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Author Archives: Jim Killam
Emotional interviews, Part 2
Back to our conversation from last week, about ethics and interviewing. At Crossfield News, our interdenominational mission news agency, we’ve developed a set of ethical guidelines for reporting, based on three goals: We will observe without obstructing, we will report … Continue reading
Posted in Reporting
Tagged dignity, ethics, interviewing
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Keep asking until he cracks
If you’ve been watching the Winter Olympics this week, you probably saw that cringe-worthy interview of Alpine skier Bode Miller by NBC’s Christin Cooper. Cooper asked Miller about his emotions and about his late brother. Then asked again. And again, … Continue reading
Posted in Culture, Reporting, Videography
Tagged ethics, interviewing, journalism, reporting
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The one-man band
Last Thursday was a good reminder to me of how much reporting has changed. I do some communications work for our local rescue mission, and Thursday I covered an event where they were receiving a major donation check. Not that … Continue reading
Posted in Reporting, Technology
Tagged equipment, journalism, reporting, technology
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Cliches make bad stories
OK, maybe it’s a bit cynical, but this video about Christian cliches can be instructive to storytellers: Just don’t. If a phrase is commonly used, and sounds churchy, then don’t use it in your writing or your video. Cliches are … Continue reading
Die, monster!
We see a lot of missionary newsletters / prayer letters. Some are great. The majority are not so great. The writers don’t tell stories well, and we’re convinced that’s because they don’t put enough thought into the elements that comprise those … Continue reading
Why storytelling from the field matters
Culturally insensitive missionaries of the past always draw attention, but they’re not the larger story. The cover story in the current issue of Christianity Today reveals missionaries’ work as “the single largest factor in ensuring the health of nations.” Without effective reporting … Continue reading
A true story, told well
Sometimes I stumble onto great things late. Four years after its release, I’ve been reading Laura Hillenbrand’s best-seller, “Unbroken,” about the life of Louis Zamperini. A rising track star and 1936 Olympian, Zamperini’s life was derailed by World War II. … Continue reading
Posted in Story
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Strength and cluelessness
I ran across a good essay in Leadership Journal. Writer Mike Erre talks about his debilitating anxiety and depression, and the all-too-common Christian response that the person just needs to pray and read their Bible more. Toward the end of the piece, … Continue reading
Write it the way you’d tell it
Here’s a fascinating TED Talk about the impact texting is having on our language. You’ll be surprised. http://www.ted.com/talks/john_mcwhorter_txtng_is_killing_language_jk.html Writers can learn from this. The best journalistic stories aren’t written in texting shorthand, but they’re not written in formal, English class … Continue reading
The trap
Sometimes, being a missionary can be like being the hero in an adventure movie. People wish they could be you. You get compliments and admiration for the path you’ve chosen and the work you do. You’re considered a spiritual hero. … Continue reading
Posted in Career, Faith
Tagged faith, humility, journalism, missionary, motivation
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