Covering Cases No One Else Will
PHOTO: Founder of the Davis Vanguard, David Greenwald, talks about what it represents for the community
By Liz Brehler
BlueDevilHUB.com Staff–
David Greenwald reports on criminal trials in 10 different counties. His work takes him into courtrooms two to three times a week. But the founder of the website the Davis Vanguard believes it’s important to report on court cases that are too often overlooked.
He started the Vanguard in 2006 as an alternate news source because of a police response issue. As a grad student at the time, he grew frustrated with how the rest of the town was reacting. It started as a local news website but now has evolved into a site that covers criminal court cases.
Greenwald and several interns share the courthouse reporting. He notices that “about 95%,” of the time, there are no other reporters covering these cases.
To Alan Hirsch, a longtime friend, Greenwald’s work is an amazing addition to the community. “The court system in California is operating better because someone [Greenwald] is watching,” Hirsch said.
For Greenwald, his responsibility to the public is to “first and foremost to provide news that they may not get elsewhere.” This is why he started The Vanguard and why he keeps it going.
“I really love what I do. It doesn’t feel like work; it feels like fun,” Greenwald said.
And while his work is important, he thinks he has little power as a reporter. Yet he feels it’s essential to hold elected officials, police, and judges accountable by voters.
Greenwald acknowledges the responsibility of reporting fairly and accurately for a story. He strives to report the truth honestly, “even when it upsets people at times.”
But reporting for the Vanguard is not easy.
Greenwald almost believed that he had made the wrong decision by deciding to inform the Davis Police Department of a bomb threat on Sept. 20 at 2:30 in the morning. He debated if it was worth it to call them so early. But Greenwald did, and they responded quickly and effectively, allowing for the threatened schools to be cleared before the official start.
In all of his years of experience, Greenwald said journalists are “always flying on the seat of our pants.”
