Most people would say reporters are cool-headed and distant minds because they should interpret things objectively, not subjectively. However, I met a reporter who has a warm heart. Does that mean he is a less-gualified reporter? Well, listen to his story, you will not call him "a bad reporter." (His name is Hwang Min-ho, majored in mass communications, worked for Okcheon Newspaper)
For Community, Journalism
Leo Lerner, founder of Chicago's erstwhile Newspaper, used to say, "A fistfight on Clark Street is more important to our readers than a war in Europe."
Hwang Min-ho majored in mass communication. When he was an undergraduate, he worried about his career. He spent a lot of time reading books. One day, he was moved by *Murray Bookchin (Bookchin was the founder of the social ecology movement. Social ecology locates the roots of the ecological crisis firmly in relations of domination between people. The domination of nature is seen as a product of domination within society, but this domination only reaches crisis proportions under capitalism.) And later, he read Community, Journalism is Beautiful written by Jang Ho-soon. Such reading experience made him dream of being a reporter os 'Community, Journalism'
Community, Journalism is locally oriented, professional news coverage that typically focuses on city neighborhoods, individual suburbs or small towns, rather than metropolitan, state, national or world news. If it covers wider topics, Community concentrates on their effect on local readers. Community Newspaper, often but not always published weekly and also tend to cover subjects larger news media do not, such as students on the honor roll at the local high school, school sports, and other details of Community life. They ofter play a vital role in building and maintaining neighborhoods.
After he graduated, he had a chance to make his dream come true thanks to his senior's recommendation. He became a reporter for the Okcheon Newspaper. Okcheon is famous place for community journalism.
"Some people ask me, 'In such a small area, can you find news items every week?' My answer is 'Of course! I really can.' Newspapers need to contain neighbor's real life stories, and there are many stories in our neighborhood."
He lived in Okcheon. He visited villages everywhere, heard a grandmother's sad story, saw a cow being born. Such activities are an important role of journalism, he believes. He thinks that mass media is the key to changing society and to improving quality of life. If there are many stories about our neighbors in a newspaper, people will read it frequently. So reporters can write while keeping in mind the question: 'What can I do for our society, our neighbor?' He said that the way of thinking taught him the role of journalism. Now he is the editor-in-chief in <Okcheon Newspaper>. The time he was there was fruitful for him as a reporter.
Light of Library, Delight of Kids
The school library is one of the few factors whose contribution to academic achievement has been documented empirically, and it is a contribution that cannot be explained away by other powerful influences on student performance. -keith Curry Lance. Ph.D. Library Research Service Colorado Stare Library
When he lived in Cheongsan, he wanted to be friends with the kids there. They had no playground to go to after school, so he decided to make a good library for them. He asked the neighborhood to help the village. Several people collaborated on the project. Parents, teachers, the mayor and others participated.
After this project was completed, every night a light from library in the small school lit the village. The principal permitted the school library to stay open until 9pm. Adults voluntarily helped to teach the kids. Actually, a few of the kids read books at first, the situation changed soon.
Becoming A Father for A Little Orphan boy
I can't forget his earnest eyes. If I leave the boy alone, he will get a deep psychological wound from losing his father. So I did it."
A man died suddenly af age 40. On May, 2006, he went to report at the site of the accident. There was a 12 year old boy crying next to his dead father's body. The boy had his aunt, but she was too old and weak to take care of him, and he didn't want to go to the orphanage. After careful consideration, Hwang decided to adopt the poor boy. He contacted the relatives and the police office. Then, he brought the boy to his home.
At first, as he was of marriageable age, many people worried that bringing up children would hinder his marriage prospects. He didn't care, about their great concern, and said "If l can't get married, then I will live with him. (Laugh) "To take care of him better he took lessons at a related organization.
However he did marry a good woman, and he has children now. The boy calls him "uncle" and is growing up well.
By Kim Rang CP Reporter
diana@cnu.ac.kr