Deconstructing the Journalist

We bemoaned the lack of information out there about Delia Gallagher... for the longest time, we did not even know where she went to school or what she did other than be a Vatican Analyst, whatever the heck that meant. We Google her and find a lot of seemingly innocuous materials: articles she wrote for Zenit and Inside the Vatican, and transcripts from CNN. We relished the tidbit published about her in her hometown's local paper - at least 3 different people sent me the article - and it was posted in another totally separate blog.

What happens when the newsperson becomes the news? When the journalist becomes the journalized? When the reporter becomes the reported? I don't know, I'm not sure I know the correct answer. Until Pope JP2's death, I hardly watched CNN or any other news channel. I never had any interest in any journalist or reporter before then. Honestly, Delia did not offer any insight that I already didn't know, having attended Catholic schools all my life - but that did not diminish her journalistic depth at all. She really IS awesome, and I am glad the rest of the world is catching on.

Maybe it is fitting that there is NOT much out there about Delia Gallagher, per se, and lots about her writing. Maybe that's the way it's supposed to be. And if we are lucky, we might get a glimpse of the writer from her work - and then it's all going to be worth it.

Added:

Once again, my Anonymous friend offered some insight on Delia:

Delia Gallagher prefers designer scarves, hardly wristbands. Delia Gallagher is a solid journalist that asks the question the viewer at home would ask. Simply put, Delia gets it and so do her readers and viewers. Furthermore, she's very genuine, a rarity in hard news today. Journalists cover stories, not vice versa, so its understandable there is a lack of information on Delia. Delia was probably one of the most advanced editors for her age of a college newspaper (The Foghorn at the University of San Francisco) breaking stories before she landed at KCBS right out of college. Further, she was the only female allowed into the Oxford University Debating Society and while there was asked to be a judge because she is smart, impartial and fair. Delia is at her core a good day to day journalist with extensive contacts and extremely focused on delivering news right the first time and that is how we should expect our news to be.

Well, thank you again for the info on Delia Gallagher. Designer scarves, eh? But I guess I don't agree with you on something: "Delia is at her core a good day to day journalist with extensive contacts and extremely focused on delivering news right the first time and that is how we should expect our news to be..." I believe Delia "at her core" is more than a "good day to day journalist" - she's got heart. It takes more than factual reporting to tell a story - writers are not necessarily good reporters and vice versa. I would like to believe that Delia is both. Reporters labor over the details, writers detail the labor -> hey, I just made that up! That's what makes up "the heart" - a reporter from Mars who has never seen a rose would not be able to report on it, but a writer can convey its essence. Delia can do both - that's The Rarity.

Hey Anonymous, good writers verify their facts and go through the vetting process. Thank you for all the info on Delia, but how can we be sure they are all in fact correct (pun intended)? For one, the Oxford Union has been accepting women; former Pakistan Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto was union president in 1977. Unless Delia is like 60 years old or you are referring to another debating society at Oxford, your statement cannot be correct.