When I first read Terry Moran's tweet about President Obama calling Kanye West a "jackass," my first thought wasn't whether the president had actually said so (after all, I think 98 percent of Americans, regardless of political belief, can agree on that). No, my first thought was of wonder about how Moran had heard about the quote so quickly ... and why a quote that involved such strong language from the president regarding a situation that drew so much attention was nowhere to be found when I searched the news wires and the internet.
When it came to light that the president made the remark minutes before a CNBC interview, I was even more confused about how ABC News employees had accidentally spilled the beans on the president's remark. At first I thought ABC had stumbled upon a CNBC satellite feed ... but this article clearly lays out how ABC Newsers heard the comment through a fiber optic line shared by the competing networks.
The article also addresses the journalistic concept of "off the record" ... something I wanted to address briefly here.
When it comes right down to it, the things that bind a journalist not to report something they've learned "off the record" are professional courtesy and personal/journalistic ethics. On any given story, a journalist only reports a fraction of the information they really know. In TV, part of that involves only being able to say so much in a 1:15 long story ... and part of it involves keeping your mouth shut.
Sources tell us things off the record for a number of reasons. Sometimes they're fearful of going "on the record" with it. Sometimes reporters just need a little taste of the back story to do a better job of telling the story at hand. And sometimes sources just like to run their mouths.
But anything that's ever said to a reporter is committed to memory, written down in a notebook or considered for use.
I don't really like talking to people "off the record" too often. In a way, knowing more of the story actually handcuffs a reporter ... and at times it can get confusing as to what is on the record and what is off.
When someone tells me something off the record, if it's pertinent to the story at hand and in the public interest, I'll do everything within my power to get them to go on the record with it ... or I'll do what I can to confirm it through another source.
Unless there's some clearly defined and overwhelming public and journalistic interest in publishing something a source told me off the record, then I'm not going to do it (and I can say to this day that I've never run with something I shouldn't run with before I got confirmation on it). The reason for that is simple ... journalists have to build trustful relationships with sources and with viewers/readers. It goes back to the professional courtesy I mentioned earlier.
If a reporter publishes information they learned off the record, they've likely just burned a bridge in a big way. You can't effectively do this job whilst going around and burning bridges. You'll betray the trust of your sources and you'll betray the trust of the people you're working for ... the viewers and readers.
Most reporters care greatly for their reputations ... I know I've worked extremely hard to build a reputation as a relatable, trustworthy and reliable reporter. I want to keep it that way ... and for better or for worse, that's where "off the record" comes in to play.
Tuesday, September 15, 2009
Saturday, September 12, 2009
The Surreal World
(Fair warning ... this is a long post, but I think it's a worthwhile read. Enjoy!)
Friday felt surreal right from the get-go. First of all, it marked the eighth anniversary of the 9/11 attacks. As I drove to Jacksonville to cover the Patriot Day ceremony there, I thought about what I was doing when the world changed eight years ago.
I remember it vividly. I was a senior in high school, sitting in the library doing work for my independent study Spanish class. Along with another student (her name was Tamika White), I hit the library every day for first period. We'd gone through all five levels of Spanish our county's school system offered in high school -- but our teacher managed to create an independent study course/project for us to undertake.
We got to know the librarians pretty well since we saw them every day. And right around 9a, one of them stepped out of her office and in a flustered tone said, "Turn on the TV. My husband just called and said a plane hit the World Trade Center." So we tuned the tube to CBS and watched as smoke poured out of one of the towers. We theorized about how it happened and only began to allow ourselves to think it may have been intentional when word came that a couple of jetliners had gone missing.
Then we watched aghast as the second plane plowed into the second tower. At this point, our minds were made up ... America was under attack.
Things were happening so fast and yet it felt like time was standing still. Somehow the bell managed to ring and first period ended. I left my belongings in the library and waded into the halls, where 1,100 other students had little clue as to what was happening. I met my second period teacher in the hall (Mrs. Hinnant) and told her what was going on. She taught AP English but didn't want us to miss watching history unfold and took our entire class into the library.
There we watched the attack on the Pentagon happen. Bryant Gumble was in the anchor chair for CBS that morning ... and when the director took the shot of the smoldering Pentagon (without telling Gumble), I can remember hearing him say "This is the Pentagon -- Oh, my God."
