Talk with Erika Hayasaki: Science Journalism
March 22nd, 2022
Erika Hayasaki begins her talk.
A presentation slide breaking down the process of obtaining information from memories, and how those memories might manifest in written scenes.
Hayasaki introduces the Chronological Lifeline.
Coverage by Amara Sorosiak ‘23
On Tuesday, March 22nd, Erika Hayasaki joined the Washington College community via Zoom to discuss her book The Death Class: A True Story About Life, and host a mini writing workshop. This event was in conjunction with the Sophie Kerr Endowment, and the English department’s Living Writers series. Erika Hayasaki is a journalist with the Los Angeles Times and has worked for several other news outlets, providing coverage of heavy, often lesser talked about topics in the form of narrative journalism. She discussed some of her methods for gathering information, interpreting it, and piecing her findings together in an introspective, story-like way. She showcased some previous pieces she’s done, and noteworthy pieces from other journalists as well. Much of her work relies on memory, as her interviewees often must recount events to her, varying from just interesting to life-altering. As a professor herself at the University of California Irvine, she guided the audience through a memory exercise of their own, where they were asked to recall memories pertaining to the “Chronological Lifeline,” which includes one’s earliest memory, a pivotal memory, and scenes from one’s life. Not only did Erika Hayasaki’s talk and workshop provide a richer understanding of her writing process as a narrative journalist, but it also let attendees reflect on some of their most treasured memories and honor them.
Hayasaki brings up a previous feature she did, where she talked to a woman with a rare condition that does not allow her to relive past memories in her head, and can only access the “Wikipedia version” of them.
She highlights the work of Johanna Adorján, whose memoir is an example of how journalists might fill in for a non-interviewable subject, such as the deceased, who are involved in a story.