Writers Panel

For this week’s event analysis, I attended the Writers Panel in McGuire hall. Four writers from Baltimore gathered to tell a little about what they do and the motivations behind their profession. I was really surprised to see just how diverse the four writers were and how demanding journalism can be. Each of the four writers shared a common pursuit for truth and embodied a great sense of passion.
Gregory Kane is an investigative reporter who is willing to hit the streets and seek out the truth by however means necessary. He writes columns for the Baltimore Sun and often has to deal with public officials. He had a very negative view of the police and people in public office. He said that the truth often gets placed on hold or is evaded all together. He has no problem driving a half hour or so in order to gather the facts and force people to answer his questions. He must go to criminals in prison for straight answers and surprisingly they tell the truth. Baltimore is a city filled with corruption and public officials must be held accountable for what happens. It is their job to tell the truth and better the city, not sweep the dirt under the carpet.
Elizabeth Evits Writes for Urbanite magazine, a monthly column that outlines stories connecting the people of Baltimore. She loves her job because Urbanite plans out its articles and gives sufficient time for research and organization. This ensures accuracy and competence. One shocking fact that she pointed out was that 40% of Urbanite readers reside in the outlining counties of Baltimore City. This shows that those who live in Maryland are very concerned with the state that Baltimore is in and want to be informed on how it is adapting and changing for the better. She is an enthusiastic advocate of Jane Jacobs and tries to apply her work “ Death and Life of Great American Cities” every day.
She tries to be and observer and a researcher who takes a step back in order to capture the very essence of each story that she covers.
I could not see the name of the third woman on the panel but she was one of the most unique writers that I have ever heard. She was a combination of a singer, poet, writer, and storyteller. Her excerpt brought the words to life and I loved it when she sang her the song “No when to hold ‘em, know when to fold ‘em.” She describes herself as a city girl who has become a city woman. She believes in the city that fostered her and is optimistic that this city has a lot of positive aspects and is beginning to change for the better. She said this city is not helpless and if Pittsburgh survived world-class toxic pollution, then Baltimore can overcome its problems and strengthen itself.
Jane Connolly was the last writer to speak. She lives very close to Loyola’s campus and appreciates its students. She is a writes mainly children’s stories but she chose to talk about two descriptions of city neighborhoods because she has moved a lot in the city of Baltimore. The first was “Crazy Lady” and the second was “While No One was Watching.” “Crazy Lady” was my favorite of the two and in it, she speaks of a fourteen-year-old child living in a brick row house. Row houses are narrow and dark so the residents would come out during the day. Surprisingly there was no kidnapping, but occasionally there were murders and robberies. Gang activity was part of life but it was a normal part of life. The gang members were also members of that row house community so they looked out for the community. The day allowed for people to get out and enjoy what they could of their small community and make life as good as it could be.
The main theme that all four writers stressed was that Baltimore is a good city that needs guidance and support. Changes need to be made in the smaller communities. Such changes that would greatly improve quality of life consist of grocery stores, coffee shops, newspaper stands, public transportation, and police reform. Baltimore must start in the troubled neighborhoods and improve and rebuild a sense of community through concrete places in which people can gather and provide for themselves. Better communities lead to positive motivation and pride. This can only be done if the city focuses less on tourism and more on what really matters. Although many officials are working to do so, it is a collaborative effort that must reach out and touch the people.