Kelly Lambers | kl807917@ohio.edu
Peter Copeland is a long time friend of the E.W. Scripps School of Journalism. He is a journalist and author, now having published his fifth book. Peter has worked in the industry for over 40 years. Jack Hamilton sat with Peter as the presentation began.
“Peter’s story is a little different,” Jack Hamilton hinted at the beginning of this. Peter started his career in the newspaper because of his interest in politics. He was sent to a boot camp in Chicago where he learned more about routine stories like crimes, fires and press conferences.
The first story Peter told was of his first experience as a newly-trained journalist. One thing Peter was told by a mentor was, “If you see something, say something.” As he was walking the Chicago streets, he saw smoke in a far off building. He then found a payphone to tell about the fire he saw and ran towards the scene; There was an apartment building in flames. He didn’t know much information about it, but he called his bosses to say something. The story he gave them was written and then published. It was a surreal moment when he heard his story on the radio.
After this experience, he shortly moved to work at the El Paso Herald-Post, where he spent two years. He needed the local experience before he could go move on to the Chicago Tribune.
He spoke about the other side of the border being separated but so important to life in Texas. Whatever happened in Mexico, strongly affected El Paso. They were in the process of opening the Scripps Howard Bureau in Mexico City.
Peter went through obstacles getting to El Salvador, especially with not knowing anyone. When put in a difficult situation that would not get him across the border in time, he had a can do attitude. “Surely there’s something we can do,” Peter told an airport worker.
Peter showed up to a new country alone and lost. He got more comfortable by talking to the cab driver and other reporters. By making that connection he adapted to the lifestyle of the new culture more. Even though journalists for opposing publications are competitive, they stuck together to stay safe as a reporter in the country.
He spoke more about adapting technologies and how social media has shaped the modern age.
He referred to the fire story on his very first day, and said if that happened now, the video would be out before he arrived.
“Looking at the world through a straw… it’s impossible to get the context,” Peter shares about this. As a reporter, newspaper reporters were the backbone of the media. Now that has shifted and media is popularly being received digitally. “Adding more is adding value,” Peter stated.
Peter told the audience, “I don’t care how you feel about the news, I just want the news.” This is true to the heart of journalism. This is something we learn in our classes and one of the main ethical values we uphold as journalists. Peter clearly stated, “It is important to separate fact from opinion”
He talks more about this concern about fact based reporting starting to diminish. He tried to write about the stories behind the stories and what lessons he learned within each of these. “The role of journalists is even more important now.” We have a duty to help people figure out what is accurate and what is not. We are a huge factor in that.
Through all of his highs and lows Peter shared, he gave the audience a better look at what it means to work as a reporter in many different circumstances.
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