Journalism plays an important role in our nation’s history. Would we be where we are today without the sharing of information in a mass format? The foundation of our constitution allows for this right. The five freedoms the First Amendment guarantees us should never be taken for granted, especially the right to freedom of press.
In my recent trip to Washington, D.C., I had the opportunity to visit the Newseum. It’s a building dedicated to news media, both past and present. I found something interesting to see on all six levels. First and foremost, the terrace gives a breathtaking view of Pennsylvania Avenue. As you stroll along, there are placards reviewing the history of what this area has seen through the years; things we may not know if it hadn’t been documented by the press.
By far the most moving part for me was the the 9/11 exhibit. It was the first major, life-changing event that I was old enough to remember. America honors the firefighters and police officers who were on the ground that day, doing what they could to help people — several dying as they did their job. That is the way it should be, however, the exhibit also took a look at the role reporters played as history unfolded around them. They too rushed toward danger to inform America of what was happening. I remember being in school, eyes glued to the television as the towers fell. Without those journalists on the ground, we wouldn’t have captured those harrowing images. One photographer even got so close that he died in the rubble as the second tower collapsed. His camera, cell phone and other personal items were rescued, which told the story leading up to his death. Those items were on display, still mostly covered in the dust from the collapse.
The short video with interviews from the media personnel who were there on 9/11 was one I couldn’t miss. There was a box of tissues on the ledge as you entered the video room. I thought it was an odd thing to see in an exhibit. After watching the video, it all made sense. My teary-eyed self needed a tissue or two.
My favorite exhibit held the front pages from the most significant events in history. It had copies of some of the first newspapers in Europe, the first paper from the American Colonies and papers after we became the United States. I could have spent hours in that room, opening all of the drawers to study the papers.
I saw the last photo of Queen Victoria, the first appearance of Uncle Sam and everything before and after. There have been so many major events that affected the entire nation; I was seeing it all — captured forever on newsprint.
It was always fun when I discovered an Iowa paper had been used to showcase a historical event. The first Iowa paper I saw was when prohibition started in 1919. I read about it on the Des Moines Capitol right next to a stand alone photo of “Iowa’s First Family.”
The final exhibit I saw was one of the best. The Pulitzer Prize winning photos were all displayed in one room. To see all of these amazing photos in one place was incredible. I had seen some of them before, either in the classroom, in books or online; but standing in front of Babe Ruth’s retirement photo surrounded by other fantastic images produced new feelings. It goes beyond the baseball franchise I follow and into the photographer’s perspective and what it must have been like that day. The best photos incite feelings with little to no words. It tells the story in one still image. If I got tingles looking at a baseball photo, you can imagine what the images of war and terror brought to the surface. These photojournalists were not only experiencing what was happening but also capturing it and sharing it with the world.
It would be impossible to describe everything I saw in the hours I spent in the Newseum building, but these were a few highlights for me. My time there was an unforgettable experience. It reminded me what an important profession journalism is, even if I don’t acknowledge it every day. The freedoms of the First Amendment are important. It is the foundation of our country and what sets us apart from those countries that aren’t allowed these rights. Take time to enjoy the freedoms that many have fought and died for, past and present.
Contact Pam Rodgers at 641-792-3121 ext. 6531 or prodgers@newtondailynews.com