This is one of the more difficult interviews I have ever conducted.

But for journalists -- and, truly, anyone -- it is an important interview to hear.

For three years I have come to know my co-worker Jeff Hullinger as verbose, eloquent, wry, and sardonic. Starting a conversation with Hullinger means beginning a singular journey of quips, observations, and insights that can only come from someone of his experience and expressiveness. He has spent three decades as a broadcaster in Atlanta; he has won 19 regional Emmys, interviewed everyone from John Elway to Mikhail Gorbachev, and called the play-by-play on the radio for a Super Bowl.

Last week Hullinger did something he -- and 99.9% of journalists -- had never done: he witnessed an execution.

The state of Georgia had scheduled the death of Kelly Gissendaner, who had been convicted of orchestrating the murder of her husband, Doug. About a week before the execution, Hullinger learned he had been named of five area journalists who would serve as witnesses.

He did not back away from the assignment.

"I think, sitting in an anchor chair, I have a responsibility to represent this station publicly," Hullinger told me, "and I take that very seriously. You have a responsibility to both yourself and your co-workers. I think word in action becomes significant."

He added, "This is something that no one wants to do, from an intellectual standpoint. [But] it's something I have to do."

Hullinger joins me on this episode of the Telling the Story podcast. →

The post PODCAST EPISODE #35: Jeff Hullinger, WXIA-TV, on witnessing an execution appeared first on Telling The Story.