Thursday, May 1, 2003 | 8:35 a.m.
Brian Greenspun is editor of the Las Vegas Sun.
STANDING ON the threshold, about to make a difference.
Those are the kind of words reserved for a college graduating class when years of hard work are about to pay off with good jobs and great dreams about how to impact this grand and glorious world. Even one so seemingly confused about what it will be when it finally grows up!
I heard them, though not at the Thomas & Mack or in Harvard Yard. They rang out from the Flamingo Library Wednesday afternoon and challenged an auditorium full of high school students who have already begun their own personal journeys toward different and better lives. Not just for themselves but for their friends, their neighbors and their community.
These kids had class. Rather, they all worked for "Class," which is the publication "by, for and about Clark County high school students." It was their day to shine as Mandalay Resort Group President Glenn Schaeffer contributed his master of ceremonies skills to lead a heartwarming and quite fulfilling afternoon of awards presentations to students who have decided -- at least thus far -- that a life as a journalist is in their futures.
And what would a group of young, budding future-Pulitzer winners need to make their day? You guessed it, an inspiring challenge from a man who has made journalism his career and his work the bane or boon for Nevada's politicians and elected leadership. Jon Ralston did not disappoint those teenagers when he told them the truth about his profession. He told them they would not get rich -- although I know up close and personally that he does quite well because he goes that extra mile in his work -- but that they would have an enriched life if they pursued the noble calling of the journalist.
"You have to want to get to the truth ... there is no better satisfaction than realizing the day after you have published something ... that you have imparted important information, exposed wrongdoing, made the proverbial difference," he explained to eager and open ears. "Imagine waking up every day and thinking that you have the best job in the world," he glowed.
I know exactly what he means and so do most of the people who work in this wonderful profession, one that oftentimes gets accused for adding to society's ills but without which society would be very sick, indeed.
Ralston's words set the tone, but the reason we were there was for the 2003 High School Journalism Awards. Dozens of young people from Clark County's high schools were recognized for news and feature writing, photography, sports stories, illustrations, column writing and more. And to show support from the community, scholarship awards were provided to many students for whom college might only have been a distant dream but is now a reality.
Gary Thompson said as much when he and his daughter, Kelly, presented the first Sandy Thompson Memorial Scholarship, named to honor Sandy's life, which was dedicated to the well-being of children from sad homes, bad homes and homes without much hope. She also helped lead the way for Class to become one of the premier publications of its kind in the country.
I was also thrilled when Tony Gladney, vice president for MGM/MIRAGE's national diversity relations, announced the recipients of that company's substantial scholarship program. The winners were all women and all of them extremely qualified. Come to think of it, most of the award winners Wednesday were teenage girls who, hopefully, will continue to grow toward this most rewarding calling. While Tony was making his numerous and very generous presentations I couldn't help thinking that diversity scholarship awards in the not too distant future will be made to white males!
Women and traditional minorities are fast becoming the mainstream of journalistic life and that bodes very well for newspapers, television, the Internet and whatever other means of information distribution will come our way in the next few decades. By the way, if I may differ with my colleague, Mr. Ralston, in just one small respect. He suggested that it was sad that newspapers were dying and I don't want to leave that impression with this next generation.
It may be that newspapers printed on newsprint may one day disappear -- one day a long time from now -- but the tradition of gathering information and disseminating it to a public eager to know what it needs to make informed decisions will continue as long as there is a democracy and a literate society.
How long we have those two elements depends upon the kind and quality of people this country develops as journalists. And from what I witnessed Wednesday afternoon about the depth of dedication and passion for journalism that defined these young people, our democracy and a literate society are in very good shape.
These kids are not just standing at the threshold waiting to make a difference. They are the difference!
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