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Last week, in local journalism

Posted in Journalism, Pennsylvania, Photography, Photojournalism, Politics, Sports, The York Daily Record/Sunday News, York on November 5, 2017| Leave a Comment »

This week, y’all.

More specifically, last week. Last week ticked off almost all the boxes, many of the scenarios, for which journalism professors try to prepare their students.

“Last week” began like this: I was asleep for one hour after covering Friday night football when I was called to a 1 a.m. fatal crash involving a bus of high school football players. Eleven hours later, I reported on a local veteran’s homecoming. After my weekend, I returned to: cover a mayoral candidate debate, preview a local Christmas attraction, photograph a highway median for a follow-up of the earlier bus crash, interview an ex-con who’d served 9 years for attempted murder, report on the unveiling of a new public mural, cover a fender-bender involving another school bus, cover a multiple-casualty interstate accident, shoot high school football and livestream/photograph Vice President Mike Pence’s visit to a local plant.

The variety of stories I covered last week is precisely why local journalism matters. People outside our coverage area may not be affected by or care about the three crashes I covered or the new mural or the football games, but York Countians may wonder why they were stuck in traffic for hours or be interested in the city’s public art or want to know if their alma mater won — and local journalists are the ones who work to provide those answers.

Pence’s visit and interactions with local business owners may resonate with business owners in other areas. Every year, the local Christmas attraction brings people from outside the county’s borders, who may want to know what to expect this year. The ex-con’s story about his working to redeem himself in his own way may help shift perceptions for folks in and out of York County.

York County isn’t the center of the universe. No one place is. But for the people who live here, and for many others who don’t, what happens here matters.

Local journalism matters.

Photos from every single assignment and spot news event I covered last week:

© 2017 by The York Daily Record/Sunday News. Kennard-Dale and Susquehannock football players warm up before playing a YAIAA football game Friday, Oct. 27, 2017, at Kennard-Dale. Susquehannock defeated Kennard-Dale 49-21.

© 2017 by The York Daily Record/Sunday News. Denis Moyer Jr., far left, watches as his son Denis Moyer III is greeted by American Legion Rider Wade Melvin of Red Lion and other riders Saturday, Oct. 28, 2017, at the Interstate 83 welcome center in Shrewsbury Township. Denis Moyer Jr., a member of the Raised & Square Chapter of the Pennsylvania Widows Sons Masonic Riders Association, organized a bike ride to greet his son Denis Moyer III upon his arrival in Pennsylvania and to escort him back home in the Reading area. Denis Moyer III completed a tour in Iraq with the U.S. Army’s 82nd Airborne Division and will ship out to Fort Carson, Colorado, in a month.

© 2017 by The York Daily Record/Sunday News. The remains of a charter bus sit in the eastbound lanes of U.S. 30 just west of the Wrightsville exit early Saturday, Oct. 28, 2017. Hellam Fire Company chief Eric Strittmatter said a 1:02 a.m. call reported a westbound Ford Explorer crossed the median and collided with a charter bus transporting the Eastern York varsity football team back to the school after they played against Central High School in Martinsburg, Pa. Strittmatter said the driver of the Ford Explorer was killed, while two coaches and the bus driver were transported to York Hospital and Lancaster General Hospital. No students were transported for medical care.

© 2017 by The York Daily Record/Sunday News. Eastern York football players wait for their parents to retrieve them from the scene of a crash in the eastbound lanes of U.S. 30 just west of the Wrightsville exit early Saturday, Oct. 28, 2017. Hellam Fire Company chief Eric Strittmatter said a 1:02 a.m. call reported a westbound Ford Explorer crossed the median and collided with a charter bus transporting the Eastern York varsity football team back to the school after they played against Central High School in Martinsburg, Pa. Strittmatter said the driver of the Ford Explorer was killed, while two coaches and the bus driver were transported to York Hospital and Lancaster General Hospital. No students were transported for medical care.

© 2017 by The York Daily Record/Sunday News. Emergency personnel work the scene of a crash in the eastbound lanes of U.S. 30 just west of the Wrightsville exit early Saturday, Oct. 28, 2017. Hellam Fire Company chief Eric Strittmatter said a 1:02 a.m. call reported a westbound Ford Explorer crossed the median and collided with a charter bus transporting the Eastern York varsity football team back to the school after they played against Central High School in Martinsburg, Pa. Strittmatter said the driver of the Ford Explorer was killed, while two coaches and the bus driver were transported to York Hospital and Lancaster General Hospital. No students were transported for medical care.

© 2017 by The York Daily Record/Sunday News. Kim Bracey, Dave Moser and Michael Helfrich are introduced during a York mayoral candidate debate hosted by the Rotary Club of York Wednesday, Nov. 1, 2017, at the Country Club of York. The three candidates — Democratic incumbent Kim Bracey, Republican candidate Michael Helfrich and Libertarian candidate Dave Moser — are running for mayor of York in the Nov. 7 election.

© 2017 by The York Daily Record/Sunday News. About 80 percent of decorations for Christmas Magic: A Festival of Lights are set up, as of Wednesday, Nov. 1, 2017, at Rocky Ridge County Park in Springettsbury Township. York County Parks’ Christmas Magic: A Festival of Lights will open for its 34th year Nov. 24.

© 2017 by The York Daily Record/Sunday News. From left, York County Parks group leader Rick Detter and volunteer Derek Straub install fixtures for Christmas Magic: A Festival of Lights Wednesday, Nov. 1, 2017, at Rocky Ridge County Park in Springettsbury Township. York County Parks’ Christmas Magic: A Festival of Lights will open for its 34th year Nov. 24.

© 2017 by The York Daily Record/Sunday News. The grass median of U.S. 30 is seen from Shoe House Road in Hellam Township Thursday, Nov. 2, 2017.

© 2017 by The York Daily Record/Sunday News. Budhi Blair relaxes with his dogs Ryder, left, and Layla, right, Thursday, Nov. 2, 2017, outside Blair’s Windsor Township home. While serving 9 years in state prison, Blair joined a veterans’ program where he learned to train rescue dogs. Blair, who said he endured childhood abuse and has PTSD from his service in Iraq, said working with dogs in the prison program helped him sleep at night and gain a new outlook on life after prison.

© 2017 by The York Daily Record/Sunday News. Local artist Ophelia Chambliss, left, laughs during the unveiling of the “York Community of Color” mural on the side of the Voni B. Grimes Gym in York Thursday, Nov. 2, 2017. Chambliss designed the six panels of the mural, which just under 200 members of the York community painted over a period of three months. “It’s rough, but kids painted it,” Chambliss said. “People in the community painted it.”

