RANDALL PINKSTON

RANDALL PINKSTON 2013 SILVER EM RECIPIENT

By Leah Gibson

After more than 30 years as a correspondent with CBS News, Randall Pinkston has moved to a new venue, freelance reporting as a national correspondent for the Al Jazeera America team.

“It’s a lot of fun,” said Pinkston, a native of Yazoo City. “It’s invigorating.

“They truly are an international newsgathering operation. None of the networks cover the world the way Al Jazeera does.”

Pinkston worked for the network many Americans consider the gold standard in journalism. He produced more than 7,700 reports for CBS NEWS and WCBS-TV, the network’s flagship station in New York City, on topics that ranged from the Tora Bora caves in Afghanistan to the beginning stages of the trial of George Zimmerman for his role in the shooting death of Trayvon Martin. His assignments also included a stint as White House correspondent during the last two years of the administration of President George H. W. Bush.

The Meek School recognized his professional achievement in 2013. Pinkston was presented the Sam Talbert Silver Em Award.

“This is the most prestigious honor the Meek School awards journalists who are from the state and/or have worked in the state, and in my instance it’s both,” Pinkston said.

When he covered the war in Afghanistan, Pinkston knew he was in danger, but he said he really did not feel it.

“For the most part, when you’re covering a story you’re trying to find information,” he said. “You’re trying to find someone, where to do your standup, what to write. … I was just doing the things that a reporter does on a daily basis.”

He explained that every now and then they would find themselves in a sticky situation, like the time his crew found themselves in a convoy with an Afghan leader.

“I look out of the window of the vehicle we were traveling in, and I see this big gun aimed in our direction,” Pinkston said. “I see these guys … and all of a sudden the gun goes off, BOOM!

“I duck, and then the Afghan guys that we have with us began to laugh, and I say, ‘Why are you laughing? They’re shooting at us.’

“They say, ‘No, no, no, they are celebrating our arrival.’” However, Pinkston had reason to be worried that day. Four of the people that his crew had had breakfast with that morning were stopped on the road to Kabul and killed. When he heard the news, Pinkston said he really came to grips with the danger. Amy Birnbaum, one of the producers who worked with Pinkston during his time at CBS, said he “understands the precision of language. That’s a good reporter.” Rodney Comrie is another producer at CBS. He worked with Pinkston for at least 15 years. “I’m one of his biggest admirers because of the love he has for his “That was my prime focus. “I wasn’t that concerned about learning about Trayvon Martin because Trayvon Martin was dead, and we knew at that point that there was never an allegation that Trayvon Martin had a weapon. “It wasn’t that Zimmerman was using his gun to meet force with force. That never was the issue. As far as I was concerned, whatever Trayvon did or did not do, it did not have anything to do with a deadly weapon. “I was trying to ferret this out and learn everything I could about Florida’s Stand Your Ground law.” Pinkston grew up with an understanding of society that the maEveryone doesn’t come into this world with the same opportunities. … We need to try to help those who have the least so they can work towards enjoying the full benefits of American society. “ craft,” Comrie said. “No story is too small and no story is too big. He jority of Americans did not have. Indeed, his childhood poverty did also taught me about [journalism], like how to treat people. not cause him to lack the things he thought really mattered in life:

“Randall always met his deadlines. … He made my life easier. It spiritual, psychological and family riches. was a privilege to work with him because he was a guy you could “I grew up with people who were elderly and told a lot of stories,” count on. he said.

“He always was focused on getting what was needed to get the The other children in the neighborhood in which he grew up had story right.” similar economic issues, but many were not as fortunate to have the

Birnbaum described him as a gentleman. support that he had.

“He always has time for people, and he is very smart,” she said. “These children were not able to enjoy the opportunities that I did

Because of this, Birnbaum said he was “one of the most recognized later on in life,” he said. “So I’ve always been concerned about people reporters that I have met. People always recognized him.” who are still struggling, people who don’t have. That’s just stayed in

A key motivator in Pinkston’s life and his career is his love for people. my head and my heart.”

“One of the ways to make our nation stronger is to do what we After graduating from high school, Pinkston went to Wesleyan can to help individuals realize their full potential,” he said. University in Middletown, Connecticut. There was a radio station on

“Everyone doesn’t come into this world with the same opportunicampus, and he worked there. Anyone interested could work there ties. … We need to try to help those who have the least so they can after passing a test and committing to work one hour a day, five times work towards enjoying the full benefits of American society.” a week.

Pinkston approaches his job from a standpoint of what we can do “I used my hour to play soul music, R&B we called it back in the to help other people. Superficial things like money or airtime are not day,” Pinkston said. “I got my friends to take the other days of the important to him. week. We all took pictures and sent them back home.”

Covering stories that inform the public is in the job description of Pinkston’s father took the picture his son sent him to the minister a journalist, no matter where the reporter stands on the issue of how of their church. During the next year Pinkston’s father became ill and the majority of the people feel. passed away. After the funeral, the minister asked Pinkston what he

Journalists have to give the facts. was going to do next. He encouraged him to go to a local television

“With any stories involving issues of civil rights and justice,” Pinkstation and tell them the Rev. Taylor had sent him. ston said, “I obviously have a personal point of view because of where He did, he was hired, and Pinkston’s career began — first as an I grew up and the times I grew up in. But as a journalist, I always try announcer on the radio station WJDX-FM, then a year and a half to report the facts, and keep my opinion out.” later with 15-minute newscasts. In the process he learned to write

“Injustice can happen to anyone at anytime,” he said. “So when I news stories, produce newscasts and do rudimentary film editing. He was covering the Trayvon Martin story, I learned everything I possibly was hired at WLBT News his junior year. By his senior year, he was could about George Zimmerman. anchoring five days a week for the 10 o’clock newscast.

“I learned everything I could about the neighborhood watch proThat career, beginning in Jackson, has resulted in his becoming gram and its protocols. I learned everything I could about the crime one of the outstanding journalists to come out of Mississippi. profile in that neighborhood and what had happened, and why he The author is a sophomore, broadcast journalism major from became the person to protect that area. Starkville, Mississippi.