It seems like a lot of the folks I come in contact with feel like my job is pretty glamorous. Well, I'll be honest with you -- it has its moments, but for the most part, what goes in to television news is nowhere near as polished as the product that comes out.
Today was a pretty good example. Because our Jacksonville bureau reporter, Laura Vesco, was on assignment, I got to go play on her turf -- and cover the Marines. They were taking part in training exercises in Jones County that will prepare them for their civil affairs duties once they get to Iraq. (For the story and video, click this link!)
Anyway, reporters Eric Mittenthal from Ch. 12 and Chelsea Donovan from Ch. 7 were there as well. They're both a lot of fun to work with and do very solid reporting -- although I am VERY glad you choose Ch. 9! We had to meet the Marine public information officer at 8 a.m. outside of Pollocksville. (I am NOT a morning person...) Once we were all there, we headed off to a staging area -- off the beaten path and deep into the woods of Jones County. When we got there, we had to wait around for the Marine convoy to form up before we headed out. And let me tell you, it was just downright cold! It must have been a sight to see a handful of television reporters from three competing stations huddling together for warmth deep in the woods of Jones County. Nowhere near as glamorous as you might expect.
And then came the hiccups -- for some reason, my camera simply didn't capture the first interview with did. (I swear I hit the "record" button.) Thankfully I noticed it before we all headed out, but I had to ask him to do it again. Rather humbling. There were a couple of other funny hiccups along the way, but thankfully the story came together.
All that's to say this -- there's a lot of hard work by a lot of dedicated people that goes in to bringing together the newscasts you see each day. It's generally a lot of fun for us, and we're glad you enjoy it. Sorry, this isn't a very deep post tonight -- I'm running on empty, and it's only Tuesday.
But feel free to let me know what you think of our coverage of any story -- or anything you'd like to see us do. Just click the "Comments" button below! Have a great one, and stay warm!
Tuesday, January 30, 2007
Sunday, January 28, 2007
Something to think about...
So I've been brainstorming about what to post about tonight, and to be honest, I haven't really been able to come up with anything. There's no local current event that really has me up-in-arms, and there's not been any one issue that those of you who have commented have really zeroed in on. (Although, let me take this opportunity to thank those of you who've taken the time to comment on the blog -- especially those of you who've displayed kind words toward me and my work. Your encouragement means a lot. I also want to thank those of you who've recommended some great restaurants in your neck of the woods. I'll have to see what I can do with those recommendations! Thanks for sharing your voice!)
Anywho ... I've been thinking a lot this weekend -- a scary prospect, to be sure. But my mind keeps going back to a conversation I had with a friend a couple of weeks ago, so I figured I'd share some of that with you. This friend has had a rough go of it lately, and life has simply not been too kind to him. During our chat, he talked about how he felt "broken" -- and that in a way, we're all "broken" people.
I don't really think he realized how correct and profound his statement was. We are all a very broken people. And to be blunt, I don't care how well you think you've got it together, we've all got our issues. I think that manifests itself in the stories that me and my colleagues cover everyday. Unfortunately, more often than not, we're covering crimes. And messed up people do messed up things.
There's a void in all of us, and all of us choose to plug it and fill it in our own ways. Unfortunately, in Carteret County (which I cover everyday), a lot of people have turned to drugs. Sheriff Asa Buck is very open about the county's drug problem, and has said that most of the crimes committed in Carteret County are drug related -- whether it's someone under the influence of drugs committing a crime, or someone stealing from someone else so they can buy more drugs. But more often than not, our brokenness rears its ugly head each day. For me, a lot of times it's manifested in my temper -- especially in traffic (I'll admit it, I'm a road-rager).
With all that in mind, I'd like to challenge each of you to a couple of things. Take a few minutes and think about some areas for improvement in your own life -- I've certainly got mine. Then actually attempt to do something about it! Work toward fixing those flaws -- you'll notice a difference, and so will the folks around you. Additionally, just do something randomly nice for someone else today. For me, that might entail letting that car over in traffic, even if I'm in a hurry. Who knows what that means for you, but I dare you to go out of your way for someone else.
Anyway, sorry to have gotten all "Dr. Phil" on y'all! Without a concrete post idea in mind, I just decided to share my thoughts with y'all. Hopefully there's something you can take away from my ramblings.
