On Sept. 21, we had Lisa Sorg, the editor of Independent Weekly come and speak to us. It was a great meeting, so make sure to check out the recap below if you missed it!
Lisa’s Background:
Lisa grew up in a tiny Indiana town of about 200 people, and she was the first person in her family to complete college. After she graduated, she worked in the music business for a bit before she found her true calling at 29 years old: journalism.
Lisa originally wrote about music for a Bloomington, Ind., entertainment rag and then worked as a general assignments reporter for a daily newspaper. During her first years on the job, “I’d never turn down an assignment,” she says.
The more Lisa settled into her position, however, the more she began to see signs that the work of a daily reporter didn't fit her. She recalls one assignment, an article comparing school supplies prices, when she was approached by a store's security while taking notes on prices. They wanted her notes and forbid her to leave until she handed them over. She refused on principle. “Your notes are like your arm," she says. "You don’t give them up for anything." Her editor had a different view, agreeing the paper wouldn't publish any of the information Lisa had taken notes on in exchange for her release.
As her disenchantment with the daily paper augmented, Lisa took an opportunity when it arose. She left to work for an alternative weekly publication, a weekly newspaper that features more investigative pieces, analysis and art coverage. She hasn't regretted the decision since.
Q: What is a typical week like at an alt weekly?
A: Lisa loves the environment at an alt weekly because it is smaller, and you have more of a creative license. The writing for an alt weekly differs substantially to that at a daily newspaper. For example, Lisa won't publish pieces written in the inverted pyramid style, she says. It's antiquated and unappealing to readers.
Alt weekly writing requires an embrace of the narrative. The articles challenge the status quo and are more sassy. “It’s my calling," she says. "If it’s yours, you should be in this field."
Q: How do you write a controversial story?
A: “Once you write it, you can’t really control what happens,” Lisa says of controversial stories. She maintains it's also important to remember ultimately that the sources you're dealing with are human. “They're not to be used,” she says.
Q: How can I become a better writer?
A: Lisa recommends reading anything in order to improve your writing. Reading good writing, especially creative writing and poetry (in poetry, they get the point across in so few words), helps to perfect your craft. When writing leads, Lisa says you should ask yourself, “If you were going to shoot a movie of your lead, how would it start?” Lisa also says that every paragraph of a story should advance the idea of it.
Q: How do you stay ethical when you’re writing controversial stories?
A: Lisa says that when writing stories, you should err on the side of caution. She adds that ethics are the cornerstone of journalism. “At the end of the day, that’s all you have,” she says.
Q: How do you get sources to call you back?
A: Lisa says to keep calling sources if they do not get in contact with you. It’s also important to make “the gatekeeper” of an organization or access to a source like you. “There’s a certain amount of charm involved,” Lisa adds. She says that more people outside of politics will call you back, but no matter whom you’re contacting, let them know you’re serious. Lisa also recommends keeping up relationships with public information officers in case you need help from them.
Q: What are internships at Indy Week like?
A: Lisa says they have spring, summer and fall internships, and they generally hire two to three interns per session. One intern is dedicated to the music editor/section and another is dedicated to the culture editor/section. She says they also hire news interns, photo interns and multimedia interns.
If you’re interested in an internship at Indy Week, send Lisa an email* with clips and an explanation of why you want to be an intern. “My goal for interns is you’re there to write,” Lisa says. “You can get a lot of good clips. Bring ideas. Half the battle is just being there when someone needs you.”
Thanks, Lisa, for coming to speak to us!
*If you'd like to get Lisa's email, please get in contact with Nicole or Sierra by emailing us at unccafme@gmail.com.
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