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Jim DeButts, editor for the Capital Gazette tweeted "There are no 40-hour weeks, no big paydays, just a passion for telling stories from our community. We keep doing more with less. We find ways to cover high school sports, breaking news, tax hikes, school budgets & local entertainment. We are there in times of tragedy. We do our best to share the stories of people, those who make our community better. Please understand, we do all this to serve our community."
The Capital Gazette lost five quality staff members last Thursday, when a lone gunman opened fire. This tragedy is the result of a long-going grudge against the newspaper, after his defamation lawsuit against them was denied twice. The lawsuit stems from the shooter as he was the person responsible for unnecessary harrassment against his former classmate.
DeButts describes the daily life of news reporters perfectly. It has been less than a year since I first stepped into the busy world of community journalism, but much like him, I have reported on court proceedings, school boards, council meetings, and have been found capturing high school and community events. Some weeks are more hectic than others, but I wouldn't trade those moments for anything. I believe newspapers are, and will forever be, vital sources of information for communities.
What I find most heartbreaking in all of this unfolding, is that while a reporter's job is to cover these types of stories, these people still had family members and friends that are left behind with never ending heartbreak. Why? Because the person responsible for this horrendous crime, couldn't accept that fact that he made a poor judgement in error in his past, and he felt that inflicting pain, on those who were just doing their jobs, was the solution to all of his problems. Guess what Mr. Jarrod Ramos? You were sorely mistaken. Hate solves nothing.