Sunday Newscape Magazine

“I Always Rise Above it” Erin Brockovich

Mother, International Speaker, Author, Businesswoman: By all accounts Erin Brockovich is someone you would want on your side. This gutsy woman has taken on many challenges in her life, most notably, her work that inspired the movie “Erin Brockovich.”

This column is not about her rise to the spotlight or challenges she faced, but the appalling views of some people in the media that would dare to use her name to get recognized. Apparently, “Freedom of the Press” has become “Freedom of Stupidity” in many journalists’ eyes. What they care not to see is they are ruining people’s lives.

All of this came to a head in a recent column America Online published about Erin’s personal life; taken and misconstrued from a recent ABC interview. I had been trying for a few weeks to interview her, but when I read America Online’s absurd column my heart sank. I knew that all of the work and research I put in was out the window and Erin would most likely put herself in a shell. I immediately wrote her a personal apology for what America Online did and knew my request for an interview was ruined. Boy was I wrong!

A few days later I received an e-mail from a person not bitter, but powerful. Erin was candid with her explanation of the real story and gave kudos to ABC for showing the correct version and pitying the fools looking for sensationalism. The so-called “taken out of context” version got very little air time and the remarks against America Online from readers were harsh to say the least.

Erin was kind enough to open her heart on issues that plague most of this country and didn’t even blink when such a redundant story surfaced. In my opinion, that is courage and a person who is not afraid to face anyone or anything. I can see why she has overcome so much and become so successful. My wish is that her passion for life and the unwillingness to give in could be put in a bottle and sold to everyone.

Apparently, some in the media have this belief that “a sucker is born every minute.” Drive-by reporting, bloggers, and the paparazzi are an embarrassment to the industry. These people spread rumors, offer inaccurate reporting, and take pictures of people that no one needs to see. They tarnish all journalists with their arbitrary reporting that hurt the industry’s accountability.

It was embarrassing enough that a so-called journalist would write such trash, but for Erin to step up and write back to me was a gift. I felt as if she was right next to me with her powerful words and compassionate heart. I guess being in the spotlight gives people like Erin a thick skin. Do to the epidemic of inaccurate reporting people like myself have a harder time convincing others that we want to show their good side and truly report only the facts. But just like Erin, I will follow that path of integrity and courage because I know the path of to success is the road that you build.

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