Standing in Solidarity with the Journalism Community

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No one ever said being a communications professional is easy.

We deal with difficult people, fast-approaching deadlines, crashing computer programs, and much more. However, one thing we don’t consider to be a worry or fear on a daily basis is risking our lives for our job.

It has been two days since reporter Alison Parker and cameraman Adam Ward were brutally gunned down while filming a segment for their news station, WBDJ7, and regardless of what area of communications you study or work in, there is a deep sense of grief felt throughout our community.

It’s hard to imagine that working in our field puts us at risk of horrific events, but in today’s world, it is a harsh reality we need to face.

Journalists and reporters cover events in war-torn countries, dangerous communities, and crime scenes. Even though they are taught to stay out of the action, it is possible that their lives could be in danger on a daily basis.

As PR professionals, we often get frustrated with reporters and journalists who don’t follow up after we send them a press release or media alert.

However, it is important that as a profession, we take time to thank journalists for putting their lives on the line to inform the world about topics and events that we are too limited to witness ourselves. We need to realize that like us, journalists are busy, and oftentimes, it isn’t personal when we don’t get press coverage.

We also need to remember the great journalists we form professional friendships with while working in media relations, and consider ourselves lucky to have them on our side.

Our PR community is grieving alongside the journalism community, and we thank you for the risks you take to bring news to the millions of people worldwide.