Journalism and the Hunger for Justice

This is my first post as the new Director of the Journalism Center on Children and Families. I am honored and excited to be joining this important institution, and I am looking forward to hearing what you think would make the work of JCCF more relevant and meaningful to you.

A few weeks ago, I attended the annual Casey Medals ceremony. Earlier that day, I read and watched and listened to many of the winning entries. I must admit: There were moments when I wept, got chills, got angry and got inspired.

If you haven’t had the chance to explore this amazing body of work, I highly recommend that you take the time to take it all in, right here on our site.

Meeting the winners of the Casey Medals was also deeply inspiring. JCCF’s slogan is “stories that change lives.” Stories about the plight of children and families are stories that call for a response, stories that have the potential to spark social change. But it’s clear that many of the journalists were also changed by what they covered and uncovered, by the people they met and interviewed, who allowed them into their lives.

We - and our children – and all children – live in a world with too much pain and too many dangers. Yet we also live in a world of hope.

That hope can come from finding and speaking the truth, from telling the real-life stories of struggle that awaken us to our own humanity, our connection and responsibility to each other, our own power to rise above indifference.

Journalism is no happy meal. Sometimes the news we consume leaves us with a bitter taste; sometimes it leaves us with a hunger for justice. The best in public service journalism doesn’t necessarily neatly provide definitive answers about what is to be done. But it opens our eyes and minds and hearts to people and problems that deserve our attention. And hopefully, those among us with the power to do something will.

Julie Drizin is JCCF's new director.