© 2017 by The York Daily Record/Sunday News. A Red Lion Area School District bus was involved in a crash Thursday, Nov. 2, 2017, at Short Street and Freysville Road in Windsor Township. No students were aboard the bus, according to Red Lion Supt. Scott Deisley. One person was transported from the scene with minor injuries.

© 2017 by The York Daily Record/Sunday News. Emergency responders work the scene of a single-vehicle crash on I-83 South, north of the North George Street exit in Manchester Township, Friday, Nov. 3, 2017. Patients were transported by ambulance and a medical helicopter, while southbound traffic was restricted to a single lane.

© 2017 by The York Daily Record/Sunday News. Pennsylvania State Police officers comb the field near the scene of a single-vehicle crash on I-83 South, north of the North George Street exit in Manchester Township, Friday, Nov. 3, 2017. Patients were transported by ambulance and a medical helicopter, while southbound traffic was restricted to a single lane.

© 2017 by The York Daily Record/Sunday News. I-83’s southbound lanes, left, are congested as vehicles merge to a single lane ahead of the scene of a single-vehicle crash on I-83 South, north of the North George Street exit in Manchester Township, Friday, Nov. 3, 2017. Patients were transported by ambulance and a medical helicopter, while southbound traffic was restricted to a single lane.

© 2017 by The York Daily Record/Sunday News. Dallastown students cheer as the team enters the stadium for a YAIAA football game Friday, Nov. 3, 2017, at Dallastown. Dallastown defeated Red Lion 40-27.

© 2017 by The York Daily Record/Sunday News. Dallastown’s Nyzair Smith leaps over Red Lion’s Zachary Crossland on his way to a touchdown in the second half of a YAIAA football game Friday, Nov. 3, 2017, at Dallastown. Dallastown defeated Red Lion 40-27.

© 2017 by The York Daily Record/Sunday News. Dallastown’s Raymond Christas kisses the Football for Freedom trophy after the Wildcats won a YAIAA football game Friday, Nov. 3, 2017, at Dallastown. Dallastown defeated Red Lion 40-27.

© 2017 by The York Daily Record/Sunday News. U.S. Vice President Mike Pence takes a tour with Military & Commercial Fasteners Corp. operations manager Jason Siewert Saturday, Nov. 4, 2017, at the plant in Manchester Township, York County, Pennsylvania. U.S. Vice President Mike Pence visited the plant with U.S. Secretary of Labor Alex Acosta and U.S. Rep. Scott Perry, R-York County, to promote President Donald Trump’s tax reform plan.

© 2017 by The York Daily Record/Sunday News. Maple Donuts owner Charlie Burnside smiles at his wife as other business owners applaud during a round table discussion with U.S. Vice President Mike Pence, U.S. Secretary of Labor Alex Acosta and U.S. Rep. Scott Perry, R-York County, Saturday, Nov. 4, 2017, at Military & Commercial Fasteners Corp. in Manchester Township, York County, Pennsylvania. Pence visited the plant with Acosta and Perry, R-York County, to promote President Donald Trump’s tax reform plan.

© 2017 by The York Daily Record/Sunday News. From left, U.S. Secretary of Labor Alex Acosta and U.S. Vice President Mike Pence consult each other while U.S. Rep. Scott Perry, R-York County, greets a small crowd before a round table discussion featuring local business leaders Saturday, Nov. 4, 2017, at Military & Commercial Fasteners Corp. in Manchester Township, York County, Pennsylvania. Pence visited the plant with Acosta and Perry, R-York County, to promote President Donald Trump’s tax reform plan.

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Best of 2015

Posted in Journalism, Pennsylvania, Photography, Photojournalism, Politics, Sports, The York Daily Record/Sunday News, York on April 9, 2016| Leave a Comment »

Better late than never, right?

The last time I did a “best of” roundup, it was 2011 — my first full year in York, after working five months at one newspaper and getting hired full-time by the other. I’ve shared a lot of work from the past five or so years, but 2015 brought a lot of changes. Jeff and I got married. My newspaper changed ownership. Jeff’s work introduced a large shift in our weekly/monthly routine. And I didn’t blog as much.

I’ve got some recent work I plan to share here, but first I need to move on past the last year. So, here are my 25 favorites/bests, in chronological order:

© 2015 by The York Daily Record/Sunday News. All About Pets Too co-owner Tammie Arnold greets Salso, an 8-year-old umbrella cockatoo who is one of the three store birds, on Wednesday, Feb. 11, 2015, at Arnold’s pet shop in Red Lion. Salso’s cage is close to the front door, where he can greet customers. Arnold, who has operated the store in various locations for 22 years, has provided grooming and nail-trimming services, and now offers same-day delivery service as a way to compete against big-box stores that carry pet food. “It’s been up and down, but we’ve survived,” she said of the store she co-owns with Jennifer Warfel.

© 2015 by The York Daily Record/Sunday News. York Catholic’s Emily Laslo, center, celebrates with her teammates after winning the PIAA District 3 Class AA basketball championship game on Thursday, Feb. 26, 2015, at the Giant Center. York Catholic defeated Camp Hill 63-57 in overtime to win the Fighting Irish’s 10th consecutive district title.

© 2015 by The York Daily Record/Sunday News. Twins Gabriel (in blue) and Deirdre (in purple) Casey, 14 of York, dance to John Legend’s “All of Me” as performed by Eli Wear, 13 of York Township, center, and Augustine Mariche, 14 of York, in a back hall of the Strand Capitol Performing Arts Center on Saturday, Feb. 28, 2015. The four had just performed onstage in the variety show Passages: A Celebration of African-Americans in the Arts. Challenged by his editor to find out what people do in downtown York on a cold Saturday night, YDR reporter Gary Haber headed out to see what he could find.

© 2015 by The York Daily Record/Sunday News. York Suburban’s Madie Devaney prepares for a successful shot on goal in the first half of a girls lacrosse game on Thursday, April 16, 2015, at Red Lion. Red Lion defeated York Suburban 17-8.

© 2015 by The York Daily Record/Sunday News. York Revolution designated hitter Johan Limonta and Jacob Yingling, 8 of Spring Grove, pray together on the field before doing warm-ups on Friday, April 24, 2015, at Santander Stadium. The York Revolution opened its season against the Long Island Ducks.

