One aspect of the design that came together even better than I'd expected was the map on page two. I created a map of our small town, and used it to plot different points of significance to Waynesboro's Hispanic community, like the a church offering weekly services in Spanish and a park where many people -- including former Mexican professional league players -- play fútbol. Local and regional statistics surround the map to complete the infographic.
Everything for this section was completed by Tony, Chase, and me. Reporting, writing, photography, design -- we did it all. So we all feel a real sense of ownership about this section. The photos that Tony and Chase took turned out so well, and they drive the design for the section. I was able to use a variety of large dominant photos and truly give a face to this community that is often overlooked.
We were also all excited to see that our section had been featured on Charles Apple's The Visual Side of Journalism blog. Charles had many complimentary things to say about The Borders Within, and specifically appreciated the visual appeal of the infographics, and the design of the section overall. Reading his post truly made my day, and was ceretianly a highlight after such a hectic week (and weekend) preparing for the section's publication.
And here's a bit more about the section, in Tony's words:
At its most basic, the idea behind the reporting in this section is not new. Like many reporters, we chose to explore an unfamiliar immigrant community and one that struggles with a language barrier.
But we thought we could deliver something meaningful to readers by bringing our curiosity to Waynesboro’s Hispanic community in particular — a community nestled into a small town and one that still remembers the first who came from Mexico, Cuba, Guatemala, and elsewhere. They remember because those pioneers arrived not so long ago.
Because of the short time these families have lived here, we find them on the cusp of transition. As that population meets more frequently with the broader community, those unfamiliar words and nameless faces become harder to ignore, or to refuse to understand. Their needs have grown. Their successes are mounting.
We chose to approach in Spanish whenever possible, no matter how much we’d stumble. We focused on people, not politics, and the ordinary as often as the extreme.
This project first arose in fall 2009, but it might not have started without an unsolicited call and a soft threat. The caller told us to feature Kim Romero’s struggle to bring her husband Rigo back from Mexico, where he’d become mired in immigration bureaucracy. If we wouldn’t write the story, some other reporter would, the caller said.
The Romeros’ story turned from one chapter to the next just after midnight Sept. 10, when Rigo came legally into Kim’s arms at Dulles International Airport. We were there. Rigo has since gained residency through 2020.
Their story isn’t over. Nor is our work.
Ooh, I didn't know you worked at a newspaper. I love that you learn so much about folks through their blogs.
ReplyDeleteThis is a really wonderful piece of work - I am not surprised it was featured and complimented. Congratulations to all three of you - you are right to feel proud.
Our town in UK is fairly small, but we have, over the years, had small populations settle here from Italy, Poland, Caribbean Islands, China & Hong Kong, India, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Eastern Europe... Each new group have had similar issues and experiences and we have seen them integrate (more or less) into the greater community. It's most successful where the new group reaches out to the community and finds a place for itself, providing services that are welcomed by all (eg. restaurants or shops, building skills). Sometimes the new group has kept too much to itself and it has taken so long for those people (and their children/grandchildren) to integrate. It's hardest on the second and 3rd generations, as they have to attend schools and colleges here and try to make sense of another way of life, even if "the old ways" are strictly adhered to at home.
I admire this kind of journalism - it is courageous, factual and supportive of the subject. No sensationalism and no "anything for a story" - just good, solid, honest Journalism.
Great layouts and photos too.
Congratulations!
Yup, my newspaper experience goes way back to high school where Tony and I both served as editors of our school newspaper, as our budding romance began. :) In fact our high school journalism advisor (who is now a great friend of ours) was the officiant at our wedding!
ReplyDeleteAnd thank you so much for taking the time to look at this section, and for your feedback. I think Tony and Chase did a great job of telling the individual stories of people from this community. I think it really helped put a face to a group that is too often merely categorized as illegal immigrants, although many people are here legally.