Ruralite Cafe: Published 10/18/01

By Lisa Majors-Duff - News Editor

Terrorism should strengthen journalists' resolve

Because I choose to live in rural Jackson County, I can state with some authority that the 21 of us who work at The Sylva Herald are reasonably safe from both homeland and international terrorists. We don't flinch at the sound of an approaching airplane (or helicopter), nor do we panic when the mail arrives.

But as we, like the rest of America, watch more in our profession fall victim to a deadly disease, one created by evil, we see a common cause for concern. Whoever is attacking the nation's journalists is not necessarily after an individual; he or she is attacking a fundamental freedom shared by all Americans, guaranteed by the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution - a free press.

The Sept. 11 attacks in New York and Washington, D.C., produced a universal theme in America: Renewed patriotism. To illustrate this point, look around and you will see our national symbol now flying from some unique locations. Not only do you find Old Glory at the county courthouse and other government buildings, but it's on a fence in front of a day care center, it's clipped to the window of a car and painted on a T-shirt without the usual motorcycle trademark accompaniment.

While patriotism is an important part of life in America, it is also important to remember that we would not be where we are today without our rights and freedoms - including freedom of the press - guaranteed us by the Constitution. And while it is fitting and proper to mourn the thousands of innocent lives lost to terrorism on Sept. 11 and to be angry at those who conceived and carried out such a diabolic act, an even louder alarm should be sounding at the prospect of anyone interfering with our country's free press.

That's why now more than ever before, we, America's reporters, need to read, reread and live by "The Journalist's Creed." Written by Walter Williams, dean of the School of Journalism at the University of Missouri from 1908-1935, the creed speaks not only to those who report on the news, it speaks to all Americans who enjoy a free press. It goes like this:

I believe in the profession of journalism.

I believe that the public journal is a public trust; that all connected with it are, to the full measure of their responsibility, trustees for the public; that acceptance of a lesser service than the public service is betrayal of this trust.

I believe that clear thinking and clear statement, accuracy and fairness are fundamental to good journalism.

I believe that a journalist should write only what he holds in his heart to be true.

I believe that suppression of the news, for any consideration other than the welfare of society, is indefensible.

I believe that no one should write as a journalist what he would not say as a gentleman; that bribery by one's own pocketbook is as much to be avoided as bribery by the pocketbook of another; that individual responsibility may not be escaped by pleading another's instructions or another's dividends.

I believe that advertising, news and editorial columns should alike serve the best interests of readers; that a single standard of helpful truth and cleanness should prevail for all; that the supreme test of good journalism is the measure of its public service.

I believe that the journalism which succeeds best - and best deserves success - fears God and honors man; is stoutly independent, unmoved by pride of opinion or greed of power, constructive, tolerant but never careless, self-controlled, patient, always respectful of its readers but always unafraid, is quickly indignant at injustice; is unswayed by the appeal of privilege or the clamor of the mob; seeks to give every man a chance, and, as far as law and honest wage and recognition of human brotherhood can make it so, an equal chance; is profoundly patriotic while sincerely promoting international good will and cementing world-comradeship; is a journalism of humanity, of and for today's world.

Happy National Newspaper Month from all of us at The Sylva Herald and Ruralite.

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