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This morning, I sat next to my husband and rows of other parents in folding chairs on the basketball court of the school where my two children have spent most of the last six years. Fifth graders' names were called one by one as they graduated from elementary school. I knew them, they’d been in classes with my daughter since kindergarten.
They were little once, with messy untucked uniform shirts, sticky hands and loud voices. They’re self-aware now, with neatly done hair, in dresses, bow ties and practiced smiles.
They were given awards including “biggest heart,” “future CEO” and “best friend.” We took pictures. My 11-year-old rolled her eyes a lot, but when she got home, she put the bright bunch of yellow flowers we gave her into water and disappeared in a trail of giggles with her friends.
Every family deserves this, I thought. Every community. Every child.
I'm not quite sure what to do after the horrific school shooting in Texas. I could interview reporters who covered Columbine, Sandy Hook and Parkland. I could share tips on mental health and covering trauma. I could follow the creeping numbness and pass this off as someone else’s story to cover and absorb and get back to literally anything else.
Instead, I’m going to keep reading the work of the local journalists who will tell us what happened. I felt that familiar shock-then-numbness 11 days ago after the mass shooting that targeted Black residents in Buffalo. What finally helped me break through it was reading the work of journalists at The Buffalo News ([link removed]) . ([link removed])
This is not a pitch to support local news. It’s a pitch to read, watch and listen to the work that’s happening right now. Texas has a lot of great newsrooms and journalists.
They, and the people they’re covering, deserve our attention.
This newsletter is taking a two-week break and will resume June 15. Thanks for reading, hug your people,
Kristen
A NOTE FROM OUR SPONSOR
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** Grants for Stories on Threats to Democracy
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The Fund for Investigative Journalism is offering rolling grants for investigative stories on threats to democracy in the United States. Grants are up to $10,000 to cover expenses, including reporters’ time. Decision and first payment comes within 2-4 weeks of submitting a proposal. Learn more and apply here ▸ ([link removed])
Kristen Hare
Faculty
The Poynter Institute
@kristenhare ([link removed])
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