This column contains spoilers for season one of Netflix’s “Daredevil.”
Ben Urich was a journalist who had worked for the New York Bulletin for decades.
It is clear from Ben’s background, that he was famous for his journalism career, but in Netflix’s “Daredevil,” the audience sees him struggle.
He claims that when he was younger, he wrote the hard-hitting stories; the stories that encouraged readers of all ages to tune into the paper to find out more about their city. Though now, he was stuck writing the tedious and monotonous pieces, such as what color the newest subway line should be.
As a journalist myself, I was immediately drawn to him and I felt like I understood what he was going through.
Now, I am still fairly new to this, at least compared to many other journalists — almost two years and three months, exactly, into this career. Despite this, I understand what he means.
I often find myself thinking of the first six months on the job here at Hays Free Press/ News-Dispatch. I was writing stories on pedophiles, bringing to light a case that I felt was being unfairly prosecuted and genuinely felt like I was making such an impact. So, last year, when I was writing these more “standard” newspaper stories, I, too, felt like maybe I was letting the people of Hays County down.
The hard-hitting stories are what’s exciting. Ben’s right. They’re what will probably make people interact with a story on social media for once and actually get you an email thanking you for your work.
That’s how I used to think. Last year, I felt like I was a “boring” journalist, but then, I realized that the boring stories matter, too.
It’s important for the community to know how their taxes will be raised. It’s important for students to know if they will have to move schools away from their friends because of new school lines. It’s important for residents to know if $60,000 will be spent on an art sculpture. People want to know.
I think that realizing this, is a sign of maturity on my end, both as an adult and a journalist.
Don’t get me wrong. I do have big dreams. Dreams that maybe extend past covering a local ribbon cutting, but those are still important to me because my family is here in Hays County and right now, I am, too.
So, Ben, I do get you. I understand that you wrote the big stories and got the clicks and that they were important, but the small things also matter.
That being said, he inspired me in other ways. In the show, he ended up dying for a story; he died for the truth and though I seriously hope that doesn’t happen to me, I admire the passion. He knew that big stories need to be published because otherwise, how would the truth ever be told?
In the last six months, I have been working on a series — with the second just now being released — and I’ll be honest, it’s been stressing me out more than I would have anticipated. Not only is it scary, but what if these people who are trusting me with their stories are disappointed? What if I don’t do them justice?
I hope that I do, but while I’m writing these “big stories” and channeling my inner Ben Urich for it, I’ll also be channeling my inner Megan Navarro and my inner Ashley Kontiner, who root for the community members of Hays County and remind me that small stories matter just as much.
Kelley is the news editor of the Hays Free Press and News-Dispatch. She can reached via email at [email protected].