© 2015 by The York Daily Record/Sunday News. Aeyla Haddaway, 2 of Glen Rock, dances under the eye of her mother Jade Garcia at the drum circle at Spoutwood Farm’s 24th annual Fairie Festival on Saturday, May 2, 2015, in Codorus Township. The three-day festival, held every year around May Day and attended by over 15,000 visitors, celebrates the coming of spring and features a may pole, art, music, vendors and family-friendly activities. The event benefits Spoutwood Farm’s CSA program and the farm itself.

© 2015 by The York Daily Record/Sunday News. Central York seniors make their way to their seats on the football field during commencement on Friday, June 5, 2015, at Central York. Central York graduated about 380 seniors.

© 2015 by The York Daily Record/Sunday News. Glenda Romero hugs Ashley Cosby during a vigil for brothers Angel Berrios, 21, and Abdiel Vazquez-Soto, 19, who died in a late-night shooting and car crash Friday, at the site of the car crash on North Newberry Street on Saturday, June 13, 2015. Romero is a cousin to both Berrios and Vazquez-Soto, while Cosby is the mother of Berrios’ 2-year-old child Amir. The York County Coroner’s Office confirmed the brothers were each shot at least once on Jefferson Street, but York City Police could not confirm whether the brothers had been shot in their car. Berrios died at the scene of the crash, while Vazquez-Soto died at York Hospital. A passenger, Francisco River, 20, was taken to York Hospital as well. Dozens of family members and friends attended the vigil, at which Berrios’ father, Angel Berrios Sr., called for justice. “I look for justice for my son and my nephew,” Angel Berrios Sr. said. “Help us bring some peace.”

© 2015 by The York Daily Record/Sunday News. Red Lion rising junior Dylan Gurreri examines the charred ground at the site of a car crash that claimed the lives of two Red Lion Area High School rising seniors, Stone Hill, 17, and Nick Mankin, 16, on Wednesday, June 17, 2015. The York County Coroner’s Office reported Tuesday night that Hill had been driving the vehicle when it struck a utility pole, flipped and caught fire on the 200 block of Slab Road in Lower Chanceford Township.

© 2015 by The York Daily Record/Sunday News. Lydia Foster, center, grabs at her mother Debbie, left, in the midst of a mild seizure at lunch with her sister Julia, 14, right, on Friday, June 19, 2015, at the Foster family’s Straban Township home. Lydia Foster, 17, was diagnosed with epilepsy at a young age and has tried numerous medications and treatments to cease or prevent her seizures, of which she can have as many as nine in a day. Last year, her parents Debbie and Bob decided to split up the family so Debbie could take Lydia and four of their six daughters to Colorado, where Lydia could take cannabidiol oil (CBD) to reduce her seizures. When the CBD turned out not to be a miracle cure and the Fosters found the separation of their close-knit family to be painful, Debbie brought her daughters back to Straban Township, where she continues to give Lydia legally-obtained CBD.

© 2015 by The York Daily Record/Sunday News. With a little help from Elmer’s stick glue, Red Lion sophomore Sarah Cimino, 15, applied red, white and blue stickers to her forehead on July 3, 2015, in Red Lion for the borough’s annual fireworks show.

© 2015 by The York Daily Record/Sunday News. Inbee Park of South Korea walks up to tee off at Hole 8 on Thursday, July 9, 2015, during the first championship round of the 70th U.S. Women’s Open at the Lancaster Country Club.

© 2015 by The York Daily Record/Sunday News. York Revolution pitcher Stephen Penney relaxes in the dugout with York City Little League players before managing them in a Wiffle ball game on Friday, Aug. 21, 2015, at Santander Stadium. York mayor Kim Bracey managed a team of community leaders against a York City Little League team for two innings of Wiffle ball before the York Revolution’s game against Somerset.

© 2015 by The York Daily Record/Sunday News. Red Land’s Braden Kolmansberger reacts after scoring the winning run on Chayton Krauss’s hit in the sixth inning Saturday, Aug. 29, 2015, during the Little League World Series U.S. championship game featuring Red Land Little League of Pennsylvania and Pearland West Little League of Texas, in South Williamsport. Red Land defeated Pearland 3-2 in a walk-off victory to move on to the world championship game against Tokyo Kitasuna of Japan.

© 2015 by The York Daily Record/Sunday News. From left, Red Land Little League’s Dylan Rodenhaber, Jake Cubbler, Braden Kolmansberger and Jarrett Wisman goof around playing hot potato before their hometown parade celebration Saturday, Sept. 5, 2015, at the Newberry Baseball Complex in Newberry Township. One week after Red Land won the Little League World Series U.S. championship, local municipalities and businesses teamed up to organize a hometown celebration.

© 2015 by The York Daily Record/Sunday News. Buffalo Bulls wide receiver Marcus McGill and Penn State Nittany Lions running back Johnathan Thomas compete for a catch in the first half of an NCAA Division I football game Saturday, Sept. 12, 2015, at Beaver Stadium. Penn State defeated Buffalo 27-14 to win its home opener.

© 2015 by The York Daily Record/Sunday News. Shilvosky Buffaloe, interim director of York’s Department of Economic and Community Development, center, applauds with others as state Rep. Kevin Schreiber, D-York, speaks Saturday, Sept. 19, 2015, during the one-year anniversary celebration of Sonny Simpson Play Zone’s opening on the 500th block of South Duke Street in York. The play zone, which is dedicated to a longtime maintenance foreman at Crispus Attucks who died in 2002, was built in a former vacant lot by Crispus Attucks volunteers and Wells Fargo employees.

© 2015 by The York Daily Record/Sunday News. Harold Hebel, 48, gets situated in the bathroom next to his new bedroom Wednesday, Sept. 30, 2015, in a new house built by Penn-Mar Human Services on Hebel’s family’s Shrewsbury Township property. Three other men with intellectual disabilities will move into the house soon, while a woman will move into an adjoining suite.

© 2015 by The York Daily Record/Sunday News. Devers K-8 third-grade teacher Denise Waughtel walks to school from her nearby home Friday, Oct. 2, 2015. Waughtel grew up in the Devers Area neighborhood, attended Devers when it was K-5 and now lives a two-minute walk from Devers K-8 where she teaches third grade. Waughtel had taught at Jackson K-8 for four years when she and her husband closed on their house in Aug. 2003. One month later, she was transferred to teach at Devers. These photos are a part of the neighborhood series project.

