As a newspaper reporter in these divided times, I do the best I can to write factual information without letting my personal opinions influence news articles. It’s a fine line and it’s not easy. I rarely share political posts on Facebook because I don’t want people to dismiss my news articles simply because they know where I stand on a personal level. 
Recently I wrote a news story about high school kids who painted white supremacist symbols on a parking lot. It was a difficult story to write. And while I often enjoy the social media discussion that follows such articles, the comments this time were frustrating, disgusting and out of control. I quit reading them.
But I did happen to read this particular comment, just 2 minutes after it was posted by an anonymous account created only for the purpose of threats and intimidation. Against me, apparently. Because I told the story. This person (aka “worst nightmare”) encouraged others to take names and addresses, and get ready… with a link to my personal Facebook profile.
I appreciate my editors, Susan Lynn and Tim Stauffer, for taking the matter seriously. We filed a police report and sought training on how to better protect reporters. This “threat” doesn’t appear to be as serious as it could have been, but it did achieve its goal. I was scared. For a minute. Then, I became angry. Now, I want to educate.
According to the Committee to Protect Journalists, 15 journalists have been killed so far this year and 64 are missing globally. In 2019, 248 journalists were imprisoned.
In 2018, a gunman who was angry about an article shot and killed five newspaper employees at The Capital Gazette in Annapolis, Maryland.
We should all respect and protect the dedicated journalists who strive to report the news “without fear or favor.”
