Mommy The Journalist

Tuesday, December 31, 2013

New Year, New Outlook

Ashton December 31, 2013 0

I have a confession to make. I'm a worrier. I worry about money, work, family, friends ... and the list goes on and on. I can't se...

Tuesday, December 24, 2013

overheard on the scanner

Santa Sighting

Ashton December 24, 2013 1

Overheard on the Scanner: "I just had a report of what appears to be a sleigh and 8 tiny reindeer on the east side of town." ...

Monday, December 23, 2013

Life.

Ashton December 23, 2013 2

It's been almost a month since I've posted, and even longer since it was something other than a newsroom caller entry. I promise I h...

Wednesday, November 27, 2013

sh*t crazy newsroom callers say

Sh*t Crazy Newsroom Callers Say

Ashton November 27, 2013 0

People call wanting us to do stories all the time. Sometimes they're calling to let us know about events or have a decent idea that we ...

Thursday, November 7, 2013

national peanut festival

Behind the Scenes: Walk & Talk

Ashton November 07, 2013 1

Here's another glimpse into my week with the National Peanut Festival:

Wednesday, November 6, 2013

peanut festival

Behind the Scenes: BMX Fun

Ashton November 06, 2013 2

This week is the National Peanut Festival, and in my neck of the woods that's a pretty big deal. It's the 70th annual fair, and all...

Saturday, November 2, 2013

not so basic journalism skills

(Not So) Basic Journalism Skills: Dealing With Stress

Ashton November 02, 2013 3

Have you ever been so in-tune with your career, on the fast track to success, when all of a sudden, Bam! That burnt-rubber smell hits you ...

Thursday, October 31, 2013

sh*t crazy newsroom callers say

Sh*t Crazy Newsroom Callers Say

Ashton October 31, 2013 0

This was the first call I took today (Halloween). The verbatim isn't 100% accurate, but you'll get the gist. Happy Halloween? Ca...

Thursday, October 17, 2013

government shutdown

Divided We Stand?

Ashton October 17, 2013 0

Imagine how fed up you are with seeing stories on the partial government shutdown and the near debt ceiling fiasco. Multiply that by 100 a...

Thursday, October 3, 2013

puppy parenting

Things My Dog Has Eaten

Ashton October 03, 2013 0

Glass candle holder Tea light candle (with the exception of the metal container) Part of a votive candle Kitchen table, 2 benches and...

Friday, September 27, 2013

overheard on the scanner

Scanner Said What?!

Ashton September 27, 2013 3

Dispatcher: Caller says her neighbor is in his backyard fully nude having sexual relations with a goat. Obviously this created quite th...

Thursday, September 26, 2013

not so basic journalism skills

(Not So) Basic Journalism Skills: The Follow-Up

Ashton September 26, 2013 0

If you work in the news business, you've probably experienced this feeling at least once in your career: getting beat on a story. Wh...

Sunday, September 22, 2013

behind the scenes

Closed Captioning: On

Ashton September 22, 2013 0

Anchor: (making fun of Anchorman ) I'm Ron Burgundy? Who put a question mark in the teleprompter?! Reporter: I haven't even sta...

Saturday, September 21, 2013

puppy parenting

Puppy Parenting 101

Ashton September 21, 2013 2

Being a puppy parent is a constant adventure. One night last week we went to dinner. My husband left a roll of paper towels sittin...

Wednesday, September 11, 2013

sh*t crazy newsroom callers say

Sh*t Crazy Newsroom Callers Say

Ashton September 11, 2013 3

Caller: Who's directing or producing? Me: It depends on the show. We have different producers and directors. What's your question...

Tuesday, September 10, 2013

tennis

Your Guide to Local TV News

Ashton September 10, 2013 0

For the past several days, my station has been dealing with the fallout from US Open tennis coverage. Somewhere between the first and thou...