© 2015 by The York Daily Record/Sunday News. YWCA York Synchro-ettes enter the basement to relax between routines in a synchronized-swimming production of “The Little Mermaid” on Saturday, Oct. 10, 2015, at the YWCA York. The water show, which had three showtimes each on Saturday, Oct. 10, and Sunday, Oct. 11, was the YWCA York Synchro-ettes’ 33rd annual storyline-based show in the team’s 43-year history. “Instead of inviting people to come see what we do in competition, we thought it’d be fun to do a story,” said Robin Weist, who has coached the team since 1975. “Nobody else that I know of does shows like we do.” Each show means countless hours put in by the team and coaches towards rehearsal and by the parents towards working on sets, costumes, makeup and backstage logistics.

© 2015 by The York Daily Record/Sunday News. From left, Tyler Smith, 17 of York; Brandon Smith, 15 of York; and Wes Marshall, 14 of Enola, climb up their spar poles as Austin Clarke, 15 of Cumberland County, far right, rappels down after reaching the top of his pole during New Birth of Freedom Boy Scout Council’s eighth Wizard Safari on Saturday, Oct. 24, 2015, at Wizard Ranch in Hellam Township. The 300-acre ranch was donated to the council, which covers six counties including York, by local businessman and Haines Shoe Company founder Mahlon Haines in 1960. The safari, held approximately every four years, is a council-wide jamboree with activities ranging from live music to high ropes courses. Organizers estimated total attendance would be 3,000, with 1,100 Scouts.

© 2015 by The York Daily Record/Sunday News. From left, Northeastern’s Adam Kipp, Kody Reeser and Fernando Flores attempt to block a pass by Northern Lebanon’s Isaac Wengert in a District 3 Class AAA playoff football game Friday, Nov. 13, 2015, at Northeastern. Northeastern defeated Northern Lebanon, 48-12, to advance to the next round.

© 2015 by The York Daily Record/Sunday News. Dallastown cheerleaders, including Jeordyn Cassidy, bottom center, work on their hair and makeup before the YAIAA Cheerleading Championships on Saturday, Dec. 5, 2015, at Dallastown. Dallastown won first place in the large squad division, Spring Grove defeated five other teams to win first place in the small squad division and Red Lion took first place in the co-ed squad division.

© 2015 by The York Daily Record/Sunday News. Dallastown’s Darin Wise, front, and Dover’s Brandon Rodriguez wrestle in a 113-pound match in a YAIAA wrestling dual meet Wednesday, Dec. 9, 2015, at Dover. Rodriguez pinned Wise.

© 2015 by The York Daily Record/Sunday News. River Aiken, 3 of York, watches the children’s balloon drop from his father John’s arms at Central Market Thursday, Dec. 31, 2015, during York City’s New Year’s Eve festivities. A children’s New Year’s Eve party was held in Central Market, with an 8 p.m. balloon drop preceding the city’s White Rose midnight drop in Continental Square.

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Election 2012: York County, Pa.-style

Posted in Journalism, Pennsylvania, Photography, Photojournalism, Politics, The York Daily Record/Sunday News, York on November 7, 2012| Leave a Comment »

Yesterday’s election was the first presidential election I’ve covered as a photographer: In 2008, I wasn’t even halfway through my political reporting stint in the Missouri statehouse. But I’ve covered elections in York County before — in fact, I think my second day on the job at The Daily Record was a primary election night — and yesterday, I went all over the place.

© 2012 by The York Daily Record/Sunday News. D.L. “Lucky” Wright departs his polling place at Princess Street Center in York after voting in the general election on Tuesday, Nov. 6, 2012.

One thing to note about covering elections in Pennsylvania: Photographers are not allowed to make pictures inside polling places. I’m not sure how a photographer could intimidate or influence a voter in a way that the political candidates and volunteers right outside polling places can’t, but I’m pretty sure that we’re missing out on a lot of neat pictures inside those doors.

© 2012 by The York Daily Record/Sunday News. Stephen Kline holds the door open for Tricia Dashnaw as they enter Dover Fire and Hose Company to vote in the general election on Tuesday, Nov. 6, 2012.

I was assigned to start working at noon, so I missed out on the early-morning lines and crowds… but I did catch a line further north in the county in the evening.

© 2012 by The York Daily Record/Sunday News. Jim Spontak, Nicole Hudson and her daughter Jenee, 4, Rick Shaffer and Kim Frischkorn wait in line to vote in the general election at the Newberry Township Municipal Building on Tuesday, Nov. 6, 2012. They said they had been waiting in line for 15 minutes already, and poll workers estimated it would be a 45-minute wait.

And, finally, a friend has for several months waited for me to share my favorite election day photo. Here it is, David:

© 2012 by The York Daily Record/Sunday News. Jenn Klimchock holds the door of Zion Lutheran Church open for her husband Tim, daughter Emma, 8, and son Jack, 4, after voting for the general election in Manchester Township on Tuesday, Nov. 6, 2012.

Photographing Mario on election day? If you’re not covering the actual presidential campaigns, working on election day doesn’t get much better than a kid still wearing his Halloween costume.

Be sure to check out all the photos we YDR photographers produced yesterday in this slideshow.

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Election Day 2011

Posted in Journalism, Pennsylvania, Photography, Photojournalism, Politics, The York Daily Record/Sunday News, York on November 8, 2011| Leave a Comment »

It’s Election Day Night! Godspeed to all my coworkers who are reporting, photographing, videoing and editing… and partying hard on Election Night food.

© 2011 by The York Daily Record/Sunday News. York City Council candidate Manuel Gomez answers a question about how qualified female- and minority-led contractors can be given a fair chance for city projects at a forum hosted on Thursday, Oct. 13, 2011, at the Community Progress Council building.

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State of the City: Outtakes

Posted in Journalism, Pennsylvania, Photography, Photojournalism, Politics, The York Dispatch, York on April 13, 2011| Leave a Comment »

Last night was York City mayor Kim Bracey’s first State of the City address. In my pursuit of two other people’s names, I decided to leave the auditorium and venture backstage despite my not knowing my way around. In doing so, I happened to find the mayor waiting offstage.

© 2011 by The York Dispatch. York City mayor Kim Bracey waits offstage as York City Schools superintendent Dr. Eric Holmes introduces her prior to her State of the City address at William Penn Senior High School on Tuesday, April 12, 2011.

I tried making other pictures of the mayor before she took the stage, but it was simply too dark. I tried one photo with a flash, but put it away because using the flash would have been too jarring an effect and ineffective in showing her jitters. (“Is she nervous because she’s about to give a speech or because I’m making pictures of her?”)

