Narrative journalism tells the private story behind a public phenomenon.

For six years, the annual Mayborn Literary Nonfiction Conference has brought in the “best of the best,” whether it’s Gay Talese, Susan Orlean, Joyce Carol Oates, Bob Shacochis, Paul Theroux, or Ira Glass.

The private story involves Nick and Ann Ricco, two North Texans who have repeatedly – and generously – helped the Frank W. Mayborn Graduate School of Journalism. They helped launch the literary conference in 2005 and now financially back the Ten Spurs, the conference’s literary journal. It was Nick’s idea to offer cash prizes for works submitted to the conference – an idea that has paid off handsomely, launching careers and bestowing major book contracts on winning writers.

Nick didn’t set out to a literary lion. Back in the ‘50s, he enlisted in the Air Force as a specialist in radar bombing, but became so proficient in nuclear weaponry, meteorology and worldwide navigation that he instructed Strategic Air Command pilots and navigators. Intent on getting a banking degree, he returned to UNT for a BBA in 1959, only to be waylaid by an accident that launched a new career in insurance. In the ’60s, the Navy recruited him for the Cold War fight. Nick became expert in cryptography and oceanography while commanding Naval flying squadrons. He kept right on accumulating insurance agencies, too – 44, and thus was born his commercial and residential real estate business.

At age 67, Nick re-enrolled at UNT to get a master’s degree in journalism. He is now active in The Mayborn Conference’s Advisory Board.

IN THIS "AGE OF THE BLOGOSPHERE" when rearranged, regurgitated facts seem to be prized over original reporting, we need journalists telling true-to-life stories more than ever. I'm not talking about memoirs (though Mary Karr keeps churning 'em out!), but history. Dry old history, as written by academics, is taking a pounding in the bestseller lists from journalists-turned-historians who are popularizing our nation's history and finding a new audience. So much for the final days of journalism.

Which is why this year's MAYBORN is dedicated to "The New Historians" — journalists. Five of the writers featured here are rousing storytellers of history: Hampton Sides, Bill Marvel, James McGrath Morris, Bryan Burrough and S. C. Gwynne. All bring history alive without sacrificing the facts, whether it's the story of Martin Luther King Jr.'s assassin (Sides), the Pacific War (Marvel), Joseph Pulitzer (Morris), the "public enemies" of the '30s (Burrough), or the last of the Comanche (Gwynne).

Just how lively history should be is the subject of debate, and not just among academic historians who are jealously watching as journalists such as Candice Millard and David Grann rack up book sales. Hampton and Bryan are already sniping over whether each other's narrative history is a bit too entertaining. Read our lead story by Noah Bunn about Hampton's bestseller, Hellhound on His Trail, and his travails with academia. Let's just say we fan the flames of the controversy. You can witness the fireworks yourself as both are speaking at the Mayborn Literary Nonfiction Conference, too.

Thanks to Writer-in-Residence George Getschow, the conference is a showcase for the best journalists writing history as well as a workshop for the next generation of storytellers. Mayborn is the first conference to encourage journalists to write narrative history with prizes. The Sid W. Richardson Foundation is giving the school $25,000 to establish an annual lecture series in narrative history — another first, according to Dr. Mitch Land, interim dean of the Mayborn School of Journalism.

"We want to be the cradle of future journalist historians," says George, pointing to MAYBORN magazine's historical narrative by graduate student Jayme Rutledge on Cynthia Ann Parker, the kidnapped White Squaw who gave birth to the warrior leader, Quanah. Jayme discovered this story during the Archer City Writers Workshop, another wing of the Mayborn Conference. She had no idea Sam Gwynne's book about Quanah, Empire of the Summer Moon, was coming out this year. "It's what we're all about at the Mayborn: creating a new generation of storytellers," says Mitch.

We're deeply grateful that professionals write deep-dive pieces for us – for free! But we think you'll also appreciate the narratives written by our student authors, such as Sarah Perry who got inside the head of Sports Illustrated writer Gary Smith, a four-time National Magazine Award winner.

PS: The Texas Intercollegiate Press Association knows a good thing when they see it: They recognized us this year for Overall Excellence in general magazines.

Cathy Booth Thomas
Editor-in-Chief

Cathy Booth Thomas, a 22-year veteran of TIME magazine, has covered everything from Hollywood and high tech to politics and religion. While serving as bureau chief for TIME in Rome, Miami, Los Angeles and Dallas, she interviewed Fidel Castro four times, covered the Iraqi refugee exodus during the first Gulf War, traveled with the pope, and sat down with a variety of A-list businessmen and entertainers from Steve Jobs to Paul McCartney. Her cover stories ranged from battered wives who killed their husbands to the challenges of taking care of a father with Alzheimer’s — a story that won her Clarion and National Headliners’ awards in 2000. Prior to working at TIME, she had a10-year stint with UPI, covering everything from Mafia hits in New York to Palestinian fighters in Lebanon.
 
She currently teaches magazine production for the Mayborn Graduate Institute of Journalism at the University of North Texas and edits MAYBORN and Denton Live magazines, both produced by graduate students at the school. You will also find her musings in American Airlines' in-flight magazine, American Way.

The Mayborn 2010 Issue is available from the Mayborn Graduate Institute of Journalism at UNT. Please contact Julie Scharnberg at 940-565-4564 or julie.scharnberg@unt.edu.