The Truth

Real Stories and the Risk of Losing a Free Press in America

By: Bob Gabordi

Narrated by: Tom Mailey

I can still feel the chills, as I recall the scene on Fifth Avenue, below the editor’s office in August 1997. This was really happening. Justice had prevailed.

Two people were given their lives back, because of the journalism by my team, the courage of our reporter, and our photographer.

Now, their family was gathering in front of the building, holding copies of an extra edition of The Herald-Dispatch, which declared their freedom - holding signs and crying tears of gratitude. This was why, I was sure, the Founders had created the First Amendment.

We had stood up to a foreign government, and we forced our own to do the right thing. Stories would not always end so elegantly. Justice and good journalism do not always win. There would be decades of frustration between moments of celebration.

But this is a moment when journalism won.

And it felt amazing.

©2020 Bob Gabordi (P)2022 Bob Gabordi