Why is it so inspirational when someone displays courage? When someone stands up for what is right and true in the face of adversity – even threats – why is it that we flock to that person acknowledging them as an inspiration to do the same?
Then why do we shelve the opportunity when the opportunity actually does come our way?
Jerry “Boo” Mitchell is from Texarkana, not New York City. He works for the Clarion Ledger, not the New York Times. You may even have to Google that to find out where that even is – I did. But Mr.Mitchell here was a Pulitzer finalist and recently received a “genius grant” from the MacArthur Foundation. Oh, and he was portrayed in a movie.
He stood up for what’s right and what’s true in the face of adversity. He has been directly involved in putting a number of former-KKK members behind bars. We’re talking, life in prison stuff, not petty crimes. Murder, beatings, torchings.
Boo Mitchell put together the pieces of the stories, telling the truth accurately and honestly.
Journalism can be a powerful thing: it can be taken very seriously… or laughed at. It can make a difference. Or it can just disappear into the morgue.
See, the interesting part about it is: everyone has to write/photograph things that they care nothing about. Of course, it happens all the time. I’ve talked about it before even – having to put through the time to get to the good stuff… but if you wouldn’t even read the article, why would anyone else?
If the photo isn’t interesting, and you know its not interesting, why should I or anyone else give it more than a split second glance.
They don’t have to be salacious, they just have to be real.
Men like Jerry Mitchell are inspiring. They’re inspiring because they are what we, as journalist/photojournalist, want to be when we “grow up”… We want to grow up to write articles than mean something, photographs that make a difference. But, just because you have to start small or go to a small school or work for a small paper doesn’t mean you can’t make a difference.
You have to start somewhere. Filling a paper with “filler” because you have to put out an issue tomorrow is doing a disservice to everyone – you, the writer/photographer and to the reader. They know no truth. Or… truth that just isn’t newsworthy.
So, when you see something that doesn’t add up, check it out! Follow that hunch, make that extra call. Boo Mitchell assisted in bringing evil men to justice by just not taking things just as they were – at face value. He stepped out and investigated and wrote the truth.
Now what about you?
Stay tuned,
-Noah D.
