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I have been an advocate journalist for more than four decades. We all have an important calling to do what we can to make life better within our sphere of influence.

I have always felt I was born, raised, and came of age during a very pregnant and poignant time, not only in an evolving America but also in an evolving society.

As circumstances, issues, and forces—social, political, economic—occur all around me, push against me, I have chosen to push back. I have consciously entered and continue to enter the fray, using the power of words—the only real and lasting weapon I have.

We all have an important calling to do something. What is yours?

Being a journalist has not been my formal training nor my profession. Becoming an advocate journalist has been my calling.

The writings of an advocate journalist always boil down, directly or indirectly, intentionally or unintentionally, to a plea—imploring the reader or listener to think, to consider the facts, the circumstances, the possible solutions for the issues at hand, and when appropriate and necessary, to act.

During the past four decades, the commentaries have been written for a large radio station, a major metropolitan daily newspaper, community newspapers, as a guest columnist for a metropolitan business journal, and currently online.

We all can apply our talents to make a difference to make things better. We all have an important calling. We only have to look within ourselves to find it, and then go for it.

Throughout, I have tried to adhere to the standards of what I call Real Advocacy Journalism®, which is the subject of my award-winning book, Shaping Public Opinion: How Real Advocacy Journalism® Should Be Practiced (2021), and is covered in detail.

But in sum, much of the advocacy journalism practiced today is partisan, biased, and often blurs the lines between truth and lies, facts and fiction, and often presents fake news as real news. The purpose and objectives of such advocacy journalism constitute propaganda to gain public support for the interest and agenda of a few, a special interest group, or a small constituency rather than for the good of the majority.

We all have an important calling, and I have committed to be true to mine.

We All Have an Important Calling
(Photo by William_Potter/iStock Images)

In my writings, I have endeavored to apply the principles and tenets of Real Advocacy Journalism®, which is to stick to the facts, analyze them, put an event, situation, or issues into perspective in order to foster a better understanding, and provide direction to form an opinion or pursue an action. We all live and function in an orbit of influence. How in depth a particular commentary addresses a subject matter was determined by the time allotted for the radio spot, the space in a newspaper, or word count online.

This is Book II, Patriotism and Politics, of three books in the Real Advocacy Journalism® series. Book I, Ethics and Values (2022) and Book III, Justice and Equality (2025) are also under the title Using My Word Power: Advocating for a More Civilized Society.

We all have an important calling. What is yours?

In each book, the commentaries have been grouped under major section headings. All commentaries, written across the decades, have been chosen for their enduring relevancy in terms of the timeliness and timelessness of their subject matter—then and now. Many represent historical accounts of defining moments, incidents, and issues that have had lasting impact on, and lessons learned about American society.

My hope is that in sharing my attempts to improve understanding about issues that impact us all that you will be informed, enlightened, inspired, and have reaffirmation that in addition to our beliefs, our words and actions are what advances a more civilized and better society.

Excerpts from Book II in the Using My Word Power series released October 22, 2024

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