„Żaden pałac nie runie sam z siebie”
‘No Palace Will Collapse by Itself’

Recipe for Effective (and Ineffective) Reportage

Author(s): Jadwiga Biernacka
Subject(s): Studies of Literature, Polish Literature
Published by: Wydawnictwa Uniwersytetu Warszawskiego
Keywords: literary journalism; effectiveness; currentness; press; hero; change; activity; idleness
Summary/Abstract: The effectiveness of literary reportage, understood as its ability to cause changes in the described society, is for some researchers, but above all creators, one of the most important determinants of the genre. Many journalists set themselves the goal of changing reality and influencing the fate of their heroes, but very few succeed. This only happens when the story persuades its readers to intervene. Because the mere publication of a story, no matter how interesting or innovative it is, has no such power. The aim of this article is therefore to examine what conditions must be met (by various elements and various participants in communication) for the reportage to trigger real changes. Contrary to the definitions and hopes of their creators, it is the feeling of helplessness and inaction, and not revolution or even evolution, that are the most common products of reading reportages. Only some texts manage to reach the right audience, present the right characters, hit the right place and time to initiate the postulated change. On the example of several Polish, European and American works, the effectiveness of which has been confirmed, I will try to answer the question of what the “right” of all the indicated categories means.

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