Reporting Public Affairs

By Noah Hickman Journalism is one of those professions where people may go on different paths, but the roles and responsibilities remain the same. There is no better example I can think of two people having two different paths academically than investigative journalist and author, Carl Bernstein and, “Father of Black History,” Dr. Carter G. Woodson.  Bernstein almost flunked out of high school and did not graduate from the University of Maryland yet has a reputation of being one of the greatest journalists of all time. He recently had published a memoir titled “Chasing History: A Kid in the Newsroom” which discusses a time when the newspaper industry was more prominent.  Woodson got his high school diploma in less than two years and was the second African American to get his doctorate degree at Harvard University in U.S. history.  The reason Bernstein is successful is because he has always had the ability to connect with his audience through his work. Bernstein is best kn...

By Noah Hickman Gov. Jim Justice was originally supposed to deliver the State of the State address on Jan. 12, but could not due to him testing positive for COVID-19. Throughout his tenure, Justice has said that West Virginia has come a long way since his tenure and once again mentioned that during his 2021 SOS address. “I'm a business guy and our state, for all purposes, was bankrupt, and in tough, tough shape,’’ Justice said. “We drained the rainy day fund down to levels where our roads were being our roads were in pretty daggone tough shape and we had all kinds of issues at hand. They handed me a budget that was a projection for the next six years.” Justice inherited a $500 million deficit when he first became the governor, but during his tenure, West Virginia’s General Revenue collections have consistently had surpluses.  The Office of the Governor reported that there was a 124.4 million revenue surplus for December 2021 which is the best growth rate for the month of December i...

By Noah Hickman Investigative journalist Carl Bernstein’s new memoir “Chasing History: A Kid in the Newsroom” brings back good memories of a time where the newspaper industry was more prominent and journalist Jill Abramson supports that claim in her book review. “Nearly 25 percent of the 9,000 U.S. newspapers that were published 15 years ago are gone, leaving behind a vast news desert and signs of a weakened democracy,” Abramson said. “So it’s bittersweet to read Carl Bernstein’s “Chasing History,” a rollicking memoir about the golden age of newspapers.” The big picture that Abramson is looking at is correct because even though we are in the digital age, people do not take the time to read the top stories from certain news outlets. People reading newspapers on weekdays and Sundays have decreased exponentially in the 21st century. The Pew Research Center reported that the circulation of daily and Sunday U.S Newspapers is at its lowest level since 1940. The data shows that the estimated ...

 By Noah Hickman Gov. Jim Justice has tested positive for COVID-19 causing the annual West Virginia State of the State address, which was originally scheduled for Wednesday, to be delayed. “I apologize in every way for not being able to join you tomorrow night, and I especially apologize to all our invited guests who are having to change their plans,” Justice said in a press release. “I’ll be back in front of you in-person before you know it.” With COVID-19 cases on the rise and Omicron becoming more prominent, Justice was going to spend a great portion of the SOS talking about the virus as he has in previous speeches.  Justice has been a big vaccine advocate during his time in office and if the SOS had happened on Wednesday, he would have persuaded his audience and viewers to get or be fully vaccinated. In previous SOS’s Justice mentioned the budget surpluses and how West Virginia went from a state that was bankrupt, to a state that he deems “the miracle of West Virginia.” Th...

By Noah Hickman Marshall University released a recording of a virtual Martin Luther King Jr. Observance Day program on Monday where scholars and professors read some of the lesser-known letters and speeches from King himself. The works include “Letter to Coretta” read by Professor David Cartwright, “I’m Proud to be Maladjusted” read by Professor Cicero Fain III, “MLK’s speech at SMU’’ read by Professor Burnis Morris and “The Other America” by Professor Georgiana Logan.  Vice President & Dean of Intercultural and Student Affairs, Maurice Cooley said that it is an honor to be part of something special. “I am truly elated on this day after 19 years of being here at Marshall University to once again bring to you on behalf of our president (Brad Smith) and all of our faculty and staff of this great Marshall University, the Martin Luther King Day of Observance program,” Cooley said. After the opening remarks given by Cooley, President Smith thanked him for organizing the event and sa...