When you met Roy Reed, it was forgivable if you didn't know you were in the presence of one of journalism's finest practitioners. He was humble, soft-spoken, measured and meticulous. He drew little attention to himself, yet seemed to know every detail about what was happening around him. His countenance was as far from the the model of the modern "celebrity journalist" as one can get.
To know Reed was a great writer, reporter and story-teller, you had to read his work. Then, nothing could be clearer. Like the carefully constructed sentences and exquisitely chosen words he used to paint scenes for his readers, Reed's talent commanded attention. And if you scoured the images his words created for a reflection of Roy himself, you would only find him in the perfection of the prose.
What’s the point?
A remembrance of renowned journalist Roy Reed, who died Sunday after a life of chronicling the times he witnessed and wrote about.
He was the quintessential newspaper journalist. He was the observer who could at once ferret out a well-hidden truth, project the atmosphere of a scene, discern the importance of the moment and describe it fully with breathtaking conciseness.
Reed, 87, died Sunday, wrapping up a life that enriched others with his deft story-telling and inspired teaching. As a reporter for the Arkansas Gazette and the New York Times, he covered some of the most significant events of the 20th century, including the Civil Rights movement in the South during the 1960s. He was an accomplished author. He inspired a generation of new journalists in 16 years as a professor at the University of Arkansas. As word of his death spread Monday, tributes from former colleagues, sources and students poured in.
Bill Bowden's fine story in Monday's paper about Reed's life and death pointed out the lasting impact his work had on the New York Times, convincing the Old Gray Lady to tell stories infused with color and humanity. He was, of course, not the only reporter who challenged the staid conventions of the Times, but he was among the most successful.
Perhaps a more lasting legacy emanated from the classrooms at Kimpel Hall on the UA campus, where he encouraged, nudged and -- in extreme cases -- dragged young journalists toward the kind of story-telling that would satisfy a reader's thirst for knowledge and perspective. No detail was too small to sweat (oh, the quiet wrath he could unleash for a misspelled name). While he knew his students were still learning, his expectations remained high and he considered no assignment to be beyond their reach. Most of all, he was a kind and willing mentor to hundreds who passed through his classes. The lessons he taught found their way into newsrooms across the country, particularly in Arkansas. When someone commits great journalism in this state, odds are good Reed had a hand in training the reporter or editor who prepared it.
We, and countless others, will miss Roy Reed, but his life's work survives for those who strive to uncover the truth and share it. We're grateful to Reed for the example he set and the inspiration he shared.
Commentary on 12/12/2017