Wednesday’s tragic on-air shooting in Roanoke, Virginia, that took the lives of two television journalists is yet another example of the senseless violence that seems to shatter our lives far too often in today’s world.

It certainly did so for the viewers of this small community not unlike our own as they now mourn two professionals who were well known and respected for their work.

These reporters lost their lives while simply doing their jobs — professions that are not considered to be dangerous under these circumstances — and all of us who work in the media have been wounded by this tragedy.

While it appears there may have been personal motivation involved rather than this just being a random attack on the media, this event perfectly illustrates the dangers of this job and virtually any job that involves being exposed.

The painful lesson to be learned here, and one that is driven home often, is that we cannot take life for granted. Every day we are blessed to be on this earth could be our last.

Our hearts go out to the families of Alison Parker and Adam Ward.

We are not asking people to feel sympathy or compassion because these individual were journalists but instead because they are victims of a heartless crime that didn’t have to happen.

 

Opinions expressed are those of the editorial board consisting of Publisher Michael Caldwell and editors Ambrosia Neldon, Craig Haupert, Ted Yoakum and Scott Novak.