Freedom of the press does not come cheap
There always have been those who will do anything to suppress truth.
Few know that in 1908, the editor of The Tennessean, Edward Ward Carmack, was ambushed, gunned down and killed on Seventh Avenue, just north of Church Street, over a series of editorials published by this newspaper.
Gov. Malcom R. Patterson, a political ally of Carmack’s killer, pardoned him following his conviction.
The June 28 Capital Gazette tragedy reminded us again of the sacredness of our mission, the importance of your work, and the wisdom of our country’s founders who enshrined the freedom of the press as one of our core foundational principles.
But that freedom does not come cheap.
Worldwide, this year alone, 33 journalists have been killed, according to the Committee to Protect Journalists. In 2017, it was 46.
A couple weeks ago I was at the new headquarters of the Associated Press in New York City, where a striking display has been installed in memory of every AP journalist dating to the Civil War who has sacrificed their life in pursuit of truth.
There are dozens of names. But, most striking, were the empty spaces reserved for tragedy yet to come. And sadly we know it will. Yet as devastating as last week’s news is, so too has it been inspiring as the Capital Gazette’s staff immediately went about doing what it does, reporting and informing.
Serving their readers and their advertisers. Serving their community.
“We are putting out a damn paper,” Gazette journalist Chase Cook tweeted, and I’m not sure any journalist was really surprised by that. Because that is what you do. As editor, I know I speak for our entire leadership team today when I express my profound thanks to our staff for what they do every day. We never say that enough. Thank you to our journalists, to the sales professionals whose work underwrites our journalism, and to our team members in circulation, marketing, production, information technology and human resources who make sure that work is distributed and supported.
As we celebrate Independence Day and the freedom we have to publish the truth, let’s remember Gerald Fischman, Rob Hiaasen, John McNamara, Rebecca Smith and Wendi Winters.
Michael A. Anastasi is vice president for news for the USA TODAY NETWORK Tennessee and the USA TODAY NETWORK Florida. He is also vice president and editor of the Tennessean. Email him at manastasi@tennessean.com or tweet to him at @ma_anastasi.