Supplying information about current events, trends, issues and people to the public is no easy task.
But that is exactly what journalists undertake on a daily basis.
On Monday came the announcement of Pulitzer Prize winners. And included in the talk surrounding the highest honor in print journalism were three MSU alumni.
James Madison College 2004 graduate and State News alumnus Steve Eder and a team of six investigative reporters were finalists for a Pulitzer Prize. Although the team didn't get awarded a Pulitzer in the public service category for uncovering a huge political scandal in Ohio, another MSU alumna did.
Designer Beth McCoy, a 2003 graduate and State News alumna, was a member of the Times-Picayune staff, which won two Pulitzer Prizes.
The New Orleans newspaper took home one of the prestigious awards for public service, and the other in the breaking news reporting category for coverage of the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.
Finally, Ralph Frammolino, MSU and State News alumnus, and a fellow Los Angeles Times staff member were finalists in investigative reporting.
All cases show true journalism at its best.
Eder made a Columbus, Ohio hotel his home for eight months while helping to uncover an Ohio state investment scandal, which revealed more than $13 million had been lost and politicians had accepted political favors and gifts.
And McCoy helped to produce a newspaper from a makeshift newsroom in the midst of an evacuated, destroyed city.
Here are three undeniably devoted journalists and an example of what it can sometimes take for the public to simply open the paper and gain information and an understanding about important events and dire situations around the world.
From headlines to design. Sentence structure to questions for sources. Behind every tiny detail in a newspaper there are discussions which lead to decisions and then a finished product which gives you the information to keep you updated on relevant issues.
Journalism can sometimes be a thankless job because it can be viewed as a biased medium. It's easy to forget, or be unaware of the work that goes into things the majority of us take for granted, such as a newspaper.
Honoring those that make the extra step, put in the extra hours, and service the public is important to bring a face and recognition to reporters like Eder, McCoy and Frammolino.
Newspapers are a public service, but journalists keep long hours, doing a lot of their hard work behind closed doors in order to present a polished, informational print everyday.
