Joe Kennedy

Joe Kennedy is routinely named the region's best writer by readers of The Roanoker magazine.

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Anybody who heard Katie Couric's shouted questions at Virginia Tech officials following the shootings three weeks ago probably could understand why some people believe reporters are bottom-feeding sensation-seekers always looking for negatives.

In Couric's defense, she had no understanding of Southwest Virginia's culture, much less the tight bonds among those in the Tech community.

I doubt that, prior to April 16, she and lot of other people could have found Blacksburg on a map.

Do not associate the rest of us in the media with those who swooped in.

No reporter or editor I know is happy that students were killed and injured at Virginia Tech.

Young or old, everybody I saw in our newsroom was stunned, horrified and working hard.

There were no high fives, only determination, energy, and relief as stories took form.

This was the biggest news event to happen in my 35 years here.

It was gratifying to receive compliments for our work.

It's not my place to congratulate the staff -- that's above my pay grade.

I can say that the approach The Roanoke Times took struck me as balanced, thorough and all-encompassing.

It was gratifying to watch one Tech student after another sit in the TV spotlight and defend the school, describe its character and deflect the opinion-laden queries of alleged media superstars like Paula Zahn.

The more I listened to the dirt diggers, the more I began to regard my television as a piece of furniture I no longer needed.

Tech officials kept their cool despite intense, sometimes errant questioning. By week's end, media representatives were applauding.

This proved that people under siege earn respect by sticking to the truth as they know it.

Lots of people wrote in response to my column that appeared the day after the 32 students were killed on campus.

One writer said many people viewed the national media's coverage as pompous, hostile and trashy and said they were angry about it.

I welcomed the mail.

I didn't welcome the chance to write the piece.

Another influx of outside media will come to Blacksburg for the weekend's commencement ceremonies.

I am certain that, along with grief, the outsiders will find something remarkable. It's called Hokie spirit, and it will not die.