Since 1961, when CJR was born, journalism has undergone all manner of seismic shifts, from hot type to wireless transmission, satellites to social media, corporate control to ‘here comes everybody.’ The one constant, however—the thing that will always be the foundation for journalism’s most important work—is great reporting. In the following pieces, which we will publish online over the next two weeks, we hear some of today’s most accomplished reporters talk about what they do, how they do it, and why:

A Different Life: Andrea Bruce was a community journalist in Iraq

Just Ask Questions: Stanley Nelson searches for truth in the past

Sustained Outrage: Ken Ward Jr. stayed home to make a difference

What He Knew: Anthony Shadid saw the deeper story in Iraq

Tenacious: Dana Priest wants to show you how the world works

A Reporter in Full: Isabel Wilkerson listens

Immediate Returns: Ben Smith is not an old-school political reporter

Power of Dispassion: Alan Schwarz changed football

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The Editors are the staffers of Columbia Journalism Review.