As you're finding out, journalism is a difficult business. But it's a rewarding and inspiring business too. In some cases it can change people's lives. In others it can provide a glimpse into what their lives are like. In a speech she gave in accepting the Lovejoy Award for courageous journalism, here's how Washington Post repoter Ann Hull described what she does in writing the stories, like many of you are doing, that focus on people:
"What does it feel like to be a woman in Hurricane Katrina in chest-deep waters carrying your child on your shoulders? What does it feel like to be a gay teenager in Newark, from these trash-blown and violent streets, and to watch your best friend get stabbed to death? To know that white America marched down Park Avenue for Matthew Shephard, but no one did anything for your friend Sakia Gunn, who was murdered."
To read more about what she said, check this out.
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2 comments:
This was a really great speech giving sort of an inspiring guideline for us young journalists to aspire to.
However from reading all of the stories she mentioned throughout her speech, there was a clear emphasis on knowing when and when not to intervene while reporting and being invisible as much as possible. Being an invisible observer I understand for best reporting and I understand the need to not intervene- to only report what is actually happening. But I really don't know if I were placed in those situations if I could just sit back and not take any action, just click my camera. That's going to be a hard bridge to cross when I come to it.
I agree, Wil, that it would be very difficult. The situations she cites are fairly extreme, but do happen. These are the kinds of problems discussed in the journalism senior seminar.
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