It may surprise many outside the profession to hear journalists rarely like to make news. That may seem a contradiction for a field where reporters and photographers brand their work with bylines, but even under the best of circumstances, professionals in my chosen career field prefer to keep the focus on just about everyone else.

Still we can daydream about a time not so long when the news enjoyed a level of public esteem. Less than 100 years ago, comic book artists crafting superheroes often made them journalists. It’s no surprise both Superman and Spiderman keep day jobs at the local paper. The power of the press may be these heroes most potent but underappreciated power. But I suspect the anonymity of the job also made reporting a reasonable backstory for a secret identity.

But the tragedy in Annapolis on Thursday, where five people in the Capital Gazette newsroom lost their lives at the hand of a gunman violating the sanctity of the industry. Print reporters, now eyewitnesses to the largest news story in America, found themselves in front of TV news cameras sharing accounts of the shooting, even as they worked to put together the next day’s edition. The shooting showed the extent to which individuals can ignore the humanity of those in this profession—and in general. It served a painful reminder that while reporters prefer to sit in the back row of government chambers, our workplace can be violated the same as night clubs and schools. We can’t always sense fatal danger coming. We are not bulletproof.

It’s been en vogue to say recently journalism in America has come under attack. Like so many similar metaphors, the terminology sounds suddenly tasteless the moment it appears most true. We know this attack had nothing to do with the divisive dialogue waged by our national leaders. Rather, it stemmed from a local crackpot, the type any local journalist frequently encounters within the first year on the beat. In this case, the shooter had a grudge against the paper that went back some time. What’s scary to reporters and editors across the country today is we’ve all encountered some individual so close to the edge it might take very little to push them into the realm of insanity.

While the most notable journalists in the nation may be millionaires trading on controversy, the bulk of workers in the field spend their evenings missing family events to cover late-night political arguments, or covering crime scenes to satiate the curiosity of our readers. I often get asked why I entered journalism. It’s not the money; this career track offers an infamously low starting salary for one demanding high literacy and expecting everyone to hold a college degree. And it’s not to become popular. In an age when political adversaries refuse to share restaurant space with one another, we work overtime to keep communication lines open with those who represent a wide share of agendas and views, and with those who often dislike the words we write.

So why do it? Simple. We know the public deserves to be informed. To suggest otherwise deems American democracy unworkable. That’s why journalists drive in hurricanes to let people know which roads are out, why they put off calls with insurance adjusters so they can post briefs online about when everyone else will get their power back. We do it for a public that needs information even if they increasingly seem dislike the source. We do it when the story is about colleagues losing their lives doing what we do every day.

And sometimes we make mistakes. Sometimes bias slips into our work, despite our best efforts. Clark Kent may be the perfect man, but real world media outlets get staffed with flawed human beings. But that won’t stop us from trying to save the world.

Jacob Ogles is contributing senor editor for SRQ Media Group.  

Our City beach front and green space is becoming more important as our urban landscape grows up around us. Parks investment makes sense. A new bayfront master plan was unveiled this week, with a hefty price tag ($100-150 million, without a new performing arts hall). It’s maintenance costs are projected at $4-6 million a year. At the same time, Bobby Jones Golf Course is in peril due to decades of neglect. Price tag for a complete restoration? About $21.6 million. And let’s not forget Lido Pavilion, arguably our most important asset, as the beach is the number one reason people visit Sarasota.

The City may surrender improvements and maintenance of Lido Pavilion to a private entity due to cost. Those private interests have estimated their improvements (which much of the public opposes as overbuilding) anywhere from $2-4 million. So how can a City that wants to offload a beach facility that will cost a few million to upgrade also be talking about hundreds of millions for a new bayfront park? What’s going on here?

To fully understand the City’s park funding issues, it’s necessary to look back to the 1970s when the cities of Longboat Key, Venice, North Port and Sarasota sued the County over dual taxation. The cities claimed they were underwriting services for County residents that City taxpayers didn’t use, like the Sheriff. The case went all the way to the Florida Supreme Court. The cities prevailed and Sarasota County was ordered to pay $8 million in restitution (the City of Sarasota got $4 million of that). In order to establish equity, the County entered into a number of interlocal agreements with the cities. One agreement required the County to contribute substantially to City of Sarasota park maintenance. That agreement expired in 2011, and the County divested itself of a serious commitment to funding City parks.

