What Journalists Must Do After a Tragedy

Memories of having written and produced a broadcast documentary many years ago in college that was called “It Always Takes an Accident” returned last week following the July 4th flash flood tragedy in Texas.

It detailed what happened one day on campus when a giant crane being used in the construction of a new building suddenly collapsed one morning onto the entrance to a wooden crosswalk through the construction site, striking and killing a student. The documentary and the reports that followed ended up helping to make changes in construction compliance rules aimed at preventing such an accident from happening again.

This weekend, there were reports by KXAN-TV in Austin that Camp Mystic, a Christian camp for girls, was not accredited by the American Camping Association, like most other camps there apparently are. 

Parents of children killed or are still missing, who are already stunned and grieving, now are learning of this news.

When a tragedy like this happens, the victims and the public have a right to know. And that’s why journalists do what they do, to find out how it happened, why it happened and who or what was responsible. A lot of people like to complain about journalists, but they play a key role in helping to get to the truth so changes can be made.

(Photo Getty Images)