an assortment of books and articles that range from hard features to investigative news in order to get as much out of my list as possible. My hope is to gain a stronger understanding of what makes a good story and what it takes to report on any given matter in an interesting way. Here’s the list, in no particular order: Read the rest of this entry »