Anyway, more photos from last night —

Keys:

© 2011 by The York Dispatch. Keys to the city lie on a shelf in the William Penn Senior High School library on Tuesday, April 12, 2011, before they were presented to 10 recipients of York Awards at a reception prior to mayor Kim Bracey's State of the City address.

The arts:

© 2011 by The York Dispatch. Performing as the eponymous character of Andrew Lloyd Webber's "The Phantom of the Opera," Central York senior Danté Strange sings "Music of the Night" as William Penn senior Maria Houck performs as Christine Daaé, before York City officials and mayor Kim Bracey took the stage for her first State of the City address at William Penn Senior High School on Tuesday, April 12, 2011.

And an iPad oopsie:

© 2011 by The York Dispatch. York City mayor Kim Bracey bites her lips as she scrolls through her iPad after losing her place while giving her first State of the City address on Tuesday, April 12, 2011, at William Penn Senior High School. Bracey said earlier that she often uses her personal iPad to give speeches*, and that she always has her speech on a piece of paper as backup.

* This is what Bracey told me while we were offstage, before she gave her speech. When, 10 or so minutes into her speech, she paused for 30 seconds, I could tell from her arm motion that she was scrolling through her speech.

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Happy Election Day!

Posted in Journalism, Photography, Photojournalism, Politics on November 2, 2010| Leave a Comment »

It’s strange, reviewing my photos of the 2008 presidential campaigns. For example, two years and three months ago, I didn’t know who Sarah Palin was.

Alaska governor Sarah Palin greets a crowd of 20,000 supporters at a rally at the Missouri State Capitol Building on Nov. 3, 2008 -- the day before the election.

“Had you ever heard of this Sarah Palin, before he picked her?” I asked my roommate after John McCain announced his running mate in late August. (Having not heard her name before, I pronounced it “paw-lin” until my roommate corrected me.)

Weird, huh?

Looking back at my photos of the presidential campaigns of 2008 has made me realize just how much has changed since then. I didn’t start naming my files and embedding caption information effectively until the fall. Also, it goes without saying that the political landscape and the characters who populate it are now jarringly different.

For example — remember John Edwards before his affair made tabloid headlines?

Sen. John Edwards, D-N.C., campaigns at the Carpenters Union building in St. Louis on Jan. 19, 2008. In his speech, Edwards called opponents Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama "celebrity candidates."

Or how about John McCain’s campaign, pre-Palin?

As Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., waits to give his speech, Cindy McCain describes how her husband welcomed a young Bangladeshi girl she brought home to Arizona for adoption. Cindy McCain called John "a good father" before John took the stage in the JetDirect hangar of the Spirit of St. Louis Airport on Feb. 1, 2008.

Because Missouri was a swing state, four presidential candidates — Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton, Mitt Romney and McCain — made appearances in St. Louis in the weekend prior to Super Tuesday. Those hectic three days, as well as Edwards’s and Clinton’s rallies in January and Obama’s and Palin’s in the days before the election, helped make 2008 a tremendously exciting year for me as a student photojournalist.

Former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney fields questions from the press during a campaign event at Dave & Buster's in Maryland Heights, Mo., on Feb. 3, 2008.

(more…)

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The statehouse newspaper reporter is an endangered species

Posted in Capstone, Jeff City/The Missourian, Journalism, Missouri, Mizzou, Photography, Photojournalism, Politics on May 13, 2010| 1 Comment »

I’m pleased to present my final capstone project — my last project as an undergraduate here at the University of Missouri.

In the House of Representatives press gallery.

You can view my video/photo project in one of two places:

My website

or

My Vimeo page

What exactly is this project, anyway?

As I’ve hinted previously in this blog, the scene is the Missouri state capitol building, and the characters are various statehouse newspaper reporters. As for the story — well, let’s just say that as the economy takes its toll and the journalism industry continues to shrink, state capitol bureaus are suffering.

Last spring, The American Journalism Review published a survey whose results showed a more than 30 percent decrease in the number of newspaper reporters covering state capitols full-time over a period of six years. This survey was released while I myself was reporting in Jefferson City, the capital city of Missouri, so it seized my attention and I kept reading similar reports (such as this March 2009 article in The New Republic). A month ago, as I was searching for a story idea for my capstone project, I remembered the survey and reports — and contacted a few reporters and asked if I could follow and interview them.

I’d like to thank Chad Livengood of The Springfield News-Leader, Virginia Young and Tony Messenger of The St. Louis Post-Dispatch, Jason Noble of The Kansas City Star and Phill Brooks of Missouri Digital News for their immense help with this project.

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Introducing your friendly Missouri statehouse press corps

Posted in Jeff City/The Missourian, Journalism, Missouri, Mizzou, Photography, Photojournalism, Politics on May 8, 2010| 1 Comment »

Scene:

The Missouri State Capitol building in Jefferson City.

Here’s a (kinda) sneak peek at my final capstone project. It’s my last undertaking in the Missouri School of Journalism since, in exactly one week,  I’ll be graduating and hightailing it to the Poynter Institute as one of its 2010 College Fellows. So — what exactly am I doing for my project?

Well… I won’t disclose everything right now. But here’s the cast of characters.

Chad Livengood, a Springfield News-Leader reporter who is currently reporting on his third legislative session in Jefferson City.

Virginia Young, who directs the Jefferson City bureau for the St. Louis Post-Dispatch and who's been reporting there for 20ish years.

Phill Brooks, director of Missouri Digital News...

(more…)

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XII: Filling out the 2010 Census

Posted in Capstone, Photography, Politics on March 16, 2010| 6 Comments »

Required by law!

For all the marketing and buzz that the 2010 Census has generated, it was one of the most boring forms I’ve ever filled out. One question (Question 10 on the first page) didn’t even make sense to my roommate and me, since we’re currently living in “college housing” but don’t live here all the time.

Fortunately, through Twitter, I found the answer as to what students at college should do. Thanks, Pew Research!

You're welcome.

So yeah. For all the hype, commercials and privacy concerns that have surrounded the Census this year, it was one of the most painless, boring forms that I’ve ever taken five minutes to complete.

I’m almost disappointed.

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Strange enounters of a third time: Meeting Mary Beth Tinker

Posted in Mizzou, Politics, Washington, D.C. on August 31, 2009| Leave a Comment »

90ish days of summer

During coffee with Claire on June 25, Sen. McCaskill first welcomed everyone in the crowded conference room and then opened the floor for a few questions.

A woman named Hope Tinker introduced herself and asked a question.

I think Jeff’s ears must have pricked up, because later he said to me, “I wonder if Mary Beth is here!”

Jeff and Mary Beth Tinker are basically best friends.

