Claiming that literary newswriting is not a contradiction in terms, that is, an oxymoron, this essay examines some of the criteria against which literary newswriting can be measured, defines what constitutes literary newswriting in contemporary newspapers, and explains how it contributes to modern newswriting. The paper argues that (1) modern journalists should no longer categorize stories as hard news, feature, or literary feature because the complexity of life necessitates a variety of writing approaches; and (2) literary newswriting is no less truthful than "objective" journalism and may, in fact, represent reality more accurately than standard newswriting forms. To find out more about the writing styles and reporting methods of literary newswriters, the following stories and reporters are examined: "The Illegal Odyssey of Don Bernabe Garay" (J. M. Crewdson); "Farmers Harvest Fruit of Bountiful Summer" (Mike Sager); "A Job Where Nobody Complains" (Paul Shinoff); "The Suspect: From a Lonely Childhood to a D. C. Jail" (D. C. Drake); "It Was a Day the Brave Men Cried" (D. Wolf); "A Fire on the Mountain: The Story of the Kintzel Brothers" (G. Gaul); "Brutality in the Home: Abused Child Strikes Back" (P. Donahue); and "Egyptians Excluded in Sorrow" (R. B. Cramer). Over 100 end notes are provided. (JD)