EDITORIAL: Lightning-rod Laura
Lightning rods have nothing on political reporters. When elected officials, candidates for office and their handlers aren’t complaining about unfair news coverage, readers of all ideologies point to particular phrases and constructions as proof of a journalist’s bias.
Laura Myers, the Review-Journal’s distinguished, prolific political reporter, took more than her share of flak in a nearly 30-year career, and none of it hit the mark. Ms. Myers, who died Friday after a courageous fight with cancer, was as fair and disconnected as a journalist can be in covering politics — more than anyone who read her work or was covered by it realized.
Ms. Myers didn’t vote in the races she covered. She didn’t advertise that uncommon practice — journalists are not obligated to forfeit their franchise to do their jobs well — but she felt it was necessary to maintain her objectivity. Her ballots were blank on big races, even though she knew more about the candidates than anyone else.
She left journalism several times to work for humanitarian groups here and abroad, but always returned. Ms. Myers’ exceptional skills were exceeded only by her grace and humility, her compassion and determination. Her spirit is irreplaceable.