Jeff and Mary Beth Tinker, in Sen. McCaskills office. Jeff usually looks this awkward in real life.

Jeff and Mary Beth Tinker, chattin' it up in Sen. McCaskill's office. Jeff usually looks this awkward in real life.

That’s right, the Mary Beth Tinker of Tinker vs. Des Moines Independent Community School District. The Mary Beth Tinker who wore a black armband to school in protest of the Vietnam War, was suspended from school, sued the district in defense of her First Amendment rights and won the case in the U.S. Supreme Court.

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Coffee with U.S. Sen. Claire McCaskill

Posted in Introspection, Jeff City/The Missourian, Journalism, Missouri, Mizzou, Photography, Photojournalism, Politics, Washington, D.C. on August 30, 2009| Leave a Comment »

90ish days of summer

On June 25, 2009, Jeff and I had coffee with Claire.

L-R: me, Sen. McCaskill and Jeff. This photo was taken by an official Senate photographer and e-mailed to me from Sen. McCaskills office.

L-R: me, Sen. McCaskill and Jeff. This photo was taken by an official Senate photographer and e-mailed to me from Sen. McCaskill's office. Jeff does not look this awkward in real life... generally.

U.S. Sen. Claire McCaskill, D-Mo., has 9 a.m. coffee with constituents every Thursday while the Senate is in session. Upon learning of this weekly meeting via Twitter and finding out that I would generally have Thursdays off during my internship at washingtonpost.com, I knew that Jeff and I had to visit with Sen. McCaskill at some point.

So we did.

Some slight exaggeration may be involved here, but I partially credit Sen. McCaskill for embroiling me into Missouri politics and, what the heck, political reporting in general.

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SENIOR YEAR EXCITEMENT: Staff photography and economics reporting

Posted in Economics, Investigative Reporting, Jeff City/The Missourian, Journalism, Missouri, Mizzou, Photography, Photojournalism, Politics on August 23, 2009| Leave a Comment »

Classes and my senior year of college don’t begin until tomorrow morning, but I’m excited for this semester nonetheless. Today, I had two meetings that have determined how busy this semester will be — and it will be very busy.

The first meeting was the staff photo meeting at The Columbia Missourian, a morning city newspaper affiliated with the MU School of Journalism and staffed completely (except for certain editorial positions) by students. I’ve been a reporter for The Missourian for a year, during which I reported on now-attorney general Chris Koster’s general election campaign, the state budget and other such state political and economic news.

Now, I’m one of several staff photographers. I’m looking forward to this, mostly because I haven’t been on the field and behind a camera since freshman year, when I shot for The Maneater student newspaper. (In sophomore year, I was the Maneater photo editor, and last year I was doing political reporting for The Missourian.) I’ve talked to a few now-alumni who were also staff photographers at The Missourian. Among other things, they urged me to be enterprising and proactive in what I shoot.

“Take advantage of that press badge, and work your stories,” one told me (I’m paraphrasing — that conversation was several weeks ago). “Think of one story you want to follow all semester, and work toward that. It’s good exercise for you, good for The Missourian and good for your resume and portfolio.”

Which is exactly what the Missourian‘s new director of photography, Josh, said.

During the staff meeting, Josh reiterated the importance of being proactive, even if it means getting just a standalone photo published. He repeated his desire/the need to make The Missourian more visual.

“We die if we don’t have ideas,” he said. “The balloon deflates, and the reporters take over.”

Fortunately for me, I’ve already got a leg up on being proactive. Last semester, my Jefferson City editor Phill Brooks gave me a long-term article I never completed or even began: an in-depth look at rural poverty.

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Hello, starshine! It’s been a while

Posted in Internships/Careers, Journalism, Photography, Photojournalism, Politics, Washington, D.C., washingtonpost.com on June 4, 2009| Leave a Comment »

90ish days of summer

Just a big ol’ dish of D.C. potpourri:

TODAY is my first sick day this summer. I’m not sure where I caught this minor bug, but I have a slight fever, my eyes hurt, my nose is runny, the back of my throat is tickly and I feel generally fatigued.

I think part of it has to do with the nature of my internship at washingtonpost.com: I spend almost entirely eight hours on the computer every day I’m in the office. Now, I am accustomed to spending inordinate numbers of hours on my laptop every day, but not eight hours at a time and day after day. So even though my monitor’s backlight is dimmed as I type this post, my eyes hurt just looking at it.

TODAY is also roughly the 20th anniversary of the crackdown in Tienanmen Square. I say “roughly” because the crackdown began on the evening of June 3 and ended sometime on June 5.

So much has already been said about how the Chinese government has deleted the crackdown out of its history books and shut down foreign news Web sites and other sites such as Flickr and Twitter, so I won’t add redundant noise to that conversation. Suffice it to say that of course, as a journalist in the Western hemisphere and a fan of the First Amendment, I think it’s despicable that the flow of information and the people’s inherent right to protest and free press are being disrupted and restricted.

Some interesting links relating to Tienanmen Square:

TOMORROW, I will be at the office at 8:30 a.m. to do a special gallery, but I’ll be getting out early. Some other interns — from the Post and other news outlets — and I will be going to the Sculpture Garden for wine and jazz during tomorrow’s happy hour!

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The end of an era

Posted in Jeff City/The Missourian, Photography, Photojournalism, Politics on May 15, 2009| Leave a Comment »

Today, I definitely felt like a member of the Capitol press corps because today was the first time I spent a long period of time in the state House press gallery.

I also took photos to mark the closing day of the legislative session. Here are a few of them:

On closing day of the 95th General Assemblys first regular legislative session, Rep. Maria Chappelle-Nadal easily had the tallest stack of paper on her desk.

On closing day of the 95th General Assembly's first regular legislative session, Rep. Maria Chappelle-Nadal easily had the tallest stack of paper on her desk.

Minority Floor Leader Paul LeVota and Majority Floor Leader Steven Tilley share a fun moment in the rear of the House chamber.

Minority Floor Leader Paul LeVota and Majority Floor Leader Steven Tilley share a fun moment in the rear of the House chamber.

At the close of session, state representatives threw their papers into the air (a tradition).

At the close of session, state representatives threw their papers into the air (a tradition).

A family walks around the statehouse rotunda after the legislative session adjourned.

A family walks around the statehouse rotunda after the legislative session adjourned.

Members of the press set up equipment for Gov. Jay Nixons press conference.

Members of the press set up equipment for Gov. Jay Nixon's press conference.

A few more photos can be viewed at my Flickr page.

