When I looked at the faces and read the bios of the people who were killed in the senseless attack on the Capital Gazette in Annapolis, Md., I could have been looking at friends and colleagues from my more than 30 years in the newspaper business.
Each one of the five victims of the fiendishly plotted massacre was someone I could have worked for or with, bounced a story idea off of or laughed with during a newsroom doughnut or pizza break.
They weren’t big-time media superstars with national reputations, railing on TV about national and international issues; they were people who still believe local news is so important and relevant to a vibrant, self-aware community.
Their news was not all President Trump and the Democrats, Capitol Hill hearings, Supreme Court appointments or immigration at the border. Their news was city hall and the county courthouse, local movers and shakers, school boards, crime and courts, local business, arts and entertainment, high school and youth sports. Their news was anything of interest to the community — and most often a lot further from Washington, D.C., in practice than in actual geography.
They weren’t doing what they were doing to get rich or because they liked the hours and workload. Despite smaller budgets and resources — and perhaps being taken somewhat for granted more and more in today’s distracted, multimedia times — they still believed in the importance of an active, engaged local newspaper to a community.
Investigators were still trying to discern how or why the alleged killer, Jarrod Ramos, who had a longstanding grudge against the Capital Gazette, was moved to make his deadly attack on Thursday. Authorities say he sued the paper in 2012 after it ran an article about him pleading guilty to harassing a woman. He also sent a barrage of menacing tweets that led to an investigation five years ago, although the newspaper did not press the issue.
Ramos’ threats apparently subsided and he was not heard from again for more than two years — until Thursday.
Cable news talking heads were quick to engage in the speculative gymnastics that perhaps President Donald Trump’s rhetoric against the national media in general could have somehow prodded Ramos into heinous action — although the man’s anger toward the paper was well fomented long before the cry of “Fake News!”
Whatever the ultimate reason for one of the deadliest attacks on journalists in U.S. history, it’s an irrationally dangerous turn that sends a chill into any newsroom.
Concerns about Trump’s rhetoric against the media aside, part of community journalism is reporting on the bad acts of its members, including criminal behavior. Contrary to what some might believe, reporters and editors of community newspapers don’t delight in printing stories about crime or misfortune — but they see it as their duty to inform the public on happenings of the day, both good and bad.
Along with the gratification that can come with seeing one’s name in a positive story, there can be resentment and anger when one’s name appears in print for having committed some sort of crime or in some other way betrayed the public’s trust. The Era receives its share of phone calls or emails from people who are angry their names have appeared in print, although real or even hinted threats are rare.
But Thursday’s horror shows how an angry email or tweet can turn into murderous intent, just as happens in any country where journalists are targeted and killed every day.
Nevertheless, in small and big newsrooms, we’ll do our jobs — for many of us the only job we’ve ever wanted.
Maybe there’s a new concern about safety, and what could happen if a psychopath out there picks up a gun as a perceived outlet to his problems, that wasn’t quite there a few days ago. But we’ll be at our desks — and out at city hall, the courthouse and anywhere else there’s news being made — to bring it to you.
(Jim Eckstrom is executive editor of the Olean Times Herald and Bradford Publishing Co. His email is jeckstrom@oleantimesherald.com.)