And as always, I'd love to hear your voice -- let me know what you think of the blog, Eyewitness News 9, or just about anything! And keep those restaurant recommendations coming. All you've got to do is click the "Comments" button below. Have a great one, y'all!
Anywho ... I've been thinking a lot this weekend -- a scary prospect, to be sure. But my mind keeps going back to a conversation I had with a friend a couple of weeks ago, so I figured I'd share some of that with you. This friend has had a rough go of it lately, and life has simply not been too kind to him. During our chat, he talked about how he felt "broken" -- and that in a way, we're all "broken" people.
I don't really think he realized how correct and profound his statement was. We are all a very broken people. And to be blunt, I don't care how well you think you've got it together, we've all got our issues. I think that manifests itself in the stories that me and my colleagues cover everyday. Unfortunately, more often than not, we're covering crimes. And messed up people do messed up things.
There's a void in all of us, and all of us choose to plug it and fill it in our own ways. Unfortunately, in Carteret County (which I cover everyday), a lot of people have turned to drugs. Sheriff Asa Buck is very open about the county's drug problem, and has said that most of the crimes committed in Carteret County are drug related -- whether it's someone under the influence of drugs committing a crime, or someone stealing from someone else so they can buy more drugs. But more often than not, our brokenness rears its ugly head each day. For me, a lot of times it's manifested in my temper -- especially in traffic (I'll admit it, I'm a road-rager).
With all that in mind, I'd like to challenge each of you to a couple of things. Take a few minutes and think about some areas for improvement in your own life -- I've certainly got mine. Then actually attempt to do something about it! Work toward fixing those flaws -- you'll notice a difference, and so will the folks around you. Additionally, just do something randomly nice for someone else today. For me, that might entail letting that car over in traffic, even if I'm in a hurry. Who knows what that means for you, but I dare you to go out of your way for someone else.
Anyway, sorry to have gotten all "Dr. Phil" on y'all! Without a concrete post idea in mind, I just decided to share my thoughts with y'all. Hopefully there's something you can take away from my ramblings.
And as always, I'd love to hear your voice -- let me know what you think of the blog, Eyewitness News 9, or just about anything! And keep those restaurant recommendations coming. All you've got to do is click the "Comments" button below. Have a great one, y'all!
Friday, January 26, 2007
Pain, pain go away...
Hey y'all,
I'd been hoping to post something extensive up here tonight -- but I have a killer sinus headache right now. To be honest, looking at a computer screen isn't up there on my priorities list. So I'll try and have something up this weekend.
For now, y'all have a great weekend! Enjoy the warmer temps...
I'd been hoping to post something extensive up here tonight -- but I have a killer sinus headache right now. To be honest, looking at a computer screen isn't up there on my priorities list. So I'll try and have something up this weekend.
For now, y'all have a great weekend! Enjoy the warmer temps...
Wednesday, January 24, 2007
The human element mustn't be lost...
I should be in bed by now. But I didn't want to go another day without posting.
Today's story was a tough one. A woman was found dead inside her car in her driveway in a nice, quiet Carteret County neighborhood. One way or another, the car was set on fire from the inside. When I got the call about it this morning, that's all I was told. When I got to the scene, little more became immediately clear. Eventually, investigators from the Carteret County Sheriff's Department told me that the incident was "suspicious" -- and that they would be investigating it as a homicide until they had evidence that proved otherwise.
No matter the cause of the fire, or the cause of death, one thing cannot be overlooked. This woman was someone's mother, grandmother, sister -- you name it. And that human element can never be lost. Journalists have a bad reputation of objectifying victims. For some, anything goes when it comes to getting a story. I just can't operate that way. While on the scene, I learned the name of the victim from a bystander. Later, as I was talking to neighbors, they confirmed the name. But the Sheriff's Department asked me not to release it because not all family had been notified. While I technically had a leg to stand on when it came to releasing the name, out of respect for the family -- and the Sheriff's Department -- I chose to not to run it. Being the first reporter to get the name of the victim out on the airwaves was less important to me than respecting a grieving family that just experienced a major loss. Unfortunately, the event that took place is newsworthy. All three television stations in our area wouldn't have mentioned the incident if it wasn't. But adding insult to a family's injury isn't newsworthy. But when they -- and the Sheriff's Department -- give the OK to releasing the name, Nine On Your Side will have it.
I guess I'm just a softy at heart -- but I hope this woman is remembered for the life she led, not the way she died.
