I had been to the Newseum several times over the course of my 4 years at Howard. Some times were a part of a field trip for class, and others were a part of my Saturday leisure activities. I felt very familiar with all that the Newseum had to offer and was excited to see what new exhibits were added since the last time I visited.
Pulitzer Prize Photographs
We began in the Pulitzer Prize Photographs exhibit, a section I had never visited before. The photos were breathtaking and they took me back to the moments that these photos captured. A photo entitled “Horror of War” taken by Huynh Cong “Nick” Ut particularly struck me. The vulnerability, and rawness of the moment translated vividly, even through this still photograph. As I watched the video playing in the exhibit, the editor that was responsible for publishing this photo talked about the rule his newspaper had against full frontal nudity. He spoke about their decision to break that rule for this photo in hopes of highlighting the horrors of war that most people did not see. I loved that the editor was able to make this call and in turn, changed the dynamic of the types of photos that are presented to the public. I think that it is important for people to see the reality of how war and other traumatic events affects people across the world.
NBC News Interactive Newsroom
The NBC News Interactive Newsroom is always one of my favorite exhibits. I love being able to practice my teleprompter skills in real time. Before, I have always viewed this exhibit as something fun, but this time, I viewed it as a glimpse into my future career. Now that my career is getting closer and closer, exercises like this, make me excited for what is to come.
Although I have never been formerly trained on how to read a teleprompter, I have made it a goal of mine to perfect this skill since anchoring is one of my dream positions. This exhibit drove home the importance of the teleprompter operator. I found myself having to adjust my speed to that of the rolling text to keep up with the script.
ABC News World Changing Exhibits: Inside Today’s FBI
The “Inside Today’s FBI” Exhibit always surprises me. The exhibit includes original artifacts from the Unibomber, the Boston Marathon Bombing, and the World Trade Center terrorist attacks. Seeing these original artifacts up close brought me back to the feelings I felt when I first heard about these tragic events. One event that I had never heard of was the Shoe Bomber. The Shoe Bomber was a terrorist who attempted to blow up explosives in his shoes while on a plane. The flight
attendants smelled fire and with the help of other passengers, they were able to restrain him with their belts until the plane landed and the suspect was arrested by the FBI. Stories like this explain why we have to take our shoes off in TSA now. I love how this exhibit helps to connect the dots between news events and the practices and laws that are in place today as a result of these events.
There were many quotes all over the walls of the museum reflecting on the importance of journalists, the work they do, and the sacrifices they make to do their jobs ethically and accurately. These quotes inspired me to create my own: “We count on journalists to reveal the truth in sticky situations, to preserve history for years to come, and to expose the humanity in all of us.”
Final Reflections
Discussing ethical dilemmas in class along with reflecting on the sacrifices that journalists have made over the years as they dedicate their lives to their craft, has caused me to further reflect on this career path. Although, I have a passion for storytelling, I find it hard to swallow the idea of putting my life on the line for the sake of a story. I realize that not all assignments lend themselves to these types of sacrifices, which is why I desire to report on issues that don’t require me risking my life. One story that struck me was the story of the photographer who shot his final picture in the rubble of the Terrorist Attacks of 9/11. He was so dedicated to his craft that he gave up his life for the sake of the story. While his story is inspiring, I know that in situations like that, I would not risk my life. I don’t think this disqualifies from being a journalist. Rather, it informs my decisions about the types of stories I would like to pursue.
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