Crafting Narrative Investigations with Power and Precision
- Elizabeth Clemons
- Aug 15, 2025
- 1 min read
Workshop Recording
Join Sunlight Research Center and investigative journalist Andrea Ball for a hands-on workshop exploring the art and craft of narrative investigations — a storytelling approach that uses real people as the engine of deep, fact-based journalism. Narrative investigations rely on scenes, dialogue, character, and emotional stakes to bring truth to life — merging the immersive power of fiction with the rigor of investigative reporting.
Finding the story: Learn how to identify stories that lend themselves to narrative form — and how to determine when a character, moment, or thread has the depth and tension to sustain a long-form investigation.
Reporting for narrative: Go beyond basic fact-gathering with techniques for interviewing that reveal nuance and emotional truth, how to structure scenes from real events, and how to research thoroughly without losing the story’s heartbeat.
Writing and resilience: Explore best practices in narrative writing — from strong verbs and tight structure to restraint with quotes — while also diving into ethics, source psychology, fact-checking, and self-care in emotionally demanding investigations.
Whether you're working on your first narrative piece or looking to sharpen your tools, this session offers practical guidance and inspiration from a journalist who’s spent years telling powerful true stories that read like fiction — and hold up under scrutiny.
Questions or comments about Sunlight's workshops and resources? Contact Elizabeth at elizabeth@sunlightresearch.net.