We are not the enemy

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We are not the enemy, though I sometimes think reporters are viewed that way.

I think sometimes there are people representing locals boards and committees and organizations who see newspaper reporters as the enemy, the ones seeking out or creating the negative news.

We really aren’t. I know the news may be difficult and tough to swallow sometimes, but it isn’t, in my opinion, the reporters who create that news.

As I reporter, I can’t remember one time when I felt I was out to get someone, to take someone down, to embarrass anyone. That’s not who I am as a person. That’s not who I am as a reporter.

My first responsibility is to the reader, to let them know the good, the bad, the ugly about what’s happening in our county, and how it affects them as taxpayers and residents.

At the BCR, we try to do a lot of feature stories, to tell the positive side of life. I love our stories about people overcoming adversity, like the women who shared with me their sexual abuse stories or the many others in Bureau County who have battled various health issues.

I also enjoy getting into our schools and showcasing the fun and remarkable accomplishments of our students. Life doesn’t get much better than bragging on our kids.

But there are times when the tough things do happen. As reporters, we do have to go to court sometimes to hear arguments that could send someone to prison. We do attend board meetings where lots of taxpayer money are being spent. We do wait for announcements after closed sessions.

Probably the toughest thing for me as a reporter is when I’m talking with someone and I know that person is being evasive, to say the least. I understand and respect privacy rights, but there’s still the right of the public to know when it comes to taxpayer dollars and tax-supported organizations.

Years ago, we faced a tough time as a family, and I remember saying I just wanted to know the truth. We could handle; we could adjust; we could deal with anything that happened; but I needed to know the truth.

That’s what I want to give our BCR readers ...the truth. I want to give them as much truth as legally allowed. Our readers, our taxpayers deserve that from our boards, from each other and from the BCR.

So I look forward to the next meeting, to the next story. There’s more truth out there to be told.

Reporters are not the enemy. We are the messengers.

Donna Barker is the senior staff writer at the Bureau County Republican. She can be reached at dbarker@bcrnews.com.

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