Hugh Holman, Vermont Royster, and Edwin Yoder discuss the similarities and the disparities between journalism and literature. They describe the common roots shared by journalism and literary artistry, noting that both attempt to create records of events–some reliable, others deliberately unreliable. Providing examples of noteworthy writers whose careers began in journalism, the discussion turns to qualities in style and convention that differentiate journalism and literature and that ensure their aesthetic endurance or journalistic accuracy.
At the time of this interview, Holman, a trustee of the National Humanities Center, was professor of English at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Royster was editor emeritus of the Wall Street Journal and also a trustee of the Center. Yoder was a syndicated columnist for the Washington Post Writers’ Group and a trustee of the Center.
This edition of Soundings was conducted by Wayne J. Pond.
