James McKinley gives advice and insight on journalism to students of the Journalism News Editing class, Tuesday afternoon. (Photo by Michelle Mason)
Story by Michelle Mason
New York Times journalist James McKinley Jr. devoted part of his busy day last week to New Mexico State University journalism students to offer advice and share his views on the future of their craft.
That night he also delivered his presentation, “Addicts, Guns and Money: How the U.S. Feeds the violence in Mexico,” to a crowd of students and community members at Corbett Center.
McKinley told students of the Journalism News Editing class that journalism is indeed changing, but “the appetite for news is greater then ever before.” The Internet as a medium has played an immense new role in media – journalists have had to become hybrid news-gatherers, constantly updating and breaking news the minute it occurs. Even though the traditional rhythm of journalism is gone, journalists now have more tools to utilize. And becuase of the Internet, “there is no place in the world that you can’t be writing,” McKinley said.
When a student asked McKinley how to prepare for a shrinking job market such as journalism, “find one of those niches,” McKinley replied, whether it be culture, sports or science writing. Students were also advised to hone their skills by studying other newspapers, writers, novels, even poetry. McKinley informed the aspiring journalists that threats such as bloggers would not replace journalists because of their undependability.
McKinley finished his evening speaking about the Mexican drug wars and the United States' contribution in the violence. (Photo by Michelle Mason)
“I thought having Mckinley speak to our class was really inspiring. He started as just a copy boy and grew into the hard-working journalist that he is now,” journalism student Jenn Grider said. ” I think that will encourage students not to get discouraged when venturing out into a shrinking job market.”
How U.S. drug policy encourages violence
McKinley spent his evening speaking about the Mexican drug violence and the United States’ contribution to the Mexican cartels’ wars. The violence has claimed more than 10,000 deaths over the past two years. McKinley outlined five points describing the United States’ participation, whether unknowingly or intentionally, in creating the drug war violence.
Of the $14 million the United States uses to combat drugs, only a third of that is used for treatment and prevention. According to the National Survey of Drug and Treatment, 23 million people are addicted to illicit drugs. Only 2.2 million receive actual treatment or rehab.
“As long as the demand remains, someone will try to sell them drugs,” McKinley said. The disparity of wealth between the two nations has fueled the drug trade because the disposable income in the U.S. is financing the majority of Mexico’s export of illicit drugs. McKinley also stated that the United States’ love for free trade and liberal gun control laws have only helped Mexico in its drug trading.
McKinley’s solutions?
• First, make sensible gun laws.
• Second, society needs to reflect on itself and analyze the hurtful effects drugs have on people, both in this country and in others.
• Third, more money needs to be directed toward education, treatment and rehabilitation for drug addicts, not just for the enforcement of these laws.
McKinley served as a reporter and editor for a number of newspapers before joining The New York Times staff. He has worked both nationally and internationally. He won the Overseas Press Club Award for reports from Africa, served as the Nairobi Bureau Chief, reported in Mexico City and also worked as the Caribbean correspondent. He is currently the Houston Bureau Chief.
