Journalism redefined

For years, I thought journalism was a lost art. I grew up thinking reporters would go through anything to "get the story." Usually, the story is about what a certain celebrity did or a way to ruin someone's life by bringing up their past. Everyone is out for themselves and take the story that pays the most money. I thought the days of reporting a situation for the sake of informing the public was gone.

On Monday, China's Sichuan province had a massive earthquake. According to the press, thousands of people are dead. After siphoning out the usual stories about how many people died and the amount of aide needed to help, I found a piece from National Public Radio's All Things Considered host Melissa Block titled "Couple Frantic to Find Loved Ones in Rubble" There was something different about the piece. I felt the humanity in her voice. I could hear her emotions as she interviewed the family and learned about their situation. I felt like I was there. I could imagine what was happening and I found myself swelling up.

Never have I experienced that before. That is what journalism should be.