Thadhani: In defense of simple stories
Countless times, I have walked into an event looking for conflict, breaking news or the “big story” most journalists hope to find. But it’s the events that are just fun that make you realize a hard truth: journalism isn’t always dramatic.
Sometimes, a reporter will walk into an assignment and think, “Is this really it?” or “Is this worth a full story?”
That was my thought process when snow hit Stillwater this weekend and I saw people playing with snowballs.
Until I noticed a few things.
Campus slowed down. People changed their pace. You could feel the shift in the atmosphere.
What I saw on Library Lawn was something you don’t see often in this decade. Phones were down. Strangers were talking. People were staying outside in the cold — voluntarily.
This weekend reminded many of their childhood snow days, but instead of gathering around with family and friends watching the local news looking for school closures, students got an email at 1:34 p.m. Saturday saying the weekend got a little bit longer. They got a day to forget their assignments, forget the pressure and just be outside.
The main takeaway from all of this is that not every story needs a narrative, needs outrage or a scandal. Some stories are just simple.
In 2026, it is easier than ever to get burnt out and stressed with the constant noise and the busyness of our calendars.
Moments like this cut through all of that.
Sometimes, that’s the story.
