Telling Hard Stories With Heart: After The Covenant School Shooting

From Tragedy to Truth: How parents and children survived The Covenant School Shooting in Nashville, Tennessee

When the news cycle moved on, we stayed. In the days following the devastating shooting at The Covenant School in Nashville, I knew this wasn’t just a story about what happened. It was about what would happen next.

As the Executive Producer of this project for WSMV-TV, I led the creation of a long-form investigative feature that sought to honor the depth of this tragedy while documenting the enduring emotional impact on families and the community. This story was not just breaking news—it was a reckoning.

The Approach: Telling Hard Stories With Heart

This piece required more than reporting—it demanded empathy, trust, and purpose. I spent weeks working with survivors, grieving parents, and policy leaders to frame a narrative that captured not just loss, but transformation.

• We chronicled the lived experience of families navigating unspeakable grief.

• We spotlighted parents who turned pain into purpose, stepping into the public eye as advocates for legislative change.

• We brought clarity to complex debates around school safety and gun reform—anchoring them in the voices of those most affected.

  
  

The Impact: Beyond the Airwaves

This video was more than a feature. It became a tool for community healing, public discourse, and long-term accountability. It helped shift the conversation from mourning to momentum—from what was lost to what could still be changed.

Recognized for its empathetic storytelling and narrative integrity, the piece reflected what I believe journalism should be: rooted in humanity, and driven by purpose.

Why It Matters

This wasn’t just a story about tragedy. It was about what happens after.

How heartbreak hardens into resolve. How grieving parents become activists.

How journalism, at its best, can amplify the voices that demand change.