Pep Talk: "Quickly Indignant At Injustice"

“The best nightclub in four years at Mizzou?” was the questioned pondered by the recipient. Finally, in a manner typical of an adventurous spirit, the 22-year-old responded: “My house when a film production company took it over and invited 500 people to party. What a night.”

What a weekend.

Your scribe was blessed, along with darling wife, to join the Lazo family in celebrating daughter, sister and granddaughter Hannah’s graduation from the University of Missouri School of Journalism. The inquisitive and bold Denver native knows this aging jock, also a Mizzou School of Journalism grad, as “Uncle Mac.” Why? Her dear parents have become cherished friends. I’ve known the beautiful brunette since she was knee high to a grasshopper.

Hannah Abigail Lazo, “Hannah Banana” for those scoring at home, is entering a profession, my opinion, desperately needed at this time in our nation’s history. Thanks to social media and other platforms, everybody’s a journalist these days. We need an army of folks trained to be objective with an ability to communicate to the masses in a clear, compelling and concise manner. To separate fact from fiction.

In a weekend of celebrating Hannah and taking a big trip down memory lane from my own experiences in earning a master’s degree three decades ago, many thoughts resonate. None more than a random, late night, stroll in downtown Columbia, Missouri past a plaque dedicated to the first dean of the nation’s first school of journalism, Walt Williams. It’s known at the “Journalist’s Creed.”

More than a century later, Williams’ declaration rings loudly, for journalism and life. Here it is, in the Missouri native’s words and edited a tad for length:

• The public journal is a public trust; all connected with it are, to the full measure of their responsibility, trustees for the public; acceptance of a lesser service than the public service is betrayal of this trust.
• Clear thinking and clear statement, accuracy and fairness are fundamental to good journalism.
• A journalist should write only what is held in heart to be true.
• Suppression of news, for any consideration other than the welfare of society, is indefensible.
• No one should write as a journalist what they would not say as a respected individual.
• Journalism which succeeds best — and best deserves success — fears God and honors Man; is stoutly independent, unmoved by pride of opinion or greed of power, constructive, tolerant but never careless, self-controlled, patient, always respectful of its readers but always unafraid and is quickly indignant at injustice.

Recently I was in attendance as a well-respected Denver sports and community leader railed on today’s youth and their apparent lack of caring. I disagree. Darling wife and I just spent a weekend around young folks like Hannah and fellow journalism graduates who give a great deal about the future of our country.

Good for her, good for them and good for us. I hope they, and we, can live the Williams’ journalist creed crafted long ago but so important today. Let’s start with the last decree and be quickly indignant at injustice. 

We all will be better for the effort!