Catholic Media Journal

In one of his Pope2008.com blog posts last month, Tim Drake mentioned a column about Pope Benedict XVI by Peggy Noonan, but first he wrote

Reading Peggy Noonan is about as close as it comes to perfection. At least that’s my opinion. After I’m done reading her work, I find that I want to go back and read it again just for the [p]ure pleasure of it.

That describes my response to Peggy Noonan’s work, her art. And as a commentator during Pope Benedict’s prayerful visit to Ground Zero in New York City April 20, she brought grace to EWTN’s television coverage of that event.

There’s another journalist I want to mention, closer to home, who’s been writing for The Troubadour, Franciscan University of Steubenville’s weekly student newspaper. There are and have been many fine journalists writing for “The Troub,” but many times this semester I’ve found myself thinking about and re-reading an editiorial from the February 14, 2008 edition. In my opinion, it’s “Peggy Noonan-class” Journalism.

The background: On February 10, a popular Franciscan University senior, Amanda Pudvah, died suddenly because of complications from pneumonia. The campus community was shocked. That week’s Troubadour carried front-page stories about Amanda and the events following her death. The main article was written by Elizabeth Ela, editor-in-chief. It is a sensitive article which expressed the thoughts of many people as well as the facts of the story.

But what really struck me was the editorial Elizabeth wrote on page 2. Bear with me as I share perhaps too long an excerpt:

When I accepted the position of editor-in-chief for the Troubadour at the end of last semester, I jokingly told my friends that the job shouldn’t be that hard, as long as nothing dramatic happened on campus – the J.C. [student center] didn’t burn down, scandal didn’t erupt in the administration, etc.

I never thought I’d be calling the parents of one of the first friends I made as a freshman three and a half years ago, to ask them to share their thoughts on their daughter’s sudden death. It never crossed my mind that one Monday afternoon I’d be sitting with my advisor, discussing the hardest article I’ve ever had to write – coverage of the memorial Mass and death of Amanda Pudvah.

I was sitting behind Amanda’s household sisters during the Mass Monday night, and I watched, through blurring vision, the Ladies of Light crying and embracing each other in front of me, their bodies forming a natural frame as they leaned toward each other for a comforting embrace. Through their “frame”, Fr. Richard and Fr. Terry stood behind the altar, rearranging chalices and pouring out the wine before beginning the Eucharistic Prayer. It was a powerful moment, personally. There, a pew ahead of me, was suffering meeting the Sacrament. Profound hurt coming – through tears, but in faith – to the source of tremendous  healing. The journalist in me surged and wished I had a camera to capture the image, while the rest of me – the part of me grieving for my friend and those she left behind – asked, what, Lord, do You want me to take away from this?

I felt so, so empty and inadequate to try to convey the events of the past day, but at the same time, I don’t think I’ve ever felt more strongly called to offer my gifts, even on the smallest scale, to those who would read the paper as they continued to grieve for their daughter, sister and friend.

Elizabeth Ela is one of many Franciscan University communication arts majors who will be graduating next week, each bringing unique abilities and talents to the communications forum. They’ve been a blessing to our lives.

Disclosure: I’ve waited until the end of the semester when grading’s done to write this. Elizabeth and several other Journalism majors have been students in one of my classes this semester. Their work is among the best I see. Dr. Wayne Lewis, our Communication Arts department chair, directs the journalism concentration - nurturing and mentoring wonderful talent. (And I’m not trying to get bonus points from the boss; our performance reviews were finished weeks ago.)

Attention editors and publishers: If you’re looking for some great young journalists, we’ve got them here.

Jim Coyle