I remember the Friday when Marc Kidby first attempted suicide in Baker. I was walking past the center’s fourth floor entrance probably minutes after police evacuated the building. I assumed a fire alarm was pulled and continued walking, oblivious to the situation occurring on the inside and the role I would have with it.
Two days later was The Post’s week-ahead meeting where the editors meet on Sunday to discuss the week’s stories. At the end the former editor-in-chief informed us that at the time of this suicide threat a Post photographer was in the building and shot photographs of Marc perched on the fifth floor. He wanted us to think about whether we should run these photos, and if yes which photos and how dominant. We were going to make a decision at the evening’s budget meeting.
My initial thought was no. It’s unnecessary, insensitive and indulgent. But then I saw the photos that delivered a message words could portray. I believed it was The Post’s obligation to our readers to give them this message.
Was I right? Was The Post right for covering Marc Kidby’s public cries for help? This was when I realized the power of the media.
So, where was I going with this? On June 14, the Scripps School of Journalism is going to give (a number to which I don’t know exactly) students a piece of paper entitling them to privileges of the fourth estate.
I believe on the back of each diploma there should be written a caveat. Imagine something written from Dumbledore to the students of Hogwarts—very wise and very telling. It should enlighten every student about the power they now hold, but this power, like everything in the world, can be great or awful.
We, as graduates of a journalism school, are going to be looked upon by our predecessors to shape the new media industry. Citizens are emerging, yes, but they will not be the leading the Internet news industry because they lack the education. They lack experiences like the one with Marc Kidby that teaches ethics, objectivity and judgment.
Journalists do not have licenses like doctors or lawyers, but those with journalism degrees should not overlook their trade.