Anyways, on to some of your feedback. I love the idea that an anonymous poster submitted -- about promoting Eastern NC's "best kept secrets." I will definitely pitch that idea -- but I need your help. What do you think is the best restaurant in your area? What would you say is the "best kept secret" where you're from? Who does something outstanding or interesting? Let me hear from you! Just click on the "Comments" button below! :-)
Today's story was a tough one. A woman was found dead inside her car in her driveway in a nice, quiet Carteret County neighborhood. One way or another, the car was set on fire from the inside. When I got the call about it this morning, that's all I was told. When I got to the scene, little more became immediately clear. Eventually, investigators from the Carteret County Sheriff's Department told me that the incident was "suspicious" -- and that they would be investigating it as a homicide until they had evidence that proved otherwise.
No matter the cause of the fire, or the cause of death, one thing cannot be overlooked. This woman was someone's mother, grandmother, sister -- you name it. And that human element can never be lost. Journalists have a bad reputation of objectifying victims. For some, anything goes when it comes to getting a story. I just can't operate that way. While on the scene, I learned the name of the victim from a bystander. Later, as I was talking to neighbors, they confirmed the name. But the Sheriff's Department asked me not to release it because not all family had been notified. While I technically had a leg to stand on when it came to releasing the name, out of respect for the family -- and the Sheriff's Department -- I chose to not to run it. Being the first reporter to get the name of the victim out on the airwaves was less important to me than respecting a grieving family that just experienced a major loss. Unfortunately, the event that took place is newsworthy. All three television stations in our area wouldn't have mentioned the incident if it wasn't. But adding insult to a family's injury isn't newsworthy. But when they -- and the Sheriff's Department -- give the OK to releasing the name, Nine On Your Side will have it.
I guess I'm just a softy at heart -- but I hope this woman is remembered for the life she led, not the way she died.
Anyways, on to some of your feedback. I love the idea that an anonymous poster submitted -- about promoting Eastern NC's "best kept secrets." I will definitely pitch that idea -- but I need your help. What do you think is the best restaurant in your area? What would you say is the "best kept secret" where you're from? Who does something outstanding or interesting? Let me hear from you! Just click on the "Comments" button below! :-)
Monday, January 22, 2007
More about me...
Good morning! Apologies once again for being so hit-or-miss with the blog recently. It was a part of my routine the first week, and so I was able to do a fairly good job of keeping it updated. But my routine was obliterated last week, and with it went the regularity of my posts. I will certainly try to do a better job this week!
Since I've got a few moments before heading out to tackle today's assignment, I thought I'd post. Without a solid idea in mind to write about, I thought I'd take a few moments to tell you a little bit more about myself. If you'd rather not hear me drone on about myself for a few paragraphs, now would be a good time to tune out.
I was born and raised here in Eastern North Carolina -- Wilson, to be exact. At a young age, I figured out I wanted to be a television reporter. I can even remember some nights of sitting up in my room and pretending to anchor a newscast (make your own inferences about my social life as a 7-year-old here...). But I've always had a passion for writing and -- for better or for worse -- a craving for other people's attention. Television seemed to be the perfect fit for both.
In high school I began working in the Sports department at the Wilson Daily Times. With no television stations near Wilson at which to intern, the newspaper seemed like a logical choice to get some professional writing experience. It just so happened that a program through the State Department of Labor and the Wilson County Schools provided an internship (or "apprenticeship" as the program called it) at the Daily Times.
It was a great experience, and really fed my passion for writing. While I started out writing
"Local Briefs" and inputting youth soccer scores, I was eventually given a crack at covering local sporting events. By the time I left the Daily Times, I was covering the best sport in the land -- ACC basketball -- on some very hallowed ground. I've had the opportunity to cover basketball games at the Dean Dome and Cameron Indoor Stadium, and let me tell you -- there's nothing like it. Part of me very much envies the folks who get paid to sit in the best seats in the house -- and then get paid to tell other people about the experience. (Thanks to tarheelblue.com for that picture of the greatest place on earth...)
