The Need For Nuance & Complexity In Education Writing — & Where To Find It

What a lovely and much-appreciated thing to come across education writer Sarah Carr’s reflection about New Orleans-related education journalism the other day as we approach what I hope is the end of a seemingly-endless spate of stories, opeds, and blog posts about the disaster that took place a decade ago and the transformation of the schools and the city that followed.

Carr’s piece, published in Slate (New Orleans charter schools after Katrina: We misunderstand them. We don’t have to), focuses on the differences between “shoe-leather” reporting and “parachute” reporting but doesn’t glorify or vilify either kind as most journalists tend to do:

“Both approaches have their time and place and merits. And they are not necessarily mutually exclusive: Great journalism has been done by those who parachute in to a community, and then literally wear out their shoes.” Carr cites Amy Waldman’s “thoughtful, comprehensive” piece in The Atlantic as an example.”I’ve practiced parachute journalism, and will no doubt do so once again in the (very near) future.”