Imagine Hunter S. Thompson cross-bred with Instapundit, and then ask yourself--what can the art of creative nonfiction learn from citizen journalism?
The first genre traditionally focuses on highly-polished, long-form literary journalism, while the other genre depends on blogged, rapid-fire community reporting.
Globetrotting journalist Kelly Nuxoll is actually trying to connect the two fields--using her creative nonfiction degree in the Huffington Post's citizen journalism brigade.
She recounts her recent adventures in this Poets & Writers essay--raising the question, giving us a look at the low-paying but inspiring world of avant-garde journalism. Check it out:
"Creative nonfiction writers may find citizen journalism an extension of the craft they already practice, but for the public, it may take some getting used to. For one thing, citizen journalism doesn't fit into a category familiar to most readers. News writing is expected to at least aim for objectivity; satire and opinions are reserved for the op-ed page; dialogue, figurative language, and ruminations are relegated to creative writing. Citizen journalism often blends these forms."
And as long as you are at the site, check out Sarah Weinman's Hamlet-driven essay as well...
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