That's exactly what we were all thinking. And though we were only a bunch of teenagers, we prayed. We worried. Some cried. We all felt numb.
Flash forward to Friday. The memories of what came eight years earlier flashed in front of me again as I stood near Jacksonville's 9/11 Memorial, watching pictures of the victims flash in front of me while an emcee told their stories.
That was surreal enough. But it was only 9a and I still had to shoot another story.
So I ran to my office, sent in some video for the noon newscast and shuffled off to the Onslow County Sheriff's Office ... where the three other TV stations, the newspaper and I were set to interview Sheriff Brown about 54 marijuana plants and 51 pit bulls deputies found the day before.
We chatted with the sheriff for a while, saw pictures of the weed and the dogs. We learned a lot about dog fighting and the instruments used there-in. Deputies say the man they arrested was breeding dogs to fight. Judging by the graphic, gruesome pictures we saw, it's hard to argue.
We wanted the whole story, though. So me, Andrea Pacetti from News14, Chelsea Donovan from WITN and Lindell Kay from The Daily News headed out to the man's house.
The man, Lethen Pollock, was still in jail ... but his mom was at the scene. Chelsea and I shot video through the woods of the dogs chained to the ground while Lindell worked to convince Pollock's mom to talk to us. I'm usually pretty good at getting unwilling (and yet crucial) folks to talk ... but Lindell expertly convinced Mrs. Pollock to talk after Chelsea and I underscored the importance of getting her son's side of the story out there.
She talked to us and staunchly defended her son. She also let us see hundreds of pounds worth of dog food she said her son feeds the dogs, attempting to counter the sheriff's claims of malnutrition.
Then another family member took us in to the backyard to some kennels. They were filled with moms and puppies, empty water bowls and lots of dog waste. The smell was overwhelming. Think hog lagoon.
I also got a couple of shots of the dogs hidden in the woods, shackled with inch-thick chains around their necks. Pollock's mom insisted her son is a dog lover. She said he doesn't fight the dogs. She claimed he takes good care of them.
It's not my job to second-guess or judge. Pollock is in jail on drug charges but hasn't yet been charged in connection with the dogs. Animal Control hasn't returned my calls to tell me whether he will be charged in connection with the dogs.
Read Lindell's blog about it here or watch my story below.
After you check them both out, I think you'll agree ... sometimes it's a surreal world out there.
Update (9/13, 9:15p): Despite me dogging Onslow County Animal Control for info, I haven't heard back from them. However, the Onslow County Magistrate's Office has just confirmed to me that Lethen Pollock has been charged with cruelty to animals and mistreatment of animals. I'll work to get even more information on Monday.
Friday felt surreal right from the get-go. First of all, it marked the eighth anniversary of the 9/11 attacks. As I drove to Jacksonville to cover the Patriot Day ceremony there, I thought about what I was doing when the world changed eight years ago.
I remember it vividly. I was a senior in high school, sitting in the library doing work for my independent study Spanish class. Along with another student (her name was Tamika White), I hit the library every day for first period. We'd gone through all five levels of Spanish our county's school system offered in high school -- but our teacher managed to create an independent study course/project for us to undertake.
We got to know the librarians pretty well since we saw them every day. And right around 9a, one of them stepped out of her office and in a flustered tone said, "Turn on the TV. My husband just called and said a plane hit the World Trade Center." So we tuned the tube to CBS and watched as smoke poured out of one of the towers. We theorized about how it happened and only began to allow ourselves to think it may have been intentional when word came that a couple of jetliners had gone missing.
Then we watched aghast as the second plane plowed into the second tower. At this point, our minds were made up ... America was under attack.
Things were happening so fast and yet it felt like time was standing still. Somehow the bell managed to ring and first period ended. I left my belongings in the library and waded into the halls, where 1,100 other students had little clue as to what was happening. I met my second period teacher in the hall (Mrs. Hinnant) and told her what was going on. She taught AP English but didn't want us to miss watching history unfold and took our entire class into the library.
There we watched the attack on the Pentagon happen. Bryant Gumble was in the anchor chair for CBS that morning ... and when the director took the shot of the smoldering Pentagon (without telling Gumble), I can remember hearing him say "This is the Pentagon -- Oh, my God."
