TV ANCHOR SEES NEW RACISM EMERGING

Tom Cochrun believes people are becoming captured by the idea of what makes them different as opposed to what makes them the same.

WTHR (Channel 13) anchorman Tom Cochrun, who won an Emmy Award for exposing the Ku Klux Klan, says he sees a new kind of racism emerging in this country.

"I think that what has occurred is that some people, regardless of whether they're black or white or yellow or red, are becoming increasingly captured by the idea of what makes them different as opposed to what makes us all the same," he said.

"I think the new racism that we have to be aware of is that people are trying to be different and not celebrate their commonality. And that's scary. That's very, very scary."

In an interview with Children's Express, the 45- year-old Ball State University graduate told us about his Emmy-award winning documentary.

"It was very difficult (doing the KKK documentary). At that time the Klan was making a concentrated bid to recruit youth, people like you. I felt that needed to be exposed, and it needed to be reported. It was challenging, but it was a wonderful experience once it was done because the story has a certain power and the story has a certain impact on people.

"So it was very difficult to suspend my thoughts about what racism meant when I was listening to whites talking about white supremacy. But I had to listen to them, and I had to consider it. And I did. And then I discounted the theories again."

The former correspondent for The Indianapolis Times also views his work as an important service to the people.

"What we're trying to do as journalists, I think, is to continue to serve the ideas of democracy and republic. Arm people with information. I just think it's important work."