On Relationships, a Reporter Connects With Readers

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On Relationships, a Reporter Connects With Readers

Times Insider explains who we are and what we do and delivers behind-the-scenes insights into how our journalism comes together.

For Catherine Pearson, no topic is ******. As a reporter on the Well desk of The New York Times, she has written about ******* ******* differences in relationships, the male loneliness epidemic and postpartum depression.

Every now and then, something really hits home.

“I had a lot of friends who were razzing me, like, ‘You’re the person writing a 5-Day Friendship Challenge?’” Ms. Pearson said in an interview. “I’m pretty introverted, but I am making more of an effort now.”

Ms. Pearson joined The Times in the spring of 2022 from The Huffington Post, where she spent 11 years writing about gender and health. Her coverage for Well focuses on families, romantic relationships and friendships, with an emphasis on forging better connections.

”It’s everything that matters to people,” she said of her beat. “I try to be mindful of not giving the same advice you read over and over, like, ‘Put yourself out there.”

In an interview from her home in Carroll Gardens, Brooklyn, Ms. Pearson discussed the challenges of finding sources and one piece of advice that has stuck with her. These are edited excerpts from the conversation.

Where did your journalism career begin?

My first writing job was at a boating magazine, of all places. I was fresh out of college and needed to make money. It ended up being an interesting place to learn the ins and outs of journalism, partly because I had absolutely no idea what I was writing about. I had to learn very technical boating vocabulary. At the time, the outlet was also getting decimated by layoffs. So I ended up doing things that a 22-year-old had no business doing, like helping ship a magazine to the printer and signing off on final proofs of issues.

What interests you about health journalism?

Translating research is such a fun and fascinating challenge. People are hungry for good health journalism. There’s such a need for it. We all have limited time with our primary health care providers — if we’re lucky enough to have one — so writing about health feels like a unique opportunity to connect with readers.

Where do you typically find ideas for articles?

A lot of them come from brainstorms with members of the Well desk, or questions I have from my own life. I spend a lot of time on

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and in various

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groups, where people have conversations about things they may feel uncomfortable discussing in real life.

We are also fortunate to have invested readers. Sometimes, I’ll write a story that receives over 1,500 comments; readers will generate other questions and story ideas, which have become a great resource.

Is there an article you’re particularly proud of having worked on?

I worked with Tiffanie Graham on a piece about what it really takes to breastfeed. We were able to find women and photograph them while they were pumping in a supply closet in the middle of a workday, for example. To get that kind of intimate access was incredible.

Is it challenging finding sources for your articles?

That’s the fun part of the job. But it is hard to find people who want to speak openly about certain topics, so it takes a lot of time.

How do you approach your sources?

You have to be really transparent with people. I offer them examples of my stories and describe who I am, why I’m interested in a topic and the kinds of questions that I have about it. Then I’ll ask, “Are you open to having a five-minute conversation, just so I can introduce myself?”

With some ******* health stories, we work with the Times’s Standards team, which oversees our ethical guidelines, to figure out instances in which sources can remain anonymous. The bar is high, and everyone puts a lot of thought into when that’s appropriate. There are times when sources need to be anonymous in order for us to be able to share the most intimate aspects of their **** lives.

You’ve gotten so much advice from experts over the years. What has stuck with you?

I recently wrote a story about the power of “I statements,” which are ways of communicating with your partner. Instead of saying, “You’re always doing this thing or that thing,” you say, “I feel X, Y or Z.” That’s one I try to be mindful of in my relationship. My husband will laugh and say, “Are you doing that thing from that story you wrote?”

What makes for good service journalism?

Lori Leibovich, the editor of Well, really emphasizes surprise. That can be tricky when you’re reporting on the same topics over and over. Sometimes, it may mean interviewing a source multiple times and pushing them for something unique. Being conversational is also important. Readers don’t want a story that’s dry or boring. You want to come across like a smart best friend. That’s my goal.

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#Relationships #Reporter #Connects #Readers

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