When it came time to head off to college, I went to the only place I'd ever wanted to go -- CAROLINA! While there I did some freelance newspaper reporting, I wrote for The Carolina Alumni Review magazine and I reported and anchored for Carolina Week, UNC's student news program. All three provided great experiences, but Carolina Week most certainly
provided the best training I could ever ask for. It prepared me for my current job with WNCT better than anything I could imagine -- and it was fun, too! Anchoring those live newscasts for a year with Shaheen Syal (my co-anchor, who I absolutely adore) was one of the most fun, rewarding and challenging experiences of my college days. I find myself missing those times and that fun more and more these days. Shaheen now works as a producer for an up-and-coming show on FOX 50 in Raleigh -- and you can expect big things from her. She's one of those people that just has "it" -- that magical ability to succeed at anything.
I made a lot of great friends at CW, and it's been fun to watch us all go our separate ways and work our way into professional television. I can't wait to see where we all are in another five years. And while they deserve much more than a single sentence, the professors and teachers who worked with us at CW are world-class -- and any success that any of us come across will be owed in large part to them.
I was fortunate to make a lot of tremendous friends while in Chapel Hill. I was even more fortunate to foster very, very deep relationships with a handful of fantastic people. I'd say I have a very tight-knit group of friends -- and moving away from them has been the most challenging and difficult experience I've faced yet. When I was a freshman, I was very fortunate, because a group of older guys took me under their wing. It became my mission to do the same thing -- and hopefully, I've had the same kind of impact on the younger guys as the older guys had on me.
My two closest friends -- Dave and Matt -- are both seniors at UNC now. It's hard to believe they'll be graduating in a matter of months. But they are a pair of exceptional fellas, and I'm very proud of both of them. They both have big dreams, and I have no doubt they'll acheive them. (By the way, that picture is of the three of us on a hike in the Blue Ridge Mountains.)
Moving away and working for WNCT, like I said, has been very challenging -- but it's been quite rewarding as well. I've learned and grown a lot in the five months that I've been here, and I'm sure I will continue to in the weeks and months ahead.
So that was probably more about me than you ever cared to know. But that's who you're dealing with each time you read this blog, or when you watch WNCT's newscasts. All of us who work in this business are normal folks -- we just have an abnormal job. We have hopes, dreams, fears and opinions just like anyone else. I've been able to share a few of mine with you through this blog, and I truly hope I'll get the chance to hear more about yours as well!
Thanks for stopping by ... and I'll do my best to have a topic to cover next time, so you won't be subjected to hearing more about me. Do you have something you'd like to hear about? Click the "Comments" button below and let me hear your voice!
Since I've got a few moments before heading out to tackle today's assignment, I thought I'd post. Without a solid idea in mind to write about, I thought I'd take a few moments to tell you a little bit more about myself. If you'd rather not hear me drone on about myself for a few paragraphs, now would be a good time to tune out.
I was born and raised here in Eastern North Carolina -- Wilson, to be exact. At a young age, I figured out I wanted to be a television reporter. I can even remember some nights of sitting up in my room and pretending to anchor a newscast (make your own inferences about my social life as a 7-year-old here...). But I've always had a passion for writing and -- for better or for worse -- a craving for other people's attention. Television seemed to be the perfect fit for both.
In high school I began working in the Sports department at the Wilson Daily Times. With no television stations near Wilson at which to intern, the newspaper seemed like a logical choice to get some professional writing experience. It just so happened that a program through the State Department of Labor and the Wilson County Schools provided an internship (or "apprenticeship" as the program called it) at the Daily Times.
It was a great experience, and really fed my passion for writing. While I started out writing
"Local Briefs" and inputting youth soccer scores, I was eventually given a crack at covering local sporting events. By the time I left the Daily Times, I was covering the best sport in the land -- ACC basketball -- on some very hallowed ground. I've had the opportunity to cover basketball games at the Dean Dome and Cameron Indoor Stadium, and let me tell you -- there's nothing like it. Part of me very much envies the folks who get paid to sit in the best seats in the house -- and then get paid to tell other people about the experience. (Thanks to tarheelblue.com for that picture of the greatest place on earth...)When it came time to head off to college, I went to the only place I'd ever wanted to go -- CAROLINA! While there I did some freelance newspaper reporting, I wrote for The Carolina Alumni Review magazine and I reported and anchored for Carolina Week, UNC's student news program. All three provided great experiences, but Carolina Week most certainly
provided the best training I could ever ask for. It prepared me for my current job with WNCT better than anything I could imagine -- and it was fun, too! Anchoring those live newscasts for a year with Shaheen Syal (my co-anchor, who I absolutely adore) was one of the most fun, rewarding and challenging experiences of my college days. I find myself missing those times and that fun more and more these days. Shaheen now works as a producer for an up-and-coming show on FOX 50 in Raleigh -- and you can expect big things from her. She's one of those people that just has "it" -- that magical ability to succeed at anything.I made a lot of great friends at CW, and it's been fun to watch us all go our separate ways and work our way into professional television. I can't wait to see where we all are in another five years. And while they deserve much more than a single sentence, the professors and teachers who worked with us at CW are world-class -- and any success that any of us come across will be owed in large part to them.
