Editor's Viewpoint: The Weight of Witnessing a State-Sponsored Execution

If you were granted the opportunity to witness a state-sponsored execution, would you take it? It is a question that challenges the boundaries of professional duty and personal beliefs.

The Tennessee Department of Correction has scheduled the execution of Anthony Hines for August 13, 2026. In accordance with state law, the department recently issued invitations to recognized news organizations to apply for a role as a statutorily required witness. Seven representatives and two alternates will be chosen by drawing at the Riverbend Maximum Security Institution to observe the proceedings and report their observations to the public.

The invitation I received read: “In accordance with state law, the Tennessee Department of Correction (TDOC) is now accepting applications... for the scheduled execution of Anthony Hines #109293.” It is a “distinction” that carries a heavy burden, tasking journalists with providing a transparent account of the state’s most final act.

This is not the first time such an invitation has reached me. Decades ago, my brother Jeff—then the editor of the Dresden Enterprise—and I, in my capacity as editor of The McKenzie Banner, were invited to witness an execution. The case was local; the inmate was from McKenzie and the victim was a child from Weakley County. Despite the professional relevance, we both declined.

Our decision was shaped by a shared history. Beyond our roles in the media, we both served as emergency medical technicians. In both professions, we had already stood as witnesses to death and the fragility of life. We understood that witnessing the end of a life, even one mandated by the legal system, is an experience that leaves an indelible memory.

As August 13 approaches, the question for The Banner’s readers is, “What would you do if you were asked to witness and report on the final moments of a human life?”