Ann Curry. (@anncurry).
This is absolutely the most anticipated talk of the day – unadulterated Ann Curry, speaking without a script. Many people trickle back into the room from the networking room – some of the first audible cheers from anyone other than me.
(This is a partial transcript; content in quotes is direct from Ann.)
“To me it’s about the rise of empathy, the rise of compassion, which reaffirms in my view our evolution of a species … I believe based on my study of history that we’re evolving to a great, more compassionate, more empathetic people.”
“Thinking about this idea we’re here to talk about. When in your life do you have an opportunity to see something done for the first time? We’re able to do things because of Twitter and other Social media that have never been done before. And there’s a thrill” … to being there for these firsts.
Ann talking about civil rights figure Dorothy Height, and that she interviewed her 2004. “She died this morning and we couldn’t get our tapes pulled in time, so we couldn’t share her wisdom. She wasn’t bitter, she told me in the interview … she continued to struggle to make sure laws are implemented to make sure people have their full rights. She said she would be in heaven cheering the words of Martin Luther King (“Free at last…”) and that they would finally come true.”
Ann was live on the air to speak about Dorothy, but had no tape to air! Having missed that window, she found other ways to broadcast that video: online, on Twitter, via bit.ly short links – “I did not want to wait” for the chance to do that.” “Nightly news is not on until 6:30, and the plan is to run a version of that story, an obit talking about Dorothy’s life, but I didn’t want to wait!”
Ann realized Dorothy was trending on Twitter and that people wanted to know – “they wanted to understand, experience the deeper value of her voice and pictures of what she accomplished in her life.” Suddenly, after posting the bit.ly link, people were quoting from the interview on Twitter!
“It’s a virtually daily occurrence. I believe knowledge is power.” “Take away the loud noises – our brains and hearts are filled with what’s uninportant from the mass media. This is a way to circumvent that … that’s what has drawn me to that world. I am extremely idealistic, and I don’t like to admit that to everyone, but I’m extremely idealistic about the power of knowledge … access. Access to the truth and what you want to learn about is foundation to our existence as a nation, as a democracy, as a free people.”
Many people worried about the future of journalism – newspapers and tv – “I’m not as concerned. I am concerned, obviously, about how to pay for international reporting … how to pay for investigative journalism … two of the most expensive kinds of reporting we have. And there’s a lot to be concerned about.”
“This is all leading to a boon for journalism, if you believe – if you can step away from the financial models and concerns, but rather the opportunity for people to get info at their fingertips – hopefully good, useful info that will give them power over their lives.” Help them decide what to do, think, feel – about not only who to elect, but all of the news effecting their lives.
Q: “How do you take care of yourself and not get squooshed and dampened? … I appreciate how vulnerable you are.”
“I think it’s all about motivation. You know, each one of us has a motivation in our lives. Maybe it’s a motivation of how you want to be as a friend, on the internet, in your life. My motivation was decided really early on … my father, what I would say to him as a very young person, ‘what should I do with my life.”
[When I was ten … he said,] “I think you should do something that’s of some service to others, only then will you know at the end of your life that it matters when you move on.” … “When you have that as your motivation, to be useful, of some service, it cuts away this other stuff. Especially in this world I work in, I work in a cuthroat, tough world, and people come with many motivations. And a lot of people’s motivations can be useful/helpful, but not everyone’s are. Especially when you care so much … when you believe in this idealistic way…”
Talking about looking at what everyone is covering, and then finding the negative space of what’s not being covered.
“No one should be heard more than the other, that’s the focus, I believe that everyone human being no matter who you are that everyone is equal, so when I go off and do these stories (naming places she’s been) I’m doing stories of human suffering, and it’s remarkable to me when I interview a woman who has been so brutally raped that someone must invent a new word for rape (because of what’s happening) to the women in Congo.” “I’m meeting these people and having them talk to me about this brutality…”
Can’t keep up with her – talking about a young woman in Congo who wants not revenge, but to give thanks and to know “a mother’s love again” – and then for people here in America to care that Ann is reporting that, and for us to learn about it.
“To me it’s about the rise of empathy, the rise of compassion, which reaffirms in my view our evolution of a species … I believe based on my study of history that we’re evolving to a great, more compassionate, more empathetic people.”