That's exactly what we were all thinking. And though we were only a bunch of teenagers, we prayed. We worried. Some cried. We all felt numb.
Flash forward to Friday. The memories of what came eight years earlier flashed in front of me again as I stood near Jacksonville's 9/11 Memorial, watching pictures of the victims flash in front of me while an emcee told their stories.
That was surreal enough. But it was only 9a and I still had to shoot another story.
So I ran to my office, sent in some video for the noon newscast and shuffled off to the Onslow County Sheriff's Office ... where the three other TV stations, the newspaper and I were set to interview Sheriff Brown about 54 marijuana plants and 51 pit bulls deputies found the day before.
We chatted with the sheriff for a while, saw pictures of the weed and the dogs. We learned a lot about dog fighting and the instruments used there-in. Deputies say the man they arrested was breeding dogs to fight. Judging by the graphic, gruesome pictures we saw, it's hard to argue.
We wanted the whole story, though. So me, Andrea Pacetti from News14, Chelsea Donovan from WITN and Lindell Kay from The Daily News headed out to the man's house.
The man, Lethen Pollock, was still in jail ... but his mom was at the scene. Chelsea and I shot video through the woods of the dogs chained to the ground while Lindell worked to convince Pollock's mom to talk to us. I'm usually pretty good at getting unwilling (and yet crucial) folks to talk ... but Lindell expertly convinced Mrs. Pollock to talk after Chelsea and I underscored the importance of getting her son's side of the story out there.
She talked to us and staunchly defended her son. She also let us see hundreds of pounds worth of dog food she said her son feeds the dogs, attempting to counter the sheriff's claims of malnutrition.
Then another family member took us in to the backyard to some kennels. They were filled with moms and puppies, empty water bowls and lots of dog waste. The smell was overwhelming. Think hog lagoon.
I also got a couple of shots of the dogs hidden in the woods, shackled with inch-thick chains around their necks. Pollock's mom insisted her son is a dog lover. She said he doesn't fight the dogs. She claimed he takes good care of them.It's not my job to second-guess or judge. Pollock is in jail on drug charges but hasn't yet been charged in connection with the dogs. Animal Control hasn't returned my calls to tell me whether he will be charged in connection with the dogs.
Read Lindell's blog about it here or watch my story below.
After you check them both out, I think you'll agree ... sometimes it's a surreal world out there.
Update (9/13, 9:15p): Despite me dogging Onslow County Animal Control for info, I haven't heard back from them. However, the Onslow County Magistrate's Office has just confirmed to me that Lethen Pollock has been charged with cruelty to animals and mistreatment of animals. I'll work to get even more information on Monday.
Giving It Another Go
OK, OK ... so it's been a while since I updated the blog. How long? Well, George W. Bush was still president. Michael Vick was in prison. Bernie Madoff wasn't. And the unsuspecting world had no idea it'd soon be inundated with 'round-the-clock coverage of the King of Pop's death or controversy over health care. My, how things change.
But I'm going to try and change how frequently I update my blog. A couple years ago, I did it regularly ... and it attracted a decent following. Eventually, it grew cumbersome for one reason or another. Now, I hope to do a better job (a pledge I realize I've made several times...).
There's no denying that social media is revolutionizing journalism. I'm a Twitterholic and enjoy connecting with friends, family and viewers through my tweets. Twitter's value on a professional level is abundantly clear to me. But outside of how it benefits me, I enjoy trying to give people a behind-the-scenes look at how other reporters and I go about getting the stories we do each day ... and demystifying some of the misconceptions about how our industry works.
I'm hoping to expand that here and share some thoughts and insights about the goings-on both off- and on-camera throughout the day. Often there is so much that I can't squeeze in to a story on the nightly news or crazy shenanigans that happen in pursuit of making said story happen. Hopefully this will be a place where I can tell the rest of the story.
And I want it to be interactive. I love the opportunity to interact with viewers and web users on Twitter ... so comment, criticize and suggest. Help me find more good stories to tell and share your own experiences.
With your help, I'm hoping giving it another go will prove successful!
Look for another update soon ... detailing what was an incredibly surreal day on the job this past Friday (9/11).
