First Tool
Immersive storytelling is one narrative journalism technique that was born in S*Town and helped it become successful. To thoroughly immerse readers in the world of John B. McLemore and the sleepy Alabama town of Woodstock, S-Town skillfully uses immersive narrative techniques (Reed, 2017). Hull’s (2008) piece demonstrates how immersion journalism merely needs that you watch events unfold without interfering.
Here, the author of S-town masterfully combines descriptive descriptions, personal character portrayals, and captivating auditory aspects to give the spectator a very immersive experience. This strategy encourages empathy and engagement throughout the podcast by enabling listeners to connect emotionally with the story’s characters and their environment. One of the most well-liked nonfiction series in the annals of podcasting, its popularity can be attributed to the use of immersive narrative, which holds the listener’s attention.
Second Tool
The use of in-depth interviews and developing trust with informants is another journalism technique that comes to life in S-Town. The podcast’s creators speak in-depth with numerous people associated with McLemore and the Woodstock events throughout the course of the show. In addition, the author never tries to pay attention to himself, which is a technique of psychological interviews (Franklin, 2008).
The author of S-town deliberately encourages McLemore to speak but never interrupts him with thoughts and ideas. The spectator can learn a great deal about the lives, reasons, and viewpoints of the characters thanks to these interviews. The authors of S-Town are able to gather open and honest accounts, showing the complexity and nuances of the story by developing trust with their sources. The podcast serves as an example of how crucial it is to build a connection and sense of empathy with interview subjects in order to get them to open up and share their personal stories.
Personal Reaction
S*Town has generally inspired awe and admiration in me since unmatched listening experience is produced by the podcast’s use of narrative journalism tools and methods, including immersive storytelling and psychological interviews. The tale of the unusual individual of America captivates with its raw audio experience. Overall, it moves beyond the crime genre and creates a more psychological multi-layer investigation into what is happening there. It shows the complexity of people’s connections and how different the perception of the American South can be.
S-Town is a story about the human condition rather than merely a crime, as the program explores topics such as identity, mental health, and the conflict between the rural and urban worlds. In terms of suggesting it to a friend, I would definitely do it. I would recommend it to any friends that are interested in immersion into the real life of another person, as the experience received by S-Town cannot be suited for everyone.
However, there are captivating plot twists and ideas, so it would be preferable for a general audience. It can be also said that S-Town is recommended to listen to anyone despite the love for the crime genre, as S-Town encapsulates different genres in itself. In addition, the format of the podcasts should also be taken into consideration when recommending since this is not a suitable format for all.
Conclusion
S-Town is a fantastic illustration of the ability of story journalism to enthrall and inspire its audience, to sum up. The podcast immerses listeners in the world of John B. McLemore and the mysterious town of Woodstock, Alabama, through the clever mix of immersive storytelling and in-depth interviews. It is suited for anyone who is interested in life complexities and tragic stories of raw and pure emotions. Here, S-Town successfully accomplishes its goal of telling the story and reviewing the life of American residents in a small town.
References
Franklin, J. (2008). The psychological interview. In Mark Kramer and Wendy Call (Eds.), Telling true stories: A nonfiction writer’s guide. Plume Press.
Hull, A. (2008). A dilemma of immersion journalism. In Mark Kramer and Wendy Call (Eds.), Telling true stories: A nonfiction writer’s guide. Plume Press.
Reed, B. (2017). S-Town.
. https://stownpodcast.org/