Friday, August 23, 2013

overheard on the scanner

Overheard on the Scanner

Ashton August 23, 2013 1

Dispatch: Caller says he broke up with his girlfriend and now she's loading up her car with all of his stuff. Breakups are ha...

Monday, August 5, 2013

puppy love

Puppy Love

Ashton August 05, 2013 2

Meet the newest addition to our lives: Jackson.

Thursday, August 1, 2013

not so basic journalism skills

(Not So) Basic Journalism Skills: The Art of Interviewing

Ashton August 01, 2013 0

Interviewing a person for a story isn't a skill most people are born with. Nevertheless, it is a must-have skill in the journalism wor...

Friday, July 19, 2013

not so basic journalism skills

(Not So) Basic Journalism Skills: The Context of Context

Ashton July 19, 2013 1

In journalism school you learn a lot of things - what makes a story newsworthy, how to put your story together, AP style, etc. What isn...

Thursday, July 18, 2013

sh*t crazy newsroom callers say

Sh*t Crazy Newsroom Callers Say

Ashton July 18, 2013 1

Caller: "I missed your 5:00 news. Did y'all have a story on those cops quitin'?" Me: "We actually had that story ...

Monday, July 8, 2013

not so basic journalism skills

(Not So) Basic Journalism Skills: Grammar Lesson

Ashton July 08, 2013 4

By the time you get to college, professors generally assume you learned all you need to know about grammar in high school. You would pro...

Wednesday, June 26, 2013

life of me

Back in the Swing of Things

Ashton June 26, 2013 1

Have you ever just needed to get away? I'm not talking about 'wanderlust'. No. I'm talking about leaving everything behind...

Monday, June 10, 2013

not so basic journalism skills

(Not So) Basic Journalism Skills: Phone Etiquette

Ashton June 10, 2013 4

Being a journalist is a lot more than knowing how to use a camera and tell a story -- especially in the public's eye. There's a ...

Sunday, May 19, 2013

sh*t crazy newsroom callers say

Sh*t Crazy Newsroom Callers Say

Ashton May 19, 2013 2

The following is an approximation of what is arguably the most awkward phone call I have ever taken at work. It should be noted that it is...

Wednesday, May 15, 2013

tease writing

Teases: Useless Gimmick or Necessary Evil?

Ashton May 15, 2013 0

Writing teases for a newscast is sort of like seduction, except you don't necessarily like the people you're seducing into your sh...

Friday, May 10, 2013

words to live by

Ashton May 10, 2013 0

“How does it serve the public if we’re first? You know what first is all about? It’s vanity. It’s self-conceit. No one’s sitting at home ...

Thursday, April 25, 2013

social media

Facebook + News = No

Ashton April 25, 2013 3

In this digital age that we live in, social media is the wave of the future. My station has a Facebook page and Twitter account in addit...

Friday, April 19, 2013

sh*t crazy newsroom callers say

Sh*t Crazy Newsroom Callers Say

Ashton April 19, 2013 2

Me: "Channel 4 News." Caller: "Hey listen, don't your directors ever check the 'Right Now' weather graphic? ...

Tuesday, April 16, 2013

Ashton April 16, 2013 1

I know it's been awhile since I updated. Life has been crazy over the past few weeks - both at work and in my personal life. Believe me,...

Monday, March 25, 2013

news

A Journalist's Dream

Ashton March 25, 2013 4

The thing about working in news, regardless of whether it's print or broadcast, is that in the audience's eyes, you're never r...

Thursday, March 21, 2013

sh*t crazy newsroom callers say

Sh*t Crazy Newsroom Callers Say

Ashton March 21, 2013 0

I've written before (many times, in fact) about the crazy people who call our newsroom. It's not out of the ordinary for me to ta...

Monday, March 18, 2013

I Won An Award

Ashton March 18, 2013 1

The Liebster Blog Award Rules: 1. Share 11 things about yourself 2. Answer the 11 questions given to you 3. ...

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Monday, March 18, 2013

Hi, I'm Ashton!

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