Lessons Learned

While working on my most recent story about a transitional housing shelter in St. Petersburg, Fla., I encountered numerous detours. The shelter is going to close in 60 days and the organization is going to reopen in Georgia. My main source, the founder of the shelter, became ill, and I was left with no contacts for my story. I had trouble tracking down additional sources, and residents were hesitant to talk with me at first.

For two days I waited for my main source to feel well enough to sit down for an interview, or at least to give me the OK to talk to the residents. He never felt well enough to talk with me. The only information I had from him came from a 20 minute chat earlier in the week. After several meetings with the reporting/writing coaches at Poynter, I decided to switch the focus of my story away from the house and founder. Instead, I decided to talk to the residents at the house and focus on their lives. How they ended up there. Where they were going to go when the doors closed.

The residents were open and honest with me, but only one of the men would allow us to take his photo. The photographer and I were hoping to experiment with audio for the story, but discovered that the residents were uncomfortable with the thought of a microphone in their face and a machine recording their voice.

This project taught me a lot about being respectful of other people’s comfort zones. I went into their house, asked them personal questions and wanted to photograph and record them. I was asking them to divulge some of the most difficult times of their lives, and in return I respected them when they said they didn’t want to be recorded. It was a challenge though. I wanted to produce a great story accompanied by multi-media components. In the end, I had to be flexible and make something great with what I had. I’m happy with our finished product, and I’m glad I faced these obstacles. They made me more understanding of other people in the end. The obstacles challenged me to refocus, to adapt and to be flexible.

Looking back on the week, I’m greatful that I had to change the angle of my story. Looking into the lives of the men who will be affected most when this house closes is more interesting and compelling than a story about a place. Plus, I was able to meet great people who were open to talking to me about their struggles and plans for the future.