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Tragic news not easy to report
Published Sunday, October 12, 2008
Last week, this newspaper reported awful news, a school bus wreck with multiple injuries — a parent’s worst nightmare.
Despite a common misconception, newspaper reporters hate covering tragic news.
Unfortunately, reporting unpleasant news is part of our jobs.
For approximately 40 students and bus driver James Cockerham, the news was personal.
The bus wreck story was a bit personal for our staff, too.
Mr. Cockerham and his wife, Sue, have special places in the hearts of many employees at The Natchez Democrat. For more than two decades, one of the two has contracted with The Democrat to deliver newspapers to homes throughout the area.
We see them in our office regularly and speak with them in our hallways.
They are good people who always have a smile for those around them.
Maybe that’s why the phone call last week threw me.
Maybe it was too personal.
The caller, a leader of the health care company, shared what he said was his staff’s concern.
Some of his employees were upset, he said, that the newspaper’s report on the wreck didn’t mention that his group treated some of the injured students.
How utterly ridiculous, I thought.
Isn’t it more important to know the children are OK than to know what company deserves the credit for their treatment?
Unfortunately, this wasn’t the first such call.
Obviously, we did not omit the company intentionally, but our reporter apparently didn’t get complete information from the sources he interviewed.
The call served as an important example of how some people are quick to put self-interest ahead of the greater good.
But this caller isn’t alone.
Recently a number of readers rushed to judgment after Natchez Mayor Jake Middleton’s accident in which he severely cut his leg while moving to a new house.
Rather than worrying about the mayor’s health — his son said the injury almost severed a major artery — some people were critical of why the mayor was moving in the first place.
Readers questioned if the mayor was moving into a bigger house.
Who cares why he’s moving? Our mayor could have died after a horrible accident. That’s the important thing here.
Last year, we had two dueling factions seeking to lure a prison to Adams County.
We almost lost one prison, because one group was so focused on getting the other prison.
Perhaps it’s human nature to talk about one another, project the worst onto others and always seek to get credit, even when credit isn’t the issue.
But sometimes out of tragedies such as the bus wreck, some good can occur.
The shock of such a thing can cause us to re-examine our lives and re-evaluate what’s important.
Only then can we keep our eyes on the ball.
If we could collectively keep our eyes focused on that ball, imagine how much better our community would be.
Imagine how much the community could come together on issues like recreation and economic development.
Hopefully, one day soon we’ll come together on projects and not continue to worry about who gets credit.
In the meantime, please pray for the Cockerham family, the driver of the garbage truck involved and all the children and their families.
Kevin Cooper is publisher of The Natchez Democrat. He can be reached at 601-445-3539 or kevin.cooper@natchezdemocrat.com
Comments
Posted by Muggle (anonymous) on October 12, 2008 at 1:16 a.m. (Suggest removal)
THANK YOU KEVIN!
That and more needed to be said about the callous way some people have acted since that horrible bus wreck that could have been so much worse! It could have taken the lives of children! As it was many children were seriously injured and Mr. James was critically injured! Yet ALL of their lives were spared! Thank GOD!!!
I read the comments section under the articles that are posted here and all I can do at times is to shake my head out of shear frustration at how unfeeling and uncaring some people are and at what they dare to post here at times!
Instead of asking how the victims are doing,,,,,They are criticized! Blame seems to be the only thing some people are interested in posting! That and false rumors that only serve to hurt and defame others!
WHY??? What good does it do to anyone involved? The victims all have family members that surely read the Democrat! I can only imagine how I would feel if I were to read some of the things that are said here about a family member that had been the victim of any kind of tragedy like the school bus wreck!
Just once I'd like to see some questions asked like,,,,,"How can I help out?" Or,,,,,"Does the family need anything?"
Think before you type people! The next story that's published in the Democrat or any other newspaper could involve someone that you love!
Posted by hollywood (anonymous) on October 12, 2008 at 9:09 a.m. (Suggest removal)
nicely done kevin
Posted by onesideortheother (anonymous) on October 12, 2008 at 9:48 a.m. (Suggest removal)
thank you kevin so very much. you and your staff do a wonderful job.
this world needs endless kindness.
those that want credit for helping out at the wreck site, GOD knows what you did to help and that is all that matters.
i'm sure some of these people have had someone do something kind for them at some time in their life. so.....consider what you did to help as "PAY IT FORWARD".
Posted by keeper (anonymous) on October 12, 2008 at 12:05 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Kevin and Muggle,
Thank you both so much for being kind and caring people. the only way some of us can know how Mr. James is doing is through this newpaper. As for the mayor of natchez I would think his health care and his home is his choice not the choice of the voters. On the other hand there is alot of people from Vidalia that receive health care in Natchez. They also buy clothes and lots of other things from Natchez. Are they angry at us too.
Posted by bigmama (anonymous) on October 12, 2008 at 9:34 p.m. (Suggest removal)
It would be really nice if we had a newspaper that had no prejudice toward one health care facility. If the exact facts are not known have the good grace to say something like " injured were taken to area hospitals for treatment." That way no one who came in extra or stayed over from the night shift will feel unappreciated by the community. We have several area health care facilities all who do a great job for this community. While these people don't expect or need a pat on the back from the Democrat, it does I am sure hurt to always feel left out by the local paper. This is not the first time such an error has occurred.
Posted by presby (anonymous) on October 12, 2008 at 10 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Looks like the comments are kinda dwindling. Prob since the school bus thing. If you pass a stopped school bus it, 5 points on your driving record,same as a DUI. They will put your under the jail,but the buses can fly down the road way over the speed limit,make all kinds of crazy moves and nobody says anything,what gives??
Posted by kpage1 (anonymous) on October 13, 2008 at 1:52 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Good article Kev-o.
I think it's petered out, pres.
Posted by crawgator (anonymous) on October 14, 2008 at 9:16 a.m. (Suggest removal)
wanna talk about me, wanna talk about I, wanna talk about number 1 oh me oh my!
Good job Kevin........
Posted by veryniceperson (anonymous) on October 14, 2008 at 11:27 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Thanks Kevin and Muggie!
Posted by getitright (anonymous) on October 14, 2008 at 2:16 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Good Job Kevin! Our small community loves to gossip! They love to stir the pot, as some would say. If it's not bad news, it's not new. You are right about one thing, some people like to focus on bad and overlook the good news. Some people do not have a life, and live vicariously through others. Grow up people and be thankful for the good news which comes to us every so often.
God Bless!
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