But I'm going to try and change how frequently I update my blog. A couple years ago, I did it regularly ... and it attracted a decent following. Eventually, it grew cumbersome for one reason or another. Now, I hope to do a better job (a pledge I realize I've made several times...).
There's no denying that social media is revolutionizing journalism. I'm a Twitterholic and enjoy connecting with friends, family and viewers through my tweets. Twitter's value on a professional level is abundantly clear to me. But outside of how it benefits me, I enjoy trying to give people a behind-the-scenes look at how other reporters and I go about getting the stories we do each day ... and demystifying some of the misconceptions about how our industry works.
I'm hoping to expand that here and share some thoughts and insights about the goings-on both off- and on-camera throughout the day. Often there is so much that I can't squeeze in to a story on the nightly news or crazy shenanigans that happen in pursuit of making said story happen. Hopefully this will be a place where I can tell the rest of the story.
And I want it to be interactive. I love the opportunity to interact with viewers and web users on Twitter ... so comment, criticize and suggest. Help me find more good stories to tell and share your own experiences.
With your help, I'm hoping giving it another go will prove successful!
Look for another update soon ... detailing what was an incredibly surreal day on the job this past Friday (9/11).
Sunday, December 7, 2008
One Flu Over the Cuckoo's Nest
I never understood any of the hubbub about the flu -- the hype about flu shots, the hysteria when there weren't enough flu shots and the hordes of people who lined up to get their flu shots (or drove up, in the case of the drive-by flu clinics here in Carteret County). It just all seemed like a bit much to me. I mean, how bad could this "flu" thing be? I just never got it.
Then I got the flu.
Man, did I get the flu. A one-two punch of the flu and a sinus infection. And it was like nothing that'd ever hit me before.
A week out of work, a fever higher than anything I'd ever had before and a headache like you wouldn't believe.
Now more than a week after I started feeling like crap, I'm finally starting to feel better. I'm ready to tackle heading back to work tomorrow and hopefully I'm done with the flu.
And I've learned an important lesson. The flu is no joke. So if you haven't already, get your flu shot. Trust me. I definitely will from now on.
Why? Because I finally got it.
Then I got the flu.
Man, did I get the flu. A one-two punch of the flu and a sinus infection. And it was like nothing that'd ever hit me before.
A week out of work, a fever higher than anything I'd ever had before and a headache like you wouldn't believe.
Now more than a week after I started feeling like crap, I'm finally starting to feel better. I'm ready to tackle heading back to work tomorrow and hopefully I'm done with the flu.
And I've learned an important lesson. The flu is no joke. So if you haven't already, get your flu shot. Trust me. I definitely will from now on.
Why? Because I finally got it.
Saturday, November 29, 2008
Giving Back
Hey everyone,
Sorry it's been a while since I've updated the blog. I wish I could say that I had a really good excuse or reason, but I don't. That said, I hope everyone is doing well.
Last time I blogged, I talked about the sacrifices our men and women in uniform make for all of us. One person left a comment wondering how they could give back or send care packages to troops overseas.
Well, I'm sure there are lots of groups out there that provide ways for you to give back, but I'll recommend one that I know WNCT has worked with a number of times and has done stories about before.
It's called "Give 2 The Troops" and you can find its website at www.give2thetroops.org. They have a vast array of different ways you can get involved with giving back to our military -- monetary donations, items for care packages, calling cards, etc.
I'm sure there are other ways to give back -- and if you know of any, please let me know! But off the top of my head, that's one I wanted to recommend. So, take that for what it's worth, but check 'em out!
Sorry it's been a while since I've updated the blog. I wish I could say that I had a really good excuse or reason, but I don't. That said, I hope everyone is doing well.
Last time I blogged, I talked about the sacrifices our men and women in uniform make for all of us. One person left a comment wondering how they could give back or send care packages to troops overseas.
Well, I'm sure there are lots of groups out there that provide ways for you to give back, but I'll recommend one that I know WNCT has worked with a number of times and has done stories about before.
It's called "Give 2 The Troops" and you can find its website at www.give2thetroops.org. They have a vast array of different ways you can get involved with giving back to our military -- monetary donations, items for care packages, calling cards, etc.
I'm sure there are other ways to give back -- and if you know of any, please let me know! But off the top of my head, that's one I wanted to recommend. So, take that for what it's worth, but check 'em out!
