"Good morning. I was in Scottsdale yesterday, recording a podcast on site at Deloitte's Next Generation CEO Program, when news about the murder of conservative activist Charlie Kirk began to trickle in. We had been talking about the challenge of being a public figure in business or politics these days, the need for visionary and visible leadership, when visibility can come at a price."
"Those realities impact how I report. I've been more mindful of my own security since my former colleague Daniel Pearl was murdered in 2002. Gone are the days when terrorists would turn to a journalist to tell their story. Instead of protecting journalists, a press badge can make us a target."
"I'm more sensitive to the consequences of my reporting on others, having seen someone fired for a quote that felt mild to me but provocative to his paranoid employer. That's more a result of experience than caution. I've long advised billionaires to stop giving me their kids' names. I don't chase down big names for trite quotes that no one needs to read, nor do I dig for details that people have a right to keep private."
News of a violent killing prompted reflection on the risks of public visibility for business and political leaders. Executives face heightened alert after recent shootings, and campus anger has coincided with more threats and public calls to violence. Journalists and public figures confront increased personal risk, with press credentials sometimes making reporters targets. Experience with past murders has led to greater mindfulness of security and caution around identifying private individuals. Reporting practices have shifted: reporters avoid chasing needless quotes, protect personal details, accept more off-the-record policy conversations, and prioritize serving readers while balancing source safety.
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