And with that, I close the door on this part of my life. Next semester, I’ll be back a few times, but certainly not on a regular basis or for day-to-day reporting — and anyway, there’s no session in the fall.

Tomorrow, I begin a new chapter of my life: I am going to Washington, D.C.!

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Another turning point, a fork stuck in the road

Posted in Introspection, Jeff City/The Missourian, Journalism, Politics on May 15, 2009| Leave a Comment »

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. — As I’ve previously noted, today is my last day as a day-to-day (or, two-day-a-week) political reporter for The Columbia Missourian.

It is also the closing day of Missouri’s 95th General Assembly’s first regular session.

Needless to say, this session and reporting on it have been quite a ride.

My editor Phill Brooks has been reporting in this statehouse for about four decades, and he’s said several times that he has never seen a legislative session quite like this one.

Every statewide elected official is a Democrat, the exception being Republican Lt. Gov. Peter Kinder, and the legislative majority is Republican in both chambers. The session opened with everyone talking about bipartisanship and how that’s what the voters wanted. But promises of working across the aisle seemed to stop there on legislation varying from abortion to AmerenUE to the budget.

Reporting on this session has been one of the biggest challenges I’ve ever taken on. As I wrote back in January, I began covering the legislature with only a very basic understanding of the process and the faces who propel the motions. But I flew back two weeks early from Texas to report on the start of the session, and now I am here for the end of it. It’s been a tremendously difficult, exciting, energizing five months, and I’m glad I did it and glad it’s over.

Lessons I learned, highlights I experienced and low points from which I learned even more:

  • Wear comfortable shoes.

I learned this very quickly during a 14-hour House Budget Committee hearing, at the end of which the committee passed the 13 operating budget bills. When I arrived, it was standing-room-only in the hearing room, so I had to stand in heels and on a bum ankle for about eight hours. I was walking in my stocking feet the rest of the time.

  • I asked my first question at a press conference! …in May.

Uproar ensued after Speaker Pro Tem Bryan Pratt announced on the floor allegations of bribery by Gov. Jay Nixon’s office. Two Republican representatives later identified themselves to the press, saying Nixon’s staff offered career advancements in exchange for votes for the health care bill in question.

The Democratic caucus held a press conference upon adjournment, where reporters questioned them about the health care bill. That’s where I asked the first question I’ve ever asked at a press conference: “What is your response to the Republicans’ claims of bribery by Nixon’s office?”

You can view Minority Floor Leader Paul LeVota’s response at 2:11 in the below video:

  • Don’t be afraid to ask basic questions.

I became pretty comfortable with just going to Budget Director Linda Luebbering’s office and asking her if she could clarify a few budget-related issues for me. The same applies to a few other legislators, and I am very grateful that they didn’t mind explaining the basics to a student reporter.

  • Persistence is key.

It took me about seven weeks to get a certain interview, and another three weeks to get a certain photo. But they both happened, and you’ll get to see the published result on May 27.

Now, it’s 5:30 p.m. and I am still in the House press gallery. The session is to close in 30 minutes, at which time the representatives will throw all their papers in the air. Then it’s on to press conferences, furious article-writing and then — I’ll be done.

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Closing time: gather up your jackets and move it to the exits

Posted in Economics, Jeff City/The Missourian, Journalism, Politics on May 15, 2009| Leave a Comment »

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. — Today is the last day of the first regular session for Missouri’s 95th General Assembly, and my last day of regular legislative reporting for The Columbia Missourian.

Yesterday, the House adjourned abnormally early — just after 4 p.m. — especially since that was the penultimate day of session. As I learned via Twitter updates (courtesy of @ChadLivengood, @Missourinet and a few others), the House is waiting for the Senate to pass House Bill 191, which has been called the “economic development bill” by some and the “jobs bill” by others. Either way you call it, it was filibustered in the Senate last night, as were several other ecodevo/jobs bills that the House has sent to that chamber.

As of 10:44 a.m., the Senate is still third-reading that bill.

No matter what happens, though, the gavel goes down at 6 p.m., and in the House at least, the legislators will throw their papers in the air. I’m excited and hope this closing day will go out with a bang.

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Journalism under (gun)fire

Posted in Jeff City/The Missourian, Journalism, Politics on May 12, 2009| 3 Comments »

My most recent article published in The Columbia Missourian received a pretty heavy-handed comment wherein the author wished a snub-nose revolver be fired. At me.

The comment has since been deleted, but it was in response to my article about the then-latest status of the concealed-carry House bill. The Missouri Senate Judiciary Committee held a public hearing for a bill that would expand the castle doctrine and remove provisions that prohibit concealed carry on college campuses. Five witnesses gave public testimony, all of whom were in favor of the legislation.

One of the witnesses was Isaiah Kellogg, a Ph.D student at the Missouri University of Science and Technology in Rolla, Mo. During his public testimony, Kellogg said he has carried a concealed-carry license since 2005, keeps his gun in his car trunk while he is on campus and wants to be able to carry his gun on campus since he intends to teach at universities after finishing his degree.

After the hearing adjourned after 10 minutes and with no executive session (i.e., vote), I literally jumped out of my chair to catch Kellogg so I could ask him a few more questions.

Near the bottom of my article, I wrote the following about Kellogg:

Isaiah Kellogg, who has spent 10 years at Missouri S&T and intends to teach at a university after earning his degree, said he supports the bill because it would increase campus safety.

“I am going to be in academia for the foreseeable future — that will be my career — so I will be on university campuses for most of my life until I retire,” Kellogg said in his public testimony. “So this is very important to me, to have the ability to protect myself.”

Kellogg has held a concealed-carry license since March 2005 and usually carries a snub-nosed revolver, which he must keep in the trunk of his car when he is on campus. Kellogg said Missouri S&T’s code of conduct does not allow concealed weapons on campus, and if the legislation passes, the university is not obligated to change its code of conduct. But if the bill passes, Kellogg said students can argue for concealed carry with the university board.

“We’ve taken down the legal barrier,” Kellogg said, speaking hypothetically. “Now, we have to take down the code-of-conduct barrier.”

The first comment I received is the comment in question. The author wrote the following:

Kellogg has held a concealed-carry license since March 2005 and usually carries a snub-nosed revolver, which he must keep in the trunk of his car when he is on campus.

I’m sure that Mr.Kellogg appreciates this reporter letting criminals KNOW where to get a free gun whenever he is on campus. Let’s just hope that the first person that has to face this weapon is the “reporter” that so willingly disclosed this information.