Wednesday, November 12, 2008
Sacrifice
In the 2+ years that I've been out in the Real World and working at WNCT, I've learned a lot. Ask any number of my friends and family, and they'll tell you I "occasionally" act as if I know it all. Well, (gasp) I don't know it all -- but I certainly am learning new stuff every day.
One thing I don't think I ever grasped until I moved out on my own was what 'sacrifice' meant. I mean, I know the Webster's definition and everything, but it's not something that was all that real to me. When I graduated and left Heaven-On-Earth (Chapel Hill, for the uninitiated readers out there), I thought leaving my best friends and the greatest place God ever created was as serious as sacrifice ever got. And for a 22-year-old kid, that was pretty big.
But it's nothing compared to what I've learned the last couple years. I've gotten a sense (although not a true taste) of how much my parents sacrificed for me to be happy and for me to be successful. I've gained a much greater and more real appreciation of the ultimate sacrifice Christ made for all of us (something I try to remind myself of every day).
But one sacrifice I can't help but face every day is the sacrifice that the men and women of our military have made. Because of where I live, there are at least two Coast Guard (the most overlooked and under-appreciated branch of the military) bases, one Marine Corps outlying landing field and four other Marine Corps installations (Cherry Point, Camp Lejeune, Camp Johnson and New River) within spitting distance of my house. There are countless Marine Corps bombing ranges nearby -- and probably other bases that belong to the Marines/other branches that I don't even know about, too.
I am literally surrounded by tens of thousands of military service men and women each and every day. And I am so thankful for them.
I've even become good friends with a few of them, and that's a real privilege.
In light of yesterday being Veterans Day, though, it got me thinking about all the sacrifices they make.
I've covered a number of deployments and homecomings for WNCT. The joy when a family is reunited after a long deployment is palpable when you're covering a homecoming. The fear, anxiety, sadness and the sacrifice are far more powerful when you're covering a deployment.
I mean, our troops are leaving their spouses, their kids, their friends and families to go fight (and too often) die for the rest of us. (And I thought leaving college was hard.) Meanwhile, countless "Americans" sit and second-guess the reasons our troops are overseas and do nothing to support them and their families while they're gone.
Look, I hate politics (although I love covering politics ... weird). But there is nothing political about supporting the people fighting for our country (and yes, they are very cognizant of the fact that they are fighting for you to have the right to protest against them fighting wars...). And I don't want to hear anyone say that 'the best way to support them is to bring them home.' It would be great to have them home, for sure. But the best way to support them is TO SUPPORT THEM no matter what they're doing and where they are.
When it comes to this issue, I don't care about your politics. I don't care about your beliefs. I don't care about your excuses. All I care about is that we all show our veterans -- past and present -- that we are grateful for everything they do and everything they've done.
Do it by simply saying 'thanks.' Do it by listening to older veterans tell stories about their service. Do it by holding a door or shaking their hands or giving them a pat on the back. They appreciate it, because they aren't compensated for their sacrifice nearly enough.
Support our troops by supporting their families while they're deployed. God knows their families make sacrifices and their spouses and kids need as much love and support as anyone.
And support our troops by encouraging our lawmakers to improve the equipment and technology that keep our troops safe -- and just as importantly, the healthcare and treatment (both physical and mental) they get when they return home and for the rest of their lives.
Until you see the sacrifices our military members make, you may never gain a true appreciation for them. I know I didn't have a clue until I saw it for myself. But give them your full support, nonetheless.
Sorry for getting on the soapbox, but when you see sacrifice like that daily, it's easy to get fired up. (And by the way, thanks to mom and dad for their sacrifices, too.)
Thoughts?
One thing I don't think I ever grasped until I moved out on my own was what 'sacrifice' meant. I mean, I know the Webster's definition and everything, but it's not something that was all that real to me. When I graduated and left Heaven-On-Earth (Chapel Hill, for the uninitiated readers out there), I thought leaving my best friends and the greatest place God ever created was as serious as sacrifice ever got. And for a 22-year-old kid, that was pretty big.
But it's nothing compared to what I've learned the last couple years. I've gotten a sense (although not a true taste) of how much my parents sacrificed for me to be happy and for me to be successful. I've gained a much greater and more real appreciation of the ultimate sacrifice Christ made for all of us (something I try to remind myself of every day).
