Many journalists, at some point in their careers, have had an “Ah-hah!” moment -- a sudden realization about the impact of their work or the work of their colleagues. Many of the journalists interviewed for the WNN report provided a single anecdote about an event that helped them understand and appreciate the power and purpose of journalism. We are sharing those epiphanies here.
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Martin Baron
Editor, The Boston Globe Boston, Mass.
Martin Baron was the new editor of The Boston Globe when his newsroom uncovered and documented a sad series of events that reverberated through New England and created global fall-out. |
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Christopher Mayer
Publisher, The Boston Globe Boston, Mass.
Christopher Mayer was an “I.T. guy” when reporters needed his help to tell a story, and he learned how teamwork makes all aspects of a daily newspaper work. |
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Tim Archambault
VP, New Media and Digital Operations , Portland Press Herald Portland, ME
Tim Archambault discovered the enormity of news media influence when it was his job to provide statewide election results to the citizens of Maine. |
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Scott Wasser
Executive Editor, Portland Press Herald Portland, ME
Scott Wasser was a young reporter at the Stuttgart Daily Leader in Stuttgart, Ark., when he found himself up to his ankles in alligators (or at least feared that could be the case), and the power of the press became clear to him. |
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Meg Heckman
Community Outreach Editor, The Concord Monitor Concord, NH
Meg Heckman was writing her first “hard news” story for her college newspaper when she discovered how accurate reporting could suppress hearsay and rumors in a small community. |
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Felice Belman
Editor, The Concord Monitor Concord, NH
Felice Belman was a young reporter at the Concord Monitor when she tried to avoid stirring the grief surrounding a drowning death and realized she had missed an opportunity to tell a fuller story the community needed to hear. |
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John Winn Miller
Publisher, The Concord Monitor Concord, NH
John Winn Miller learned how journalism could help re-shape state law after public education came under the scrutiny of a federal judge in Kentucky. |
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David Farré
Digital Developer, Burlington Free Press Burlington, VT
David Farré’s epiphany came when he was a novice news photographer at The Daily Targum, his college newspaper at Rutgers, after a reporter commented on one of his pictures and everything came into focus. |
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Mike Townsend
Executive Editor, Burlington Free Press Burlington, VT
Michael Townsend sees his editor’s job as that of a “conveyer belt,” conveying key information to his community. It’s his job, he says, to make sure the information is shared on a “level playing field for all.” |
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Bob Gorman
Managing Editor, The Watertown Daily Times Watertown, N.Y.
Bob Gorman tells how one day, covering the courts for a twice-weekly newspaper in South Carolina, a case of food stamp fraud led to a major investigation, and it became “a day when journalism mattered.” |
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John B. Johnson
V.P. & G.M., Northern N.Y. Newspaper Corp., Northern N.Y. Newspaper Corp. Watertown, N.Y.
John B. Johnson tells how hearing a conversation at a local restaurant early one morning reaffirmed his understanding of the vital role the newspaper plays in his community. |
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Wendy Warren
Vice President and Editor, Philly.com Philadelphia, Pa.
Wendy Warren tells the story of a woman who called the Philadelphia Daily News with “a crazy story.” But The News listened, checked it out, and uncovered a scam that was driving people from their homes. |
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Michael Days
Editor, Philadelphia Daily News Philadelphia, Pa.
Michael Days was a young reporter when he wrote a story about a homeless family in Minneapolis and unleashed the power of the press. |
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Geri Ferrara
Editor, Dominion Post Morgantown, W.V.
Geri Ferrara was editor at The Dominion Post when some numbers that did not add up led to a powerful story that demonstrated the value of her newspaper for many of The Dominion Post’s readers. |
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David Raese
Publisher, Dominion Post Morgantown, W.V.
David Raese was a sports columnist at The Dominion Post when he learned how one newspaper column could touch people’s lives. |
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Ray Marcano
Director of Digital Strategy, CMG Ohio Dayton, Ohio
Ray Marcano was covering the health beat when he realized a story he had written could save lives. |
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Kevin G. Riley
Editor, Dayton Daily News Dayton, Ohio
Kevin Riley was a cub reporter when he learned a lesson about false stereotypes he never forgot. |