THE PublishedC by the OLBYStudents of Colby College since 1877 October 11, 2018 Volume CXXXXI, No.E 4 CHO Waterville, Maine Courtesy of Colby College Chuck Plunkett addresses the au- dience at the 66th annual Love- joy convocation. At the event, he discussed the importance of supporting journalism, especially at the local level. Chuck Plunkett receives Elijah Parish Lovejoy Award for Courageous Journalism BY SHOSHI LEVITON would likely catch fire. In he has taken principled award] was much appreci- Layout Editor fact, we were depending stands in covering what is ated and muched needed – on it catching fire because most important to com- it helps promate our cause.” On Monday evening, if it hadn’t, it would have munities. His bravery was Plunkett went on to ex- Oct. 8, Colby students, been easy for all of Glob- in his willingness to give press the importance of faculty, and communi- al Capital to shut it down up his career when told journalism at any level. ty members gathered in and shut me down,” Plun- by the hedge fund that “What we did is bigger than the chapel for the 66th kett said. However, there bought the Denver Post any one person, it’s about Elijah Parish Lovejoy was the risk that even if that he had to engage in public journalism and for Convocation. This year, the editorial made it on- Colby to stand for us like Chuck Plunkett received line, it would be cut from that just solidifies the im- the award for his work as the Sunday print edition. “It feels like portance of the statement the editorial editor for “To get in the Sunday and it’s overwhelmingly the Denver Post. Plunkett Perspective section, to my life is moving and humbling.” earned this honor for his make it into print, it had Plunkett may be out of leadership and courage to go to the printing plant going to be the newsroom for the time in publishing an editorial at 7 p.m. that Friday. We being, but he is not done in the Opinions section normally publish at noon forever for with his career in journal- of the Denver Post. The on Friday online so we put the better just ism. He currently works as morning before convoca- all the stuff thats going to a professor at the Univer- tion, Plunkett sat down be in the Sunday paper having been sity of Colorado Boulder with the Echo to talk jour- online on Friday,” Plun- where he teaches at the nalism, courage, and mak- kett said. “And if we had introduced News Corp program. Plun- Courtesy of Colby College ing it in the news industry. launched all those things kett still gets the opportu- Plunkett acknowleges the crowd before giving his remarks at the award cere- mony. “We collected nine Op- and the owners had got- to the idea of nity to work with journal- Eds and one editorial that ten mad and it hadn’t got- ists, and doesn’t believe and I knew the odds were The honoree’s words of was the centerpiece and ten a response, they could Lovejoy.” this change in profession against me making a career wisdom continued during the centerpiece is the one have taken it off our site, Chuck Plunkett will get in the way of his being a writer of fiction. his speech at the Lovejoy that caught the fire. Online could have fired me on work. “There is nothing to Journalism is a higher call- award ceremony on Mon- it was called ‘As vultures the spot, and they could say that while I’m doing ing and it’s a beautiful one day night. He emphasized circle the Denver Post must have stripped it out of the this that I can’t go back to and I would hope that they the importance of pro- be saved.’ On print it had printing plant.” radical cuts in his news- my work as a journalist in can feel a passion for it, an tecting local journalism a different headline, it was Luckily, the articles did room. In a period where other ways. I could write excitement for it, and a de- and thanked everyone in ‘News matters’ and ‘Color- not, in fact, stay under the the media is under pres- more long form journal- sire to engage because our the audience for “sup- doians should demand the radar. According to Plun- sure from both economic ism. I could try to test my communities and our na- porting quality journal- newspaper they deserve’ kett, when the story was and political forces, his hand at writing magazine tion really need great jour- ism over corporate greed.” was the subhead,” Plunkett published, it went off like a resignation signalled a style pieces. Who knows, nalists right now.” Plunkett stressed the said. To Plunkett, these ar- nuclear bomb. heroic stand for freedom maybe there’s a book out With a degree in creative importance of thinking se- ticles became known as the Because the section got of the press.” there that would be fun writing, Plunkett stands riously about the challeng- News Matters Perspectives. so much attention, the act- Plunkett is grateful for to try and write,” Plunkett as living proof that it does es facing our community Plunkett and the edi- ing director of Digital First this response and rec- said. Plunkett expressed a not take a journalism ma- as local newsrooms are ne- torial team felt the need Media wanted to fire Plun- ognition. “The response dedication to his new posi- jor to create a successful glected and popular news to publish these articles kett on the spot; at that has been overwhelming- tion, telling the Echo “I like journalist. Plunkett ac- outlets become more po- after mismanagement point, however, the sto- ly positive and getting to to believe that if you get a knowledged that Colby larizing. Earlier that day, from their parent com- ry had become too big for win something like the position you owe it to the does not have a journal- Plunkett had reflected with pany, Digital Media First such a decision to remain Lovejoy award just push- people who gave it to you to ism major, but stressed the Echo on the impact this (DFM), which is owned plausible. Nevertheless, es it over the top as over- do some useful work.” that this should not be a award will have on him. by the hedge fund Alden Plunkett still later resigned. whelmingly positive. If As a journalism profes- roadblock in pursuing a “It feels like my life is Global Capital. According This act of bravery you have an institution as sor, Plunkett had some career in journalism. going to be forever for the to Plunkett, under this caught the attention of respected as Colby bestow advice to give to young His biggest advice to as- better just having been ownership the newsrooms the Lovejoy selection an award like that, it just writers: “I like to tell as- piring journalists was to introduced to the idea staff was constantly cut committee. According gives credence to what piring young journalists be persistant. “Journalists of Lovejoy now that I’ve down, and the number of to Colby Grossman Pro- we are doing. It says ‘yes, that theirs is a noble pro- should be self-taught and been lucky enough to get staff members dramati- fessor of Economics and this is the right thing to fession. It’s one of the best self-motivated. It’s fun to this award. You sit around cally dropped from over Goldfarb Center Direc- do. This is a useful public jobs in the world you could be an autodidact and take and think about a person 300 to around 70. tor Patrice Franko, who statement. This needed to ever have and it’s worth things into control on like that and it makes you Although Plunkett and is a member of the Love- be said. This was not just trying to do. The doom your own two feet. What question your sincerity. his team knew that pub- joy selection committee, an angry journalist. This and gloom around what’s you need to be a journal- It makes you question lishing the editorial would “Mr. Plunkett’s selection was a serious statement happening to the newspa- ist is a mix of skills, but your motivation. It makes be risky, they hoped it was both about his life that needed to be heard,’” per industry is real, but you have to be a good you question your com- would also generate a lot history—and the histor- Plunkett said. don’t let it dissuade you. critical thinker and that’s mitment and that’s just of attention. “When we ical moment we are in. He reiterated the impor- When I started out I want- what Colby is going to be a meaningful, personal published it we knew it Throughout his career, tance of his stance. “It [the ed to be a creative writer teaching you.” journey to undertake.” Walk to end Alzheimer’s History of Homecoming Snakehips announced as Hot Take: Eggs are evil Sports Weekend fall concert Weekend Recap p. 3 p. 4 p. 5 p. 6 p. 8 Page 2 | The Colby Echo News October 11, 2018 Students and faculty react to Kavanaugh confirmation as a human being.” In Colby’s attempt to stand with S. and many others, Colby students stood for five minutes in silence holding candles in solidarity with survivors of sexual violence. Lily Her- mann ’19, Micaela Duran ’21 and Mattie Wyndham, ’19, were the major orga- nizers of the event.