Around the same time, in 2011, Sarasota County became enamored with funding a “world class” rowing facility, one so special people would beat a path to come here. As the price tag climbed from a few million to tens of millions, the County assured residents the nonprofit that runs Benderson Rowing Park would be financially self sufficient by October 2018. That nonprofit, Suncoast Aquatic Nature Center Associates, failed to raise funding for a promised boathouse and grandstands. Now expenses for big events are high because tents and grandstands must be rented each time. SANCA recently received $400,000 for FY 2019 from Sarasota County. Another $650,000 was earmarked by the County to lobby for another “world class” event. Seems other cities have world class facilities too.

When the County divested from investing in City parks, they took up funding the rowing facility. Facing a budget squeeze, the City is balking at funding Bobby Jones Golf Course and Lido Pavilion. But there are hundreds of millions for the Bayfront! Couldn’t we put a bit of that into Bobby Jones and Lido? Just sayin’.

Cathy Antunes is host of "The Detail" on WSRQ. 

Kendra Simpkins and Ryan Praefke are launching a new nonprofit in the Sarasota area that addresses PTSD and other combat related injuries for the military community. Simpkins is a Sarasota native, clinical social worker and military veteran as an Army intelligence analyst. Praefke is a published author with an extensive background in advocacy and leadership in the non-profit community. Operation Warrior Resolution is a therapeutic-based, nonprofit with the primary mission of making Rapid Resolution Therapy (RRT) sessions free for all United States military service members. Operation Warrior Resolution wishes to relieve burdens both emotionally and financially for all service members and veterans. Free services for all military veterans include private therapy sessions through RRT, along with the choice of three “weekend retreats” taking place throughout the year in Central Florida, Northern California and Costa Rica.  

Operation Warrior Solution

Gecko’s annual six-week Trivia tournament extravaganza begins July 9 with the final qualifying round being held August 15. Each trivia show will qualify three teams, and all teams will combine their best four scores over the six weeks, dropping the two lowest scores. The three teams with the highest cumulative scores from each show will be invited to the Championship held on August 22 at Gecko’s Clark Road location. Scoreboards are updated weekly and shows will be held at various Gecko’s restaurant locations throughout the week. First place winners will receive $500 in Gecko’s Bucks, second place winner will receive $300 and third place $200. Everyone who makes it to the Championship round will receive a commemorative t-shirt and other great prizes with a spectacular Grand Prize to be announced.  

Gecko's Grill

All Faiths Food Bank is aware of the announcement that Feeding Tampa Bay has elected to end its contractual services with the Food Bank of Manatee, a PLUS programs of Meals on Wheels Plus of Manatee. This transition does not involve All Faiths Food Bank and will have no impact on All Faiths or those they serves. Based on Feeding America’s geographical boundaries, All Faiths remains contractually responsible to end hunger for those in need throughout Sarasota and DeSoto Counties. As Manatee County is its neighbor to the north, they will offer support and encouragement through this transition and remain totally committed to ending hunger for those who need assistance throughout our region.   

All Faiths Food Bank

The 2018 G. Duncan Finlay Scholarship was awarded to six exceptional high school students–Lillee Izadi, Alexis Cejas Carbonell, Donovan Vu, Christa Douglas, Valeria Agudelo and Qyasia Jackson–who will pursue careers in the healthcare field. The scholarships are awarded by the Healthcare Foundation and funded by Sarasota Memorial Health Care System’s Auxiliary endowment. More than 125 local high school seniors have been able to attend college to attain a degree in a medical field since the scholarship program began in 2005. 

Sarasota Memorial Hospital

The 10th Anniversary Sarasota Improv Festival with Florida Studio Theatre (FST) will bring together over 75 of the best improvisers from all over the country, as far as France and Spain, from July 12 to July 14. With over 28 opportunities to witness skillful spontaneity performed by professional improvisers, attendees will also have 16 opportunities to dive into their own comedic creativity with one full day of workshops. Lead by Festival performers, participants will have the chance to learn from some of the best in the industry with workshops ranging across a variety of skill and experience levels. Each session lasts two hours, and can be purchased for $35 each, or $90 for three sessions. 

Sarasota Film Festival

Don't miss out on this year's amazing Grey Matters Luncheon Symposium benefitting The Roskamp Institute. Sponsor Registration goes live July 1 at www.RoskampInstitute.org/events. This year's luncheon will be held on Sepember 28 from 11am-1:30pm at Michael's on the Bay at Selby Gardens. The Alzheimer's Disease-Research based interactive Symposium will focus on lifestyle, wellness and healthy aging. For early sponsor registration please call Megan Micale at (941) 552-9832. Capacity is limited, and sponsorships are sold on a "first come first serve" basis. 

Roskamp Institute