In this episode of “Journalism 101 with Tripping Raul,” the host, Tripping Raul, reflects on her experiences as a newspaper journalist during some of the nation’s most tragic events. The episode kicks off with Tripping Raul setting the tone with reminiscences of how, in newsrooms, pizza would often be ordered during major crises — a practice that might sound festive but was actually a coping mechanism during extended and grueling coverage periods.

Tripping Raul delves deep into specific tragedies that she covered or edited, including the Oklahoma City bombing in 1995, the Columbine massacre, the Missionary Ridge forest fire, and the infamous JonBenet Ramsey murder case. She vividly describes the intense environment in newsrooms during these events, noting the shared experience of grief and the need for journalists to work through their emotional responses to provide ongoing reportage.

Furthermore, Raul shares personal stories to illustrate the weight of these experiences. She recounts being at a family dinner when she was urgently called back to the newsroom for the verdict in the Oklahoma City bombing case and expresses the personal impact of watching a fire endanger her husband’s family ranch.

Throughout the episode, Raul communicates the emotional toll these stories took on those who reported and edited them. She mentions the use of substances like drugs and alcohol by journalists as a means to cope with the trauma, and emotional breakdowns, such as crying in bathrooms before returning to their desks. Although these topics are weightily emotional, she attempts to maintain a balance by explaining the importance and historical necessity of reporting these tragedies.

The episode concludes with Triroducing Raul promising to try to cover a lighter topic in the next episode, albeit acknowledging the lasting impact and perennial haunt of past reportage on her and her colleagues. This episode provides a poignant look into the personal sacrifices and challenges faced by journalists covering major tragedies, underlining the often-overlooked human element in news reporting.

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• Missionary Ridge Fire, Colorado Encyclopedia
  
• Major Hal Sayr’s Diary of the Sand Creek Campaign
  
• You can look up the others pretty easily!