My favorite Quill

When you have the time to sit for a while, do yourself a favor and open the June/July awards issue of Quill. You will be glad you did.

Hands down, the awards issue is my favorite of the year. It contains brief profiles of all the Sigma Delta Chi Award winners. Reading about their amazing work makes me proud to call them peers. But more than that, it inspires me. And I can't wait to meet all of them this weekend at the SDX Awards Banquet in Washington, D.C.

In a time when the public rates journalists, lawyers and car salesmen equally on the "trust" scale, it's easy to lose sight of the important role we play. Most of us try to remind ourselves that what we do is as vital to our community and country. But sometimes, we tune out our own voices.

Well, this issue screams it loud and clear: WHAT WE DO IS IMPORTANT!! OUR COMMUNITIES AND COUNTRY NEED US, EVEN IF THEY DON'T REALIZE IT!

In the pages of the annual awards, you will see exactly why they need us. Without us, Joe Public wouldn't know the house he wanted to buy was once a Meth factory; he wouldn't know that many of the household products he buys has dangerous chemicals in them -- and nobody is doing anything about it. Without us, Charlestown, S.C., would still be sending firefighters into action with inferior training and equipment; and child care providers in Washington state would still be operating with little to no oversight.

These winners represent the best journalism of 2007. But, more than that, they show us the impact that great journalism can have on a community.

So, spend some time with Quill....then go make an impact on your community.