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Why did I make this page? As a young man, I wanted to pursue a career in journalism. That didn't work out, but the news business fascinates me, and I was happy when Judy Woodruff passed the torch to Geoff Bennett and Amna Nawaz. But Geoff Bennett didn't have a Wikipedia page when that was announced. So I put one together, using my rusty news sleuthing skills. It wasn't easy. He hadn't been written about very much, actually.
Of course there is the usual Wikipedia nonsense edits to the page, but there also have been some edits that have deleted the work I did to learn about his early career. I think perhaps they were trying to burnish Geoff Bennett's image, but I want those anonymous editors to know why I think their edits are not having that effect. I think a page like this benefits young people interested in journalism--the kid I used to be, and the kids Mr. Bennett's scholarship is meant to benefit. So I think those kids should know that he took a job for AOL and was an entertainment reporter before being the straight news public media broadcaster we now know. He even says it was a formative experience himself. The podcast interview with him in general is the best source we have about his early career. We are not serving the interests of journalism and diverse voices when we take out the less prestigious-sounding employers.
I also think it's important for people to know about his coverage of the Elijah McClain story. You are not "supposed" to show emotion by some outdated conventional standards, but he did. And that was a risk he decided to take by reading the quote. It is the only newsworthy thing I could find about him before he took the NewsHour co-anchor job. I would have included other articles if I could find them. But I hope people who are interested in journalism careers watch the clip. Geoff Bennett's news instincts were to read the young man's own words, the most powerful telling of the story, quoting a source, basic journalism. He probably knew before he had that artwork with the quote produced that he was going to have trouble reading it (anyone with a heart should try it!), but he made the decision that would make the story most clear and the best television. Brianchandlers (talk) 04:05, 26 September 2024 (UTC)[reply]