I was fortunate to make a lot of tremendous friends while in Chapel Hill. I was even more fortunate to foster very, very deep relationships with a handful of fantastic people. I'd say I have a very tight-knit group of friends -- and moving away from them has been the most challenging and difficult experience I've faced yet. When I was a freshman, I was very fortunate, because a group of older guys took me under their wing. It became my mission to do the same thing -- and hopefully, I've had the same kind of impact on the younger guys as the older guys had on me.
My two closest friends -- Dave and Matt -- are both seniors at UNC now. It's hard to believe they'll be graduating in a matter of months. But they are a pair of exceptional fellas, and I'm very proud of both of them. They both have big dreams, and I have no doubt they'll acheive them. (By the way, that picture is of the three of us on a hike in the Blue Ridge Mountains.)Moving away and working for WNCT, like I said, has been very challenging -- but it's been quite rewarding as well. I've learned and grown a lot in the five months that I've been here, and I'm sure I will continue to in the weeks and months ahead.
So that was probably more about me than you ever cared to know. But that's who you're dealing with each time you read this blog, or when you watch WNCT's newscasts. All of us who work in this business are normal folks -- we just have an abnormal job. We have hopes, dreams, fears and opinions just like anyone else. I've been able to share a few of mine with you through this blog, and I truly hope I'll get the chance to hear more about yours as well!
Thanks for stopping by ... and I'll do my best to have a topic to cover next time, so you won't be subjected to hearing more about me. Do you have something you'd like to hear about? Click the "Comments" button below and let me hear your voice!
Thursday, January 18, 2007
Back in the saddle
Wow, it's been far too long since I posted here on the ole blog. I'm sorry it's been so long -- but I've been a part of Nine On Your Side's Team Coverage of the Greenville church fires. Two 16-hour days in a row don't leave much time for bloggin', but I'm back now and hope to have more fresh content for you tonight.
In case you haven't heard -- the task force established by the Greenville Police Department to investigate the church fires is now officially calling the blazes "arson." I'm sure for most of you, you'd made up your own mind about that by now. Apparently the materials the GPD sent off to the SBI crime lab in Raleigh have confirmed that the fires at Memorial and Unity were intentionally set.
Regardless of your religious beliefs (or non-religious beliefs, for that matter), it's a shame to think that someone would intentionally destroy something that so many people treasure so much. It will be interesting to watch the Task Force track down who did it -- and just as importantly, determine why.
OK, back to work -- I'll try to have more on here later this evening.
For now, y'all stay warm!
In case you haven't heard -- the task force established by the Greenville Police Department to investigate the church fires is now officially calling the blazes "arson." I'm sure for most of you, you'd made up your own mind about that by now. Apparently the materials the GPD sent off to the SBI crime lab in Raleigh have confirmed that the fires at Memorial and Unity were intentionally set.
Regardless of your religious beliefs (or non-religious beliefs, for that matter), it's a shame to think that someone would intentionally destroy something that so many people treasure so much. It will be interesting to watch the Task Force track down who did it -- and just as importantly, determine why.
OK, back to work -- I'll try to have more on here later this evening.
For now, y'all stay warm!
Saturday, January 13, 2007
Your turn!
My apologies for not posting yesterday -- after work, I spent the evening on the road and was away from a computer all night. But here's the deal -- I want to hear from you! A few of you have left feedback on some of the other posts -- but I want to give all of you the chance to ask ME questions.
So, let's hear 'em. Have a question about WNCT-TV 9? Or about how we do our jobs each day? Or just anything in general? ... Just click the "Comments" button below and ask away! I'll try and post some responses in the very near future.
Have a great weekend!
So, let's hear 'em. Have a question about WNCT-TV 9? Or about how we do our jobs each day? Or just anything in general? ... Just click the "Comments" button below and ask away! I'll try and post some responses in the very near future.
Have a great weekend!
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