The bag that I carry gets a variety of reactions from an assortment of people.
A stark black bag with a simple white font featuring the phrase, ‘Journalism Matters, #Nottheenemy’ is met by some with scoffs, others with disdain and even a few positive, ‘Hey, I like your bag!’
Those I suspect come from closet journalists or perhaps subscribers to a newspaper.
“Journalism Matters!” takes on different meanings for all kinds of journalists.
June 28 will mark one year since five individuals who worked at the Capital Gazette newspaper in Annapolis, Maryland were killed.
Gerald Fischman, 61, the newsroom’s editorial page editor; Rob Hiaasen, 59, an editor and features columnist; John McNamara, 56, a sports reporter and editor for the local weekly papers; Wendi Winters, 65, a local news reporter and community columnist; and Rebecca Smith, a sales assistant, all lost their lives.
The shooter took revenge about a story that had been published in the newspaper, a piece similar to ones that our papers have previously published. I would hazard a guess that the majority of publications throughout the newspaper industry have also published similar articles.
Their journalism mattered.
Last week, as yet another shooting unfolded in downtown Dallas, and Dallas Morning News photojournalist Tom Fox was caught in the middle.
When many of us, even trained professional journalists, would have simply hidden from the shooter, Fox captured images that would grace front pages across the nation.
His forethought, bravery and dedication to his craft were on display as the portrait of a shooter in an active shooting situation was captured.
His journalism matters.
For a local newsroom in neighboring Hunt County, staffers at the Greenville Herald Banner stood in shock after severe weather ravaged their community Wednesday, June 19.
Pushing aside worries about their own homes and safety, they reported to work capturing history and providing essential information to their citizens. They embraced the fact that journalism matters.
With no electricity, in oppressive Texas summer temperatures, they picked up the pieces and went to work. They put out a paper and continued to update mobile applications.
In a time of crisis, their journalism mattered. A lot.
With the fourth anniversary of the July 7, 2016 Dallas Police shooting on the horizon, many of us can recall images captured from both professional journalists and those citizen journalists who added to their reporting efforts.
Their memories helped honor the five heroes who tried their best to save lives and countless other officers who stopped the shooter.
Their journalism matters.
And so does ours.
Last year, 53 journalists across the world were killed for their efforts to bring the truth to light. Some died covering wars. Others were murdered over their work.
Without boots on the ground, facts and essential stories would remain hidden.
Truth, such as that brought to light by Jamal Khashoggi, a columnist for The Washington Post, would remain in the dark.
Khashoggi was killed in a Saudi Arabian consulate after criticizing the Saudi state.
Democracy dies in darkness.
Though not dodging bullets or avoiding car bombs, a passion for local journalism is a feat in itself. Long hours, limited resources and interacting on a daily basis with those who you report on is not for the faint of heart.
In this world, my passion for journalism has only grown. And so has my dedication for covering it.
If you aren’t a subscriber of The Times, or any of our other publications, I encourage you to do so. It’s one of the best investments $33 can get you.
After all, journalism matters.