But one sacrifice I can't help but face every day is the sacrifice that the men and women of our military have made. Because of where I live, there are at least two Coast Guard (the most overlooked and under-appreciated branch of the military) bases, one Marine Corps outlying landing field and four other Marine Corps installations (Cherry Point, Camp Lejeune, Camp Johnson and New River) within spitting distance of my house. There are countless Marine Corps bombing ranges nearby -- and probably other bases that belong to the Marines/other branches that I don't even know about, too.
I am literally surrounded by tens of thousands of military service men and women each and every day. And I am so thankful for them.
I've even become good friends with a few of them, and that's a real privilege.
In light of yesterday being Veterans Day, though, it got me thinking about all the sacrifices they make.
I've covered a number of deployments and homecomings for WNCT. The joy when a family is reunited after a long deployment is palpable when you're covering a homecoming. The fear, anxiety, sadness and the sacrifice are far more powerful when you're covering a deployment.
I mean, our troops are leaving their spouses, their kids, their friends and families to go fight (and too often) die for the rest of us. (And I thought leaving college was hard.) Meanwhile, countless "Americans" sit and second-guess the reasons our troops are overseas and do nothing to support them and their families while they're gone.
Look, I hate politics (although I love covering politics ... weird). But there is nothing political about supporting the people fighting for our country (and yes, they are very cognizant of the fact that they are fighting for you to have the right to protest against them fighting wars...). And I don't want to hear anyone say that 'the best way to support them is to bring them home.' It would be great to have them home, for sure. But the best way to support them is TO SUPPORT THEM no matter what they're doing and where they are.
When it comes to this issue, I don't care about your politics. I don't care about your beliefs. I don't care about your excuses. All I care about is that we all show our veterans -- past and present -- that we are grateful for everything they do and everything they've done.
Do it by simply saying 'thanks.' Do it by listening to older veterans tell stories about their service. Do it by holding a door or shaking their hands or giving them a pat on the back. They appreciate it, because they aren't compensated for their sacrifice nearly enough.
Support our troops by supporting their families while they're deployed. God knows their families make sacrifices and their spouses and kids need as much love and support as anyone.
And support our troops by encouraging our lawmakers to improve the equipment and technology that keep our troops safe -- and just as importantly, the healthcare and treatment (both physical and mental) they get when they return home and for the rest of their lives.
Until you see the sacrifices our military members make, you may never gain a true appreciation for them. I know I didn't have a clue until I saw it for myself. But give them your full support, nonetheless.
Sorry for getting on the soapbox, but when you see sacrifice like that daily, it's easy to get fired up. (And by the way, thanks to mom and dad for their sacrifices, too.)
Thoughts?
Sunday, November 2, 2008
Time Flies
Has it seriously been two or three weeks since I updated this thing? Man, time really does fly!
A lot has happened in the past couple of weeks, and a lot will be happening in the next couple, too.
In the coming days, we've got what is no doubt the most important political election of my lifetime and one that will potentially shape the American political scene for decades to come. And considering the two options for governor here in North Carolina, I think this election is vital in shaping the future of our state. While this might be just a measly blog, I've got to stick to my journalistic ethics and not tell you what I'm thinking (especially since I'll be covering one of the candidates from Raleigh on Tuesday night). But I definitely believe one of the candidates for governor can truly reform Raleigh. The other? Seen the "status quo" commercials?
And speaking of commercials -- sheesh! Enough already! I was anchoring one of our newscasts last weekend and made sure to pay attention during the breaks. Every single spot during the newscast was a political ad! Great revenue for our station, no doubt. But c'mon -- the overkill is ridiculous and enough to disgust a lot of folks, including me. I think the negative ads really show the character of our elected officials and candidates -- at times, they're nasty, nasty people. I'm eager for the election to be over so I won't be inundated with childish, pathetic and downright appalling ads anymore. Frankly, for a lot of these races, I wish we had other candidates to choose from than those running.
So anyway, that's what's ahead (Election Day), or at least part of it. As to what I've been up to the past couple of weeks? Well, a lot.
