One challenge for a foreign correspondent is to figure out how much of yourself to include: If a story is too self-centered, it becomes a tourist's diary. These days, the general trend is to reduce the writer's presence, often to the point of invisibility. This is the standard approach of newspapers, and it's described as a way of maintaining focus and impartiality. But it can make the subject feel even more distant and foreign. When I wrote about people, I wanted to describe the ways we interacted, the things we shared and the things that separated us.
Foreign correspondents face the challenge of balancing their personal involvement in stories. If reporters insert too much of themselves, their work risks appearing like a travel diary. However, the current trend is to minimize the author's presence to achieve a sense of impartiality, a common practice in newspapers. While this approach aims to maintain focus on the subject, it can inadvertently create a sense of distance, making stories feel less relatable.
In his book "Strange Stones: Dispatches from East and West," author Peter Hessler expresses his desire to bridge cultural gaps by highlighting shared human experiences and differences. By emphasizing interaction over detachment, he seeks to connect readers with the subject matter in a more profound way, showcasing that understanding comes from recognizing both our commonalities and our separations.
