Poetry As a Tool for Writers in Journalism

From Pixabay by Peggy und Marco Lachmann-Anke

By Lisa Tomey-Zonneveld, ProlificPulse.com

Triangle Association of Freelancers presents WriteNow! 2025, a one-day, in-person conference on May 17th at the McKimmon Center at North Carolina State University. Lisa Tomey-Zonneveld will be presenting “Using Poetry to Elevate Journalistic Writing.” In this post, she gives us a preview of her talk.

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At the heart of every good story is the pulse of poetry. T.S. Eliot

As a teacher of several poetry workshops, it has been my focus to help others find the poet within themselves. It is my belief that most writers have some form of poetic ability.

Think about the metaphor, a common term used to describe the essence of poetry. While some poems, such as Haiku, don’t employ the use of metaphor, many do. What is most important is metaphors can also be used in any form of expression.

Some of the most valuable prose I have enjoyed has woven the use of metaphor throughout. It’s not always strikingly obvious, but when it comes through, it stops the reader to take a pause and to reflect. When I find these, I sometimes highlight them, they become a place to go back and ponder the meaning of the stories.

This also holds true for alliteration, assonance, rhythm, and other characteristics commonly seen in poetry. What possible essence is exuded when these tools are employed? Is it any wonder that poetry employed in other forms of writing can only improve the messages conveyed?

Journalistic articles must cover the commonly known “5 W’s and H” which are about the Who, What, When, Where, Why, and How of a story. Some people reading this may be familiar with Dragnet, a fictional police show from the 1960s which reemerged in the 1980s as a film. When the detectives showed up at a crime scene and interviewed witnesses, one of the officers would tell the witnesses, “Only the facts, Ma’am or Sir.” This is often how journalists operate.

The question arises about how journalism can employ poetry elements and remain as journalistic writing. Poetry refines language, causing a more vivid expression to engage readers. Both poetry and journalism require precision, rhythm, and emotion to connect with the audience. Poetry and journalism both share the economy of words, strong imagery, and flow.

Even when the news is the hardest to read, poetry can add depth without sacrificing objectivity.

I invite you to participate in my session at Write Now! 2025 where we will discuss more on this topic. We’re going to have a lot of fun. Join us!

Lisa Tomey-Zonneveld, a former educator, is a widely published poet and writer. She is an editor for Fine Lines Literary Journal, and the Poet Laureate Emeritus of Garden of Neuro Institute. Lisa is the founder and manager of Prolific Pulse Press LLC, a micro press that publishes poetry, novellas, small books, and experimental manuscripts.