February 4, 2016 | SharkAdmin [image 1]The news that poured out of South Carolina last year changed its history books forever and sent ripple effects across America. Two journalists who witnessed it all talked with students on Feb. 1 about their experiences and what took place. Christina Elmore, a public safety reporter; and Paul Zoeller, a photojournalist, of The Post and Courier – the South's oldest daily newspaper – brought with them first-hand reports and more than 100 pictures of what they covered. The breaking news started with the death of Walter Scott, an unarmed black man, shot by a white police officer. The incident was captured on video and the officer was later charged for murder for shooting Scott in the back. Then the unthinkable happened in which nine people were killed at an African-American church by a white gunman. The 21-year-old shooter wanted to create a race war. A few in the audience were moved to tears from seeing the pictorial presentation – especially when the journalists talked about covering one funeral after another – like an assembly line. One of the funerals was attended by President Barack Obama, who sang “Amazing Grace.” [image 2]Soon after that, and after many years of politics, the South Carolina legislature voted to take down the confederate flag. Other cities started to scrutinize symbols and building names that might be disrespectful to its citizens. Recently in San Antonio, some groups were trying to rename Robert E. Lee High School because of Lee's views on slavery. Paul Zoeller said that covering the protest of the confederate flag at South Carolina's capitol was one of the most difficult assignments he had to photograph. “I could just feel the anger from protesters on either side of the issue,” added Paul. After the confederate flag controversy, South Carolina was devastated with rains and flooding that took several lives and left thousands of families with water-damaged property. Last year, The Post and Courier received the Pulitzer Prize for Public Service. Paul said they are hoping to win again for their coverage of the racially-charged stories that rocked South Carolina in the last several months. The NVC presentation was sponsored by the San Antonio College Black History Month Committee, The Ranger, San Antonio Association of Black Journalists and Society of Professional Journalists.
