FOR THE GIRL | annie/noah (dsb rp) | listen here

Narratively: How did you first become a journalist?

Noah Rosenberg: I've always loved a good conversation and a great story. I wrote for my high school paper a little and continued with writing in college, where I also created a news-magazine show and got into photography a bit more. From that point on, my hobby and career became one and the same—and I continued to tell stories in a variety of media, from broadcast television to community newspapers, magazines, foreign-language media, online media and national/international news.

N: What was the idea behind starting Narratively?

NR: I've always gravitated more toward human interest stories than major breaking news coverage. In 2008, I saw traditional media outlets struggling all over the place and figured that, as newsrooms continued to shrink and shutter, the type of reporting I loved would continue to be replaced by the "important" stories—those with big, bold headlines about crime, politics and entertainment. And I figured that other journalists—veterans as well as newcomers like myself—would have fewer and fewer outlets for local feature reporting. I started developing the idea for a platform for these stories, to leverage the ability and the passion of those who might no longer have a voice otherwise. But it wasn't until late 2010, once I'd gotten a lot more experience and started building a team of journalists who agreed with my vision, that the idea truly morphed into what it is now. It didn't hurt that the online landscape, and the "content" world in particular, was in the middle of a radical evolution—a shift toward thoughtful, original content that continues today.

N: What, so far, have you been most impressed by?

NR: I've been very impressed, though not surprised, by the very high caliber of storytellers—both proven journalists and talented neophytes—who have believed in Narratively's mission, thrown their support behind us, and become integral to who we are. Likewise, it's great to see that there's a huge audience out there, across the world, for the type of content that we're producing; this validates what we're doing and keeps us motivated to continue to grow and improve.

N: What are your hopes for the future of Narratively?

How did Narratively come about? 

I’ve always gravitated toward human-interest stories and a journalistic ideal that places an emphasis on craft, quality and story. These aren’t necessarily the types of stories you’ll find on the front page of The New York Times or at the top of an evening newscast but they inform you nonetheless. They provide a new way of looking at a city and understanding its people and places.