John Carey defines "reportage" as writing by an eyewitness, focusing on events that can be precisely dated. He emphasizes the authenticity and immediacy of such accounts, contrasting them with more objective or reconstructed histories. Key elements that make a piece of reportage effective, according to Carey, include:
- Eyewitness Account: The reportage must be based on firsthand experience, ensuring authenticity and truthfulness.
- Precision in Dating: The event should be precisely dated, providing a clear timeline and context.
- Focus on Perception: The importance of the event is subjective, based on how it is perceived.
- Vividness and Detail: The reportage should convey vivid images and details, making the reader feel as if they are experiencing the event firsthand.
- Resisting Generalization: The writer should avoid overgeneralization and focus on the unique aspects of the event.
- Cultivating the Innocent Eye: The reporter should maintain a fresh perspective, seeing the event as if for the first time, while also being knowledgeable about the subject.
- Direct Engagement with Reality: The reportage should confront the reader with the raw reality of the event, rather than hiding or neutralizing it through euphemisms or circumlocutions.