The Eyes, Mind and Heart of Jeff Kamen, Journalist in All Media

In my books, news reporting, TV and radio documentaries on NPR, NBC  News, CBC radio, WNET/13 and WPIX11, NY, I have always told the story with integrity, clarity, passion and empathy fueled by my gratitude for being a paid witness to history as it unfolds. During my award-winning daily journalism career, which spanned more than 40 years, I have on a handful of occasions intervened in the event, mostly to save lives. I don’t regret any of it.  There was a time when I carried a gun as part of a month-long assignment. Those days ended more than ten years ago, before stressors shattered my health and I sought refuge in Yogaville, the interfaith meditation  center in central Virginia. Here, I returned to excellent health, became a man of non-violence while staying plugged in to the news of the day. I still love telling a  truly challenging story, bringing key players to life. It is my enduring  professional passion. That’s another reason  I’m participating in the upcoming four day University of Oregon journalism department conference on reporters living under threat of death around the world. I was one of them right here in the U.S.

From the very beginning, I was blessed with many mentors – first when I was an overnight copy boy on the copy desk of the New York Journal- American newspaper. I was 18 years old and looking for guidance. One of the best writers at the paper, Mel Juffe of blessed memory, took me aside, one day, and said, “Never forget, kid. If you get to be a real reporter, your job is to tell the truth as you see it and hear it no matter who that pisses off.“  Another generous teacher at the newspaper was Mel Finkelstein arguably one of the best and most tenacious photojournalists of 20th century, New York City. “Get closer but don’t get killed,” he laughed, “if you want your pictures to be the best!” 

So, tell the truth and get closer. I lived by those words every day that I chased the news with a 35mm camera, a TV news crew, a tape recorder, or just a notepad.