Warren Watson
First Thoughts
Oct. 22, 2007

Student journalist's actions serves profession poorly

No one quite knows what was going on in the head of J. David McSwane when he wrote the now-infamous four-word editorial on Sept. 21 in the college newspaper at Colorado State University.

“Taser this. (Expletive) Bush.”

In the last month, the collegiate F-Bomber, the editor of the Rocky Mountain Collegian in Fort Collins, Colo., has been praised for his bold free speech, whatever he was trying to say. He’s also been admonished, but not fired by his editorial board, and vilified for what many considered irresponsible speech. Sacramento journalist Paul Rios called his actions “incendiary journalism.”

The four-word editorial was in reference to the questionable tasering of a University of Florida student as he attempted to ask questions during his rant at a recent speech by former presidential candidate U.S. Sen. John Kerry.

Those who work with student journalists at the collegiate and high school level teach ethics and responsibility to tomorrow’s future journalists.  For them, McSwane’s actions did not represent a high-water mark.

“Students constantly should be reminded that they are entrusted with profound responsibility. The student press has significant power, and everyone on the staff should guard against abuse,” says Randy Swikle, a student media expert from Johnsburg, Ill., and a former Dow Jones Newspaper Fund Teacher of the Year.

Swikle joined our Ball State/J-Ideas staff at seminars on school journalism Oct. 11-12 in Fort Collins at the state’s annual high school press convention.  Some 1,300 high school students were on hand.  Our goal: to create greater First Amendment awareness and respect for free speech

McSwane’s actions made for great hallway conversation. Students and teachers, although somewhat amused by the college student’s actions, thought he did a disservice to prospective student journalists, that the editorial was impulsive and childish.

I agree.

Diane Carman, a local columnist for statewide daily The Denver Post, unloaded on McSwane – and took a bite out of student journalism at the same time.

“Reporting is for suckers.  Writing is hard,” she wrote. “Logical thinking is boring. Meet the future.  Its name is J. David McSwane. Taser this, all you freakin’ intellectuals.”

McSwane has made my job more difficult with his four-word assault.