Dangers Facing Journalists

The recent events in Paris, France concerning the deaths of several newspaper employees have cast a spotlight on those who work in the media and the potential dangers they face each day.

Clearly, what happened in Paris was an extreme case, especially for today, but journalists have always been at risk to some degree. It certainly was not uncommon in the South for newspaper editors and reporters to be threatened during the Civil Rights era. Ralph McGill, long-time editor of The Atlanta Constitution, put himself on the line by being one of the more outspoken Southern newspapermen in favor of Civil Rights.

Even MainStreet Newspapers, owner of the Barrow Journal, has a long history of writing editorials and stories which have irked the ire of many, with threats of lawsuits and even violence on occasion.

During an era when some people would just as soon kill you as look at you, the murder of solicitor general (now known as district attorney) Floyd Hoard shocked this area. Herman and Helen Buffington, owners of The Jackson Herald, did not back down from covering the story, however. One of the conversations I had with Mr. Buffington before his death centered on that time (an era which occurred not long before I was born).

The talk of what happened last week in France was discussed among reporters in our newsroom, as I’m sure it was in numerous others in the state and around the country and world. In my 20 plus years in the business, I’ve seen my share of people who were angry at something which was printed in the paper. Typically it centers on someone’s name being listed in the arrest reports.

When we began publishing the Barrow Journal in the fall of 2008, our way of covering crime news was a shock to some. No paper locally had ever covered crime the way this paper and its parent company did. Simply put, if you are arrested, your name is going in the paper. There are no exceptions. It doesn’t matter who your family is, it doesn’t matter what ties you have to the community. If you are arrested, your name will be listed.

Through the past seven years, there have been people call and plead for their name not to be listed. Often times there are some legit reasons. However, there are no exceptions. I’ve told people many times if I get arrested, regardless of the charge, then my name is going to be in the paper, probably on the front page. Family members of people who work for this company have been listed. There are no exceptions.

Typically, the anger goes away from those who call or even come by our office. We’ve been cussed, threatened with lawsuits, etc., but I can say I have never been physically attacked by someone over something in the paper. I’m not one for confrontation, especially in a physical manner, and I honestly hope that day never arrives.

It’s not always about arrests or crime stories in the paper. I once had a local superintendent call yelling and screaming and demanding something be done about what they termed an incorrect story.

After telling the superintendent that yelling would get them nowhere with me (I reminded the superintendent that I was not a school system employee and that yelling at me into the phone was useless) we finally sorted out the issue at hand. It was such a minor thing that I still wonder why there was a need to yell and scream.

It was really a very poor way of handling the situation and I’m glad I didn’t get down on that level.

Once a coach, known for “motivating” through intimidation, called and began yelling that we remove something from our website. As with the superintendent, the coach in question was told he would get nowhere with me through yelling.

Of course, you never know what the next day might bring. People often get so mad that they do things in the heat of the moment that they eventually regret.

All of this, as previously mentioned, is somewhat different than what has taken place in France. It’s a situation that probably could happen anywhere, especially at smaller newspapers and publications which, of course, don’t have security guards at the entrances.

I’ve told people outside the newspaper business that this line of work always seems to attract some odd characters. You would be shocked at what is said at times by people who simply walk in the front door. Often, they want us to solve their personal problems via an article in the newspaper. At times their stories are heartbreaking, but it is not the role of a newspaper, local or otherwise, to take on everyone’s personal issues.

The deaths of those who worked at the media outlet in Paris has been an eye-opener to all journalists. It’s a shocking reminder that anything can, and often will, happen. I know in our Barrow Journal office I wonder each time I hear the “ding” of our front door just what the visitor will bring. Is it something simple such as a person wanting to buy a classified ad or is it someone madder than hell about something that has been in the paper?

I’ve thought a lot more about it in recent days following what happened overseas.

Monticello native Chris Bridges is editor of the Barrow Journal in Winder. He welcomes feedback from readers of The Monticello News at cbridges@barrowjournal.com.