Good journalists remember their humanity when approaching a story, the 2004 Pulliam National Journalism Writing Award winner said Tuesday.
"It's not about journalism," Rinker Buck said."It's about life. You're always a person. You're not the writer; you're the person."
Buck, a general assignment reporter for The Hartford Courant, won the award for the article "Shane Comes Home."
He said it was his personality, not his nice suit, that allowed him to get close with the family of the first soldier killed in Operation Iraqi Freedom.
By the time he arrived, the family had given several interviews.
"They expected me to ask a few questions, get in and get out," Buck said.
Instead, Buck, in his nice suit, rolled up his sleeves and helped on the family's ranch.
"A lot of it has to do with human relations," he said.
Buck, who has been a journalist for 30 years, said he rewrote the lead to his article several times before he was satisfied.
"I rewrite a lot," he said. "I can't stress it enough. If I'm on deadline, I begin to write the story in my head on the way back."
Buck's article is available online on www.bsu.edu/journalism.
Read More
Three Air Jam teams take home the win
October 12, 2012Nineteen teams shimmied, shook and flipped for a sold out John R. Emens Auditorium on Thursday night during the 25th annual Air Jam.
Bill Clinton Speaks at North Central High School
October 12, 2012Former President's Speech Could Have Effect on State Senate Race
