b" mediaGiving people a chance to tell their storiesOne of the ways she has tried to accomplish that goal is by hiring people with diverse backgrounds. When she first joined The Inquirer in 1969, there were only seven women and one African-American man, she says. Ms. Morgan looked all over the place to make sure we were really bringing people in that would bring a perspective that the white reporters didnt have, she says. Thats what you have to do when you are running a news organizationso that everybody in your audience can see themselves in the media.By Healthy Courier staffMs. Morgans career has always Catholic Partnership Schools involved journalism. After retiring fromWhen she started out, women The Inquirer, she joined the faculty atreporters mostly covered topics such As a youngthe Columbia University Graduateas fashion and weddings. child, ArleneSchool of Journalism. Now she isThat was not for me, she says. I Notoroan assistant dean for the Lew Kleinloved politics and stories about people MorganCollege of Media and Communicationwho were really doing things in the constantlyat Temple University.community.asked Arlene Notoro Morganquestions. OnThe role of the journalist is to getSo thats what she did. She wrote Journalist Friday nights,out in the community and to reportabout discrimination, education, crime, she and herabout it, she says. They give peoplehealthcare, and art, among many other best friend even played newspaperinformation they need to maketopics. reporter. decisions. Ms. Morgan sees herself now as I was born a journalist, says Ms.Journalists dont only identifyan editor rather than a reporter. Morgan, who was a reporter and editorproblems, she says, but they also seekA reporter gathers news and at The Philadelphia Inquirer for morestories about people who are solvinginformation. An editor works with than 30 years.them. You don't just state the problema reporter to develop an article and I have always been very curiousand leave somebody hopeless, but goensure that it is well-presented and about how the world ticks, she says.and find out if there are solutions inaccurate. It was my desire to make the worldother places, she says. I like to be an editor because I can better through the information we giveShe has always been committed topoint people in a direction that they people. And hopefully they will actgiving a voice to people who dontmay not normally think about, she on it and become better citizens andusually see themselves in the mediasays. better human beings. but have something important to say.The role of the journalist is giving people information they need to make decisions, getting people involved in their community, and showing a slice of life that's new to the audience. Arlene Notoro MorganPage 6 illustration by Maria Rodriguez, 8th grade,6B Y K I D S , F O R K I D S | F a l l 2 0 2 4 Catholic Partnership Schools Healthy Courier (control booth)"