Someone wants me dead.

Great.

I understand the author’s point, but I absolutely don’t think it’s reason to want me to face a lethal weapon. And even if the comment wasn’t meant to be taken completely seriously, it’s still out of line to wish death upon someone. My editors agreed, and so — after I alerted them to the comment — the comment was removed.

My immediate editor, Phill, called me after he read my e-mail and said he requested the removal of the comment for two main reasons.

  1. The comment was directed at a student who is preparing herself for a career in which, unfortunately, many professionals are constantly under fire and in danger of harm or death.
  2. The Missourian should not have allowed such a comment advocating the injury or death of one of its reporters to be published on its own Web site.

I can’t really argue against either, but I’m also biased.

On a tangential but related note: Normally, I despise prior review/censorship of content in journalistic publications, regardless of whether that content is an article or reader-submitted. But also normally, I think readers should submit only content that they don’t mind their grandmothers reading.

So, do I agree with Phill’s second point? Again — I’m biased. But I’m not sure that a system wherein a Missourian editor filters all the incoming comments before allowing them to be posted is the best solution, either.

  • ADDENDUM

It’s perhaps worth noting that the article published by Columbia’s other daily paper, The Columbia Daily Tribune, led with the fact that Kellogg keeps his gun in his car trunk while on campus:

JEFFERSON CITY — Isaiah Kellogg, 27, carries a snub-nosed revolver for personal protection, but when he goes onto the campus of the Missouri University of Science and Technology in Rolla, he stores it in a safe bolted to the frame of his car.

Kellogg, a doctoral student in mechanical and ceramic engineering, would prefer to carry the gun on campus, too, for his own safety. Last night, he testified before the Senate Judiciary Committee in favor of a legislative provision that would allow the carrying of concealed weapons at higher education institutions.

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90ish days of summer in T-minus 4ish days

Posted in Internships/Careers, Jeff City/The Missourian, Journalism, Mizzou, Photojournalism, Politics, Washington, D.C., washingtonpost.com on May 11, 2009| Leave a Comment »

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. — On Saturday noon, I will be in Washington, D.C., with ten days to spare before my internship at washingtonpost.com begins.

This means I have four-ish days to write two articles, do an audio slideshow, complete the final group project for Advanced Techniques in Photojournalism, take my sociology final exam and pack up everything in my room/kitchen. In addition, I’ve scheduled coffee and meetings with about four or five different people throughout the week.

But in five days, I’ll be in Washington, D.C., where I’ll begin 92-96 days of summer (depending on my end date). Hence, “90ish days of summer” will be the running title/motif.

I haven’t had time yet to determine specific goals for this summer. Right now, I’m waiting for the Missouri Senate to adjourn so I can report on a 6 p.m. Senate committee hearing. But that doesn’t mean I haven’t started thinking and daydreaming about Washington.

Things to look forward to on this blog in the next few days:

  • Reflection on the 95th Missouri General Assembly’s first regular session
  • Reflection on reporting on abovementioned legislative session
  • Goals for the summer

In the meantime, I’m going to do my best to keep my head above water in this final week in Missouri.

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Fear and loathing in Jefferson City

Posted in Jeff City/The Missourian, Journalism, Photography, Politics on April 22, 2009| 1 Comment »

Today was such a strange day in the Jefferson City statehouse. I can’t/won’t go into too many details because of several ongoing developments, but suffice it to say…

  • Least productive Wednesday since the beginning of session? That could be a fair assessment. Today, the House, Senate and (the self-titled) “Kinder Mafia” played softball, so everything adjourned abnormally early. I suspect this is why the big bills (stimulus?!) weren’t brought up — because what’s the point of starting the floor debate if everyone’s going to engage in healthy athleticism in the early evening?
  • I really hope Monday is the last day I need to haul my camera bag to the Capitol building/would finally get to take the photos I need. I’d like to think I’m tough, but carrying a camera bag, thick leather portfolio, big handbag full of budget books and my laptop can be a bit much for me to handle all at once, especially when I’m in heels.
  • Today’s lesson for some of the bureau reporters: If you’re going to stake out the hearing room where the majority caucus is having a closed-door meeting, make sure you cover all the doors. Two teams of two reporters each waited outside the two main/public doors to Hearing Room 3. The legislators made it out into the halls without the reporters’ catching them. Nobody knew how this happened until I pointed out the back door designated for legislators and legislative staff only.

But hell, if the sunset wasn’t pretty as Abby and I left the Capitol building today!

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Where the line between journalism and PR is blurred

Posted in Jeff City/The Missourian, Journalism, Politics on April 16, 2009| 5 Comments »

Yesterday, the Mizzou College Republicans hosted the Central Missouri Tax Day Tea Party in Jefferson City.

Yes, it was a tea party event — one of many in the national movement spurred by Rick Santelli’s call to action in February. Local legislators and several attendees spoke at the podium on the south steps of the state Capitol building. All but one were Republicans or like-minded as such.

I somewhat reluctantly covered the event for The Columbia Missourian.

“Reluctantly”?

That’s correct.

I’d heard about the event a few days ago and knew I would have to check it out and probably write up an article about it. But until I heard my editor Phill ranting and raving about the event and then found out The Missourian did want a story, I wasn’t very serious about covering the tea party.

Let me make this clear from the start: My reluctance had nothing to do with any of my personal political affiliations or fiscal beliefs, both of which I always do my absolute best to distance from the quality and breadth of my reporting. (Side note: as a political reporter, I make a point of not revealing either my political affiliations or fiscal beliefs in public forums.)

Rather, my reluctance was due to the nature of the event. Whether Republican or Democrat in nature, politically-oriented rallies hold very little journalistic attraction for me. Providing coverage to such rallies seems almost like providing free PR and media attention to politically like-minded people who happen to be exercising their First Amendment right to free speech in a public area.

Or, as Rep. Chris Kelly, D-Columbia, put it:

It doesn’t have any meaning. The whole reason they did it was so you and I would have this conversation. And you are buying into that by having the conversation. So it’s a clear media manipulation. You have been successfully manipulated.

Again — I cannot emphasize enough that I would agree without Rep. Kelly about political rallies organized by either Republicans or Democrats. My reluctance truly goes either way.

It’s a strange line to try and tread, that line between journalism and PR. I feel the same reluctance when I discuss certain bills or other kinds of legislation. One of the best ways for me to resolve any natural slant for the political party whose views are being strongly promulgated via a rally or legislation is to include comment from the opposing party. But it can be difficult to prevent the article from becoming simply a political crossfire.

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