In a nutshell, I had a crazy, fun sailing adventure where I got stranded in the middle of a river with a friend on his sailboat, I spent a couple of fun days at home with my family, I had dinner with my best friend, I went to the State Fair and had an absolute blast (I can't get enough of the State Fair), I had several days to catch up with a lot of good friends in Chapel Hill, I went to Late Night with Roy and screamed my face off for the best team in college basketball, I saw a man who'd been imprisoned for six years acquitted of double murder and walk away a free man and I said goodbye to a good friend who moved to Florida. All that in the 14 days or so since I last updated this blog.
(The pictures, for those keeping score at home are, from left to right: Nick's sailboat, which we got stranded on and yet still had a good time; part of our posse that went to the State Fair and had a phenomenal time; the Tar Heels at Late Night!; Vaughn Jones (no relation -- ha), who was acquitted of murder after two mistrials, two retrials and six years in jail on no bond; and Marisela Burgos, who left WNCT this past week. Sad.)
So I'm really thankful for the fun times I've had the past couple of weeks, and I'm really looking forward to the next couple, too. Aside from the election, in the coming days and weeks I'll be heading to an engagement party for my best friend, catching up with more awesome people I haven't seen in a while and celebrating the most underrated holiday -- Thanksgiving. Hopefully CBS will have football running all day and I'll miraculously get the day off. We'll see.
And as I pseudo-mentioned earlier, I'll be covering the Bev Perdue campaign in Raleigh on Election Night -- so I'll no doubt have some update-worthy blog material after that. I'll be sure to keep you posted. Y'all have a good one!
A lot has happened in the past couple of weeks, and a lot will be happening in the next couple, too.
In the coming days, we've got what is no doubt the most important political election of my lifetime and one that will potentially shape the American political scene for decades to come. And considering the two options for governor here in North Carolina, I think this election is vital in shaping the future of our state. While this might be just a measly blog, I've got to stick to my journalistic ethics and not tell you what I'm thinking (especially since I'll be covering one of the candidates from Raleigh on Tuesday night). But I definitely believe one of the candidates for governor can truly reform Raleigh. The other? Seen the "status quo" commercials?
And speaking of commercials -- sheesh! Enough already! I was anchoring one of our newscasts last weekend and made sure to pay attention during the breaks. Every single spot during the newscast was a political ad! Great revenue for our station, no doubt. But c'mon -- the overkill is ridiculous and enough to disgust a lot of folks, including me. I think the negative ads really show the character of our elected officials and candidates -- at times, they're nasty, nasty people. I'm eager for the election to be over so I won't be inundated with childish, pathetic and downright appalling ads anymore. Frankly, for a lot of these races, I wish we had other candidates to choose from than those running.
So anyway, that's what's ahead (Election Day), or at least part of it. As to what I've been up to the past couple of weeks? Well, a lot.
In a nutshell, I had a crazy, fun sailing adventure where I got stranded in the middle of a river with a friend on his sailboat, I spent a couple of fun days at home with my family, I had dinner with my best friend, I went to the State Fair and had an absolute blast (I can't get enough of the State Fair), I had several days to catch up with a lot of good friends in Chapel Hill, I went to Late Night with Roy and screamed my face off for the best team in college basketball, I saw a man who'd been imprisoned for six years acquitted of double murder and walk away a free man and I said goodbye to a good friend who moved to Florida. All that in the 14 days or so since I last updated this blog.
(The pictures, for those keeping score at home are, from left to right: Nick's sailboat, which we got stranded on and yet still had a good time; part of our posse that went to the State Fair and had a phenomenal time; the Tar Heels at Late Night!; Vaughn Jones (no relation -- ha), who was acquitted of murder after two mistrials, two retrials and six years in jail on no bond; and Marisela Burgos, who left WNCT this past week. Sad.)
So I'm really thankful for the fun times I've had the past couple of weeks, and I'm really looking forward to the next couple, too. Aside from the election, in the coming days and weeks I'll be heading to an engagement party for my best friend, catching up with more awesome people I haven't seen in a while and celebrating the most underrated holiday -- Thanksgiving. Hopefully CBS will have football running all day and I'll miraculously get the day off. We'll see.
And as I pseudo-mentioned earlier, I'll be covering the Bev Perdue campaign in Raleigh on Election Night -- so I'll no doubt have some update-worthy blog material after that. I'll be sure to keep you posted. Y'all have a good one!
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