Kimberly Mata-Rubio, a former journalist and current advertising executive at the Uvalde Leader News, sat at her desk in the newsroom when she heard the police scanner report a shooting near Robb Elementary in Uvalde, Texas – two of her kids’ school. After spending years as a journalist, she unwillingly became a newsworthy subject.
Rubio lost her 10-year-old daughter Lexi in the May 24, 2022, shooting. She has since spent nearly three years dedicating herself to seeking justice for her daughter and the 18 other children and two teachers who the shooter killed. Rubio joined forces with UT alumnus Tamir Kalifa, a journalist who covered the Uvalde story, to give a multimedia presentation, “Grief and Grace in Uvalde,” at the Moody College of Communication on Monday.
“I am determined to make sure the world remembers Lexi and to honor her with action so this doesn’t happen to another mother,” Rubio said.
In a room of aspiring journalists, professors and victims’ families, Rubio and Kalifa reflected on the tragedy. Kalifa then performed three original songs based on the stories he reported and the families he grew close to, alongside a slideshow of photos and videos. The School of Journalism and Media Photo Gallery will display his work until April.
Kalifa spent over 150 days in Uvalde, getting to know the families while living in a shipping container converted into a tiny home. He stayed in the public spaces and avoided door-knocking to allow space for the grieving families.
“When you approach grief of this magnitude, some of the lines built to create that distance (between journalist and subject) start to blur,” Kalifa said. “Your humanity takes over, and it’s impossible not to bond with people, … especially in the most difficult moments of their lives … ultimately (that) serves the journalism and allows … the families to trust me.”
Robert Quigley, a journalism associate professor of practice, said the presentation proved important for journalism students to learn from a professional journalist who acts with compassion and treats sources with kindness.
“I teared up — I think everybody did in that auditorium multiple times,” Quigley said. “That’s heavy content but told in such a compassionate way. They wanted you to feel that there (are) things we can do and ways we can move forward.”
Lexi was one of six siblings, Rubio said. On the day of her death, she received straight A’s and recognition for being a good citizen. She was athletic, playing softball and basketball, and dreamed of attending St. Mary’s University to become a lawyer, as politics and social justice interested her. Rubio said she hopes to make Lexi proud.
“Can you imagine the impact she (would have) had if she was here to tell her story herself?” Rubio said. “I take my responsibility to carry her legacy very seriously.”
Though the media attention in Uvalde calmed down, Rubio said visitors still come to memorials to remember the victims. Rubio said the fight to end gun violence is not over.
“These threats keep coming … across the country,” Rubio said during the presentation. “When does it end? When is enough enough?”