Which literary techniques are used in literary journalism?

Literary journalism, a significant form of nonfictional prose, employs a variety of storytelling techniques to provide a nuanced, interpretive view of factual reality. By utilizing methods traditionally associated with fiction, writers aim to create an immersive experience that conveys the "feel" of the facts.12

Key literary techniques used in this genre include:

• Narrative Construction: Writers assemble factual elements—such as characters, action, setting, and chronology—into a cohesive story template, often focusing on a subject overcoming an obstacle.2
• Stylistic Effects: Techniques such as description, scene-setting, and dramatization are used to "show rather than tell," helping readers form mental images.12
• Point of View: Journalists may use first-person accounts for personal witnessing or third-person, "fly-on-the-wall" perspectives to construct a world through an omniscient lens.2
• Dialogue and Characterization: Writers use extended dialogue and character development to bring subjects to life, though they remain committed to factual accuracy and eschew composite characters.13
• Structural Manipulation: Unlike the inverted pyramid of conventional news, literary journalism may use flashbacks, parallel narratives, and other temporal shifts to serve the writer's artistic purpose.12
• Interior Monologue: Often associated with the New Journalism movement, this technique allows writers to explore the subjective and emotional lives of their subjects.3