By Jessica Able, Reporter
You can often find me at Santa Fe Grill on S. Third Street on Tuesdays at lunchtime. The midday break is a welcome respite amidst what is typically a hectic day in the office.
The weekly habit began years ago with colleagues in the news department at The Record. It’s become more than a habit, a routine really. Many people, myself included, are creatures of habit.
That’s one of the things I love about my job. Each week is exactly the same and yet completely different. Certain events must take place on specific days (e.g., writing and editing) given the nature of a weekly publication schedule. And yet, the subject matter of stories can vary widely from week to week.
As a reporter at The Record, I am able to visit parishes, schools and organizations throughout the 24 counties in the Archdiocese of Louisville. There, I may meet excited students celebrating a Blue Ribbon award or dedicated women religious caring for God’s creation or faithful Catholics serving the poor and hungry.
It is the mission of The Record to communicate the good news of Jesus Christ to the people of Central Kentucky. We approach each issue of The Record with this simple statement in mind.
For me, it is a privilege to meet the people of the archdiocese and be trusted to tell their stories. Whether I’m reporting on the bicentennial of the oldest Catholic Church in Meade County (Hello St. Theresa!) or listening to a group of Hispanic youth express their fears about the hateful rhetoric directed towards migrants, I’m in awe of the powerful stories shared with me.
I try to bring compassion and thoughtfulness to each story I write. Through the words we print in The Record each Thursday, we hope to convey the work done in God’s name by our Catholic brothers and sisters.
I’m often asked what “beat” I cover, a typical question for a journalist. With a small staff, each of us wears many hats and are able to report on a broad spectrum of the news, an aspect I love. I’m constantly learning and researching topics whether it’s how solar panels work, details of a heart bypass story or legislative issues facing the Kentucky General Assembly.
Catholic journalists have a specific responsibility to uphold the truth and to “encourage Catholics to carry out their baptismal calls to reach out to others in Christ’s name,” as stated in our editorial policies.
In an address to communication professionals earlier this year at the Vatican, Pope Francis asked journalists and others who work in the media to promote a “journalism of peace.” He said a “journalism of peace” is at the service of all people especially those who have no voice. That is what we try to do at The Record each week.
The Record newspaper has served the Catholic community in the Archdiocese of Louisville for 139 years. It’s an honor to be a part of that legacy of storytelling.
Jessica Able has been a reporter at The Record newspaper since 2011. She and her husband, Dan, have two children, Caroline and Joshua, and are parishioners at St. Agnes Church.
