A few readers wrote or called last week to question why The Oregonian over four days devoted part of the front page and two full pages inside to a series of stories, “Fighting for Life on Level 3.”
With President Bush at the United Nations, U.S. soldiers dying in Iraq and Portland-area unemployment at 8 percent, how could so much space and play be committed to the series?
The reason stems in part from a refreshing and needed evolution in the definition of front-page news. Newspapers traditionally have defined news through developments involving institutions and their actions, from governments to schools, from wars to elections. Those obviously are critical and most often dominate the front page.
But front-page news also should be stories of humanity that move us. Stories that offer lessons in coping with life and death. The series written by Tom Hallman Jr. and photographed by Bruce Ely clearly did, while meeting another important test for newsworthiness: Does it resonate with readers? By Thursday, more than 550 readers took the time to call or write with praise.
For several readers, the series recalled experiences with their own children. Eric Jensen of Lincoln City, whose son died last January after being cared for in the Legacy Emanuel Hospital unit, wrote that the stories were genuine. “I feel you’ve captured the emotions that are felt, seen and heard.”
But even stronger evidence that the story connected with readers is reflected in those who didn’t say they had endured a premature birth or from people who rarely read the newspaper.
“I have never read anything that affected me like your Level 3 series,” writes Clyde Speakes, 74, of Salem. “Most of us never really think of those types of facilities.”
“I am a crusty old fart that over 76 years has built defenses around his heart of tungsten alloy and reinforced wire mesh. In one moment your words made them disappear,” Beach McConnell writes. “The tears flowed, and now, as I silently say those words, they start again.”
“I have never written to a journalist before, nor have I ever cried from reading a newspaper! ” writes Amy Kepler.
The reaction is a testament largely to the power and intimacy of Hallman’s words and Ely’s photos. The newspaper has afforded Hallman time to pursue intimate stories, and he has delivered, including the inspiring story of Sam Lightner, “The Boy Behind the Mask.”
The reaction also speaks to the need for more humanity on news pages — and readers’ hunger for it. The Oregonian has struggled to do that regularly and is still trying. Last year, after several editors complained the front page carried too many wire stories about turn-of-the-screw news developments in national and world affairs, The Oregonian launched the Monday Profile to insure newsworthy human-interest stories made Page One. Earlier this year, it started “Life Stories,” to tell of ordinary people who have died.
In recent years, several front-page stories on people spoke to the human condition in ways that still resonate: Inara Verzemnieks wrote recently of the father-son bond of Butch and Johnny Beckhardt. And David Stabler told of Sam Johnson, a cello-playing prodigy.
I agree with those who criticized the series that The Oregonian must be comprehensive and aggressive in covering Bush, the Iraq war, the economy and other traditional news. It has to continue to devote significant space to such stories, as it did with an eight-page section daily during the Iraq war.
But the personal stories on the human condition touch readers in at least as important, if not more profound, ways.
Reader Donald Gray, in reacting to the series, best describes why those stories are essential: “The outside world simply disappeared as I read your series; once again my consciousness has been raised and I can go forth better armed for life’s travails knowing that others cope with issues that I will not face. And peace comes from this knowing.”
