The Westport Library presents
Reporting as Storytelling: The Art of Journalism
Featuring Brian Mann
Tuesday September 17, 2024, 6:00 PM

Join National Public Radio (NPR) National Journalist and Westport’s own Brian Mann in a thought-provoking conversation hosted by local resident David Howson as they explore the intersection of journalism and storytelling. Brian will discuss how he transforms raw facts into engaging narratives that resonate on an emotional level, making complex issues like the opioid crisis, or most recently, the Paris Olympic Games, more relatable. Together, they’ll delve into the challenges and rewards of reporting in a way that not only informs but also connects and inspires change. This talk will offer a unique glimpse into the art of storytelling within the world of journalism.

FREE, $20 suggested donation to benefit the library

Made Possible, in part, by the Essex County Arts Council’s Cultural Assistance Program Grant with Funding Provided by Essex County.

ABOUT BRIAN MANN

Brian Mann is NPR’s first national addiction correspondent. He also covers breaking news in the U.S. and around the world. Mann began covering drug policy and the opioid crisis as part of a partnership between NPR and North Country Public Radio in New York. After joining NPR full time in 2020, Mann was one of the first national journalists to track the deadly spread of the synthetic opioid fentanyl, reporting from California and Washington state to West Virginia. After losing his father and stepbrother to substance abuse, Mann’s reporting breaks down the stigma surrounding addiction and creates a factual basis for the ongoing national discussion. Mann has also served on NPR teams covering the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris, the Beijing Winter Olympics, the war in Ukraine and the Israel-Gaza conflict. During a career in public radio that began in the 1980s, Mann has won numerous regional and national Edward R. Murrow awards. He is author of a 2006 book about small town politics called Welcome to the Homeland, described by The Atlantic as “one of the best books to date on the putative-red-blue divide.” Mann grew up in Alaska and is now based in Westport, NY. His audio postcards, broadcast on NPR, describe his backcountry trips into wild places around the world.

ABOUT THE WESTPORT LIBRARY ASSOCIATION

The Westport Library Association was founded in 1884 and has been serving the Town of Westport and surrounding communities continuously since then. The library provides traditional library services as well as access to e-Books, Audio-Books, Free Wi-Fi (indoors and outdoors), copying, scanning and printing. The Westport Library is governed by an all-volunteer board of trustees and is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. Tax revenue covers less than 20% of the library’s operating budget. The Westport Library is a member of the Clinton-Essex-Franklin Library System.