MACON – Mercer University's Center for Collaborative Journalism will welcome award-winning writers Tom Junod and Charles McNair to talk about the art and challenges of writing March 26 at 7 p.m. in Fickling Hall on the Macon campus. The event is free and open to the public.
“The opportunity to learn from both Tom and Charles is one to be treasured. Tom is arguably the best feature writer in America, and Charles offers a unique perspective on fiction writing. They are both highly entertaining and generous with their advice,” said Tim Regan-Porter, director of the Center for Collaborative Journalism.
Junod is a magazine journalist who writes for Esquire and previously worked for Atlanta Magazine. He is perhaps best known for his piece “The Falling Man” in which he delves into the possible identity of a man photographed falling from the Twin Towers on Sept. 11, 2001, and the emotions and discussion the photo initiated.
McNair is a fiction writer whose first book, Land O'Goshen, was nominated for a Pulitzer Prize. His second book, Pickett's Charge, was released in 2013 and also has been nominated for awards. He writes, holds storytelling workshops and serves as book editor for Paste Magazine.
Together, Junod and McNair will present “The Truth is in the Telling,” which explores the blurring lines between objective and subjective writing as well as nonfiction and fiction. Junod typically works on the objective, nonfiction side of things but has written pieces that blend fact with satirical fictionalized accounts. McNair uses his fiction to distort and exaggerate traditional storytelling. The two plan to talk about their unique approaches to writing, the challenges they face and the varied level of success of their pieces.
About the Center for Collaborative Journalism
The Center for Collaborative Journalism (CCJ) is a unique partnership between Mercer University, The Telegraph and Georgia Public Broadcasting, with generous support from the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation and The Peyton Anderson Foundation. The Center's groundbreaking collaboration has students, faculty and veteran journalists working together in a joint newsroom. Learning in a “teaching hospital” model, students engage the community using the latest digital tools and leave with a strong portfolio of published work.
