Recalling David Molinari and the news that once was
I’d love to sit down and talk to him
and get his opinions regarding the news,
as well as his thoughts on a host of other subjects.
I think it’s safe to say that most of us have had teachers who influenced the choices we made in life. I’ve always considered my high school journalism teacher, David Molinari, as being such a person. He taught eighth-grade English at Capitola Junior High, then moved on to Soquel High at the same time I became a freshman.
Journalism was a popular elective, and I was fortunate to be enrolled in that class for four years. Basically, Mr. Molinari taught me how to write. He demanded an economy of words from his students. He also prized being unbiased when reporting on the varied stories that the school newspaper published, except, of course, when offering an opinion piece.
Certainly, the perception of what counts for journalism today is much different than it was back in the seventies and eighties. With so many platforms competing for readership and viewership, it’s almost required to offer a slanted view of the news. One can read an article in the Washington Post about a particular event, then read coverage of the same event in the Wall Street Journal and come away wondering which “news” to believe. This type of contradictory coverage is even more pronounced when watching CNN, then changing the channel to Fox News.
The challenge for readers, viewers, and voters today is finding news outlets that simply state facts and let people draw their own conclusions. I realize this is a daunting task and perhaps not realistically achievable. Unfortunately, many people are drawn to sources that keep reaffirming their particular opinions. They become deaf to other points of view and lose their ability to think critically. This can and does create deep schism throughout our society.
I often wonder what Mr. Molinari would think of journalism today.
I’d love to sit down and talk to him and get his opinions regarding the news, as well as his thoughts on a host of other subjects.
Unfortunately, I cannot do so. David died in a car crash between my sophomore and junior year in high school. If he had survived, there is a good chance I would have pursued a career in journalism. He was a mentor to me and constantly pushed me to improve my writing. I credit him (and others) for giving me the confidence to write and publish a historical novel and a book of poetry. Currently, I’m writing a sequel to that novel.
The year after David died, the school installed a large boulder in the quad with a plaque that contained two lines from a poem he wrote. I can still remember what it said:
I lived today.
Not, I could have.
The photos in this blog post are the property of their respective owners.
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