For every captivating fictional story out there, a true story exists that is equally evocative, compelling and thought-provoking, if not more so. The flair of fiction, however, draws audiences towards it. Lived experiences, hard facts, millions of tiny details - all these are considered dry and uninteresting. This is where narrative nonfiction comes in.

The genre of narrative nonfiction creatively shapes and sharpens true stories in a way that reads like fiction. It borrows several techniques from fiction, such as character development, a definitive theme, dialogue and scene-setting, to transport the reader into the heart of stories of real people - ordinary citizens, heroes and survivors. It helps the reader to connect with people and relevant issues of the day. 

This creative storytelling approach is very effective in journalistic feature writing. Stories spanning a wide range of topics, from politics and social themes to human interest issues, can be brought to life.

This is the focus of the ‘Feature and Analytical Writing’ course offered to the final semester M.A. Communication (Media Practice) students at the University of Hyderabad. In this course, students learn to produce in-depth coverage, analysis and interpretation of issues or events by doing extensive research and reporting to gather interviews and information from sources.

Vantage, the magazine produced as part of this course, is the perfect vehicle for narrative nonfiction writing. Our magazine aims to provide readers with vivid, engaging stories containing insights and understanding that go beyond the basic facts. Gaining a comprehensive understanding of complex issues will help readers make sense of the world around them.

The first edition of Vantage, launched in 2010, journeyed into the hinterlands of Nalgonda district, Andhra Pradesh and told stories of a forgotten part of India: the villages. 

All the subsequent editions, be they in print, e-magazine or website format, covered a variety of themes and topics in depth. From the disastrous effects of development, the dilemmas of survival faced by handloom weavers to the rights and entitlements of marginalized groups - over the years, the magazine has explored a variety of issues and citizens’ movements. 

Since its inception, Vantage has strived to maintain honest and responsible journalistic standards and step away from churning out sensationalist and voyeuristic news. Its reporters have worked relentlessly to bring out stories they care deeply about. With Vantage 2023 and all future editions, we will strive to uphold the same values.