That is a
tougher question than it appears because there are different kinds of hard
stories. When it comes to tedious reporting and government
leaders trying keep me from digging up their filth, I have one at the top of my list that I will share
in a future post. Today, I expound on another kind of hard story and how I
handled them when they occur.
When one of
the community’s students or children are critically hurt, fall gravely ill or die,
these are among the hardest stories I have done. Unlike metropolitan reporters,
as a community photojournalist I become endearingly attached to the community I
serve. I treat these stories differently than other news stories.
One example
is an incident involving two middle school friends. While at a lake, one became
endangered in the water and the other went to save his friend. The first
survived but the friend that went to the rescue drowned. I got the report and a
quote from the sheriff’s department and after much thought phoned the parents
of the surviving boy. I explained I already had enough information for the
story but wanted to give them an opportunity to add their thoughts if they
wanted. They appreciated the chance to tell the community how thankful they
were to “our hero” and how saddened they were for the other family’s loss.
When I
understood the two families were close, I asked the mother if she would phone
her friend for me and ask if they wanted to add their thoughts as well. It was
uncomfortable for me, but the result was an emotional and fruitful meeting at
one of the homes with both families and the surviving boy. During the meeting I
also asked if it were OK to take pictures. They agreed and I used a pocket
camera to photograph the parents hugging at the close of the meeting. It could
have been just a news report but it became an inspirational story, although the
hardest kind to do.
For suicides,
I do not lead off the story with that fact. For students, I report the untimely
death, highlight the student’s activities and accomplishments, include a positive
quote from a teacher or administrator and end with, “The Sheriff’s department
reports that (name) took his/her life at (location).” I don’t report how it was
done or anything about a note. I was once criticized by another editor for not
using a paper-selling suicide headline, but that’s just too bad because I don't sell drama and I think about the families when I cover these things.
It was the
first student suicide for a particular high school and the district
superintendent would not return my phone calls and instructed the school’s
public information officer, administrators and teachers not to speak with any
media, which hurt because I was the local paper and the others were
metropolitan media. All I wanted was “He was very friendly and he will be
missed by all,” but I had nothing. In desperation, I pleaded my case with the public
information officer, telling him “I have to print the story. There might as
well be something positive for the kid’s last time in the paper.” I begged the
PIO to talk to the superintendent and explain my intentions and please get any
statement for me. The superintendent personally called me and gave me what I wanted.
I was pleased to later receive an email of thanks from the super for my
handling of the story and it opened doors of trust for me with the school
district.
Reporting
about adults seem easier for me, but I have done too many stories like this about
kids over the years – two student suicides, four traffic deaths, one drug
overdose death, one drowning and three terminal illnesses. However, I am going
to stop here and tell you my teaching point is leave the family and fellow
students alone and be delicate, yet tactful, at gathering quotes from
appropriate sources. Your readers won’t miss the drama. Above all, handle the
story respectfully.
Sorry for
the bummer post this week, but this is an unfortunate subject that journalists have to deal with. I hope it helps.
Share your comments and thoughta at amosnews@yahoo.com
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