Yes It’s True: Reporting of feats not all created equal

“All animals are created equal but some are more equal than others.” — George Orwell, “Animal Farm

I have come to the unpleasant conclusion that for many years I have been a willing participant in an exercise that promotes certain people while ignoring others, perhaps just as deserving.

My hat goes off to the Martin Pride community news group that has been faithfully posting pictures and data of graduating Martin High School seniors. The senior is congratulated and a little information is provided about where he or she is going to school next fall or what other things he or she plans to do.

I, like so many others in the business of community journalism, routinely have written brief stories and published photos of athletes and where they plan to go to continue their sporting endeavors. I have believed it’s news when Johnnie Football Player or Susie Basketball Player have chosen a certain school to play ball at the collegiate level.

But the Martin Pride listings of the last several week have provided me with an epiphany. Why must I elevate the plans of high school athletes while ignoring perhaps more scholarly pursuits of their classmates?

I should have knowed this when Earvin “Magic” Johnson in 1977 announced he would attend Michigan State, greeted by much fanfare and ballyhoo. The breaking news was greeted by Albion Evening Recorder Editor David Moore’s immediate response, “Who’s Magic Johnson?”

MLive lately has been doing a lot of reporting about certain heavily recruited athletes and where they plan to go to college. In my mind they’re not much better than mercenaries selling themselves to the highest bidder.

I spoke forcefully about 30 years when I noticed the East Kentwood High School debate won the state championship, but their exploits wound up on Page 15 while the football team’s state title was Page One stuff. I said such a discrepancy shows that we Americans place a greater news value on sports than we do education.

I was correct in my assessment, but I continued to commit the crime of regarding some teen-agers as being more equal than others, giving them publicity. Some may say that I’ve just been giving the readers what they want. That’s also what a sex worker does.

Imagine the puzzled response I’d get if I presented the same excited publicity for some academically talented scholar on where he or she was going next fall. Or maybe some gifted mechanically inclined student who wants to improve cars or solar power.

I seriously doubt I will cease and desist entirely my reporting on athletes, but I might cut back on the practice. Then maybe I should try to get info on the best senior scholars in the area and determine what they plan to do.

Maybe it’s time for me, in a small way to give a proper glad hand to brains rather than brawn. Some of them may make a difference in our lives and future generations.