cover image REPORTING BACK: Notes on Journalism

REPORTING BACK: Notes on Journalism

Lillian Ross, . . Counterpoint, $25 (320pp) ISBN 978-1-58243-109-3

Ross (Here but Not Here) has written profiles and "Talk of the Town" pieces for the New Yorker for more than 50 years and in that time has built up an arsenal of journalistic techniques, which she shares here in some detail. In a matter-of-fact style that's never pedantic, she discusses her feelings about journalism, praising her New Yorker colleagues (notably the late editor William Shawn) and offering her definition of journalism ("factual reporting" built of "good writing" and "singular humor"). The majority of the book is filled with Ross's deconstruction of some of her best-loved pieces, including 1949's "Come In, Lassie!" (about politics in the film business); 1950's "How Do You Like It Now, Gentlemen?" (a profile of Ernest Hemingway); and 1960's "The Yellow Bus" (concerning a group of tourists visiting New York City). Through her analyses, various methods and principles come to light. For example, Ross believes that a journalist must possess self-confidence and a passion for life. She firmly believes that a tape recorder hinders reporting, and even reveals her preferred notebook (it's a 3-x-5 spiral-bound). Ross says she only writes about people, situations and events that appeal to her; she doesn't write about anyone who doesn't want her to, and she steers clear of ambiguous writing, favoring clarity and simplicity. Indeed, Ross's writing—whether about a former president or an Upper East Side teenager—is a testimony to refined, literary journalism. Equal parts memoir and writing lesson, Ross's book will be a boon to students and veteran New Yorker readers alike. (June 1)