Blog-cation

Dear Readers,

I thought it might be a good idea to check in since it's been almost a month since I last posted.

A lot of stuff has been going on in my life, both personally and professionally. As a result, I've been stressed out and worried about my mental health. So, I decided to scale back on a lot of things during the month of December, including this blog, and really focus on myself and getting back right. It has been a process and I'm not 100% there yet, but I am getting better and plan to pick back up here in January.

The new year will bring some changes to this blog, though. Over the past year, this blog has changed, evolved if you will. Originally, my posts were mostly of a journalistic nature; but here lately, there have been just as many personal posts, mostly about my journey through motherhood. As a result, I've decided to rebrand this blog with a broader name. Starting in 2016, Journalistic Musings will become "Mommy, the Journalist" in an effort to reflect the direction I feel things are moving in. But don't worry - the URL will not be changing so you won't have to re-add it to your follow lists.

I look forward to sharing my thoughts with you all again soon. In the meantime, I hope the holiday season was everything you hoped it would be and that the new year brings everything you're looking for.

-Ashton

Social Media: Wading Through the B.S.

 Social media has been a great thing for news. It's also been the worse thing for news.

Before social media, if you wanted to find news on the internet, you yahoo'ed, googled or even asked Jeeve. Occasionally people would share articles through email, but there was no guaranteed way to have hundreds, thousands, even millions of people see your story.

Then along came Facebook, Twitter, Google+ and even Pinterest. Now, simply by clicking share, the media can distribute content to way more people than by simply publishing it in a newspaper or airing it in a show.

Long before social media blew up, there were bloggers. I had my first blog back in high school on a website called Xanga. The only people who knew about it were other users. Now don't get me wrong, some blogs were way more popular than others, but there was no way of sharing them outside of the site. Now that social media dominates life, blogs have become more popular. And, unfortunately, that popularity isn't necessarily a reflection of good judgment on the parts of readers.

On any given day, when I scroll through my Facebook feed, I see at least 10 shared articles/posts. Of those, at least half are from non-credible sources. The most baffling part to me is that the people sharing these bogus links are people I consider to be intelligent! Which brings me to the point of this post --  how do you tell the good from the bad online?

First things first -- Let's start with a list of common satire websites. Just like The National Enquirer, these websites shouldn't be taken seriously. They take real news stories and parody them or just make them up altogether. And sadly, it's not just regular people who fall for stories from these type of sites; members of the media have fallen victim to them, as well.

• The Onion
• The Daily Currant
• Snopes.com
• The National Report
• SuperTuesdayNews
• ChristWire

There are other sites you have to beware of, as well. Even though they aren't satire/parody news sites, websites like Occupy Democrats and Right Wing News, aren't a true representation of the truth. Sites like those, especially the politically-motivated ones, are always slanted one way or another. The worst of them will omit or twist information to fit their agenda.

Other sites you should be wary of are news blogs, especially ones that aren't affiliated with a media outlet. Either way, though, the posts are likely to be filled with opinions, hence the blog designation.

If you're still not sure if what you're reading is legit or not, there are a few things you can do to make sure you're not being duped.

First - if the story you're reading makes you think, "I can't believe that happened!" or "I can't believe he/she said/did that!," check out the sites other posts. If they're all of a sensational nature, they're probably not true.

Second - google, yahoo search or, if you prefer, ask Jeeve! If there's no other news sites reporting this story, chances are it's fake, not that your local news media are in on some big cover-up (Sorry, members of the tinfoil hat club).

The lesson of this post is pretty simple - don't blindly accept what you're reading as fact. There are a billion websites out there claiming to share the news, but probably less than half that number are real. Know what you're reading; know who's writing it and why. Every story has more than one side. Real journalists share them all.

Monday Motivation

Here lately it seems like there's always something going wrong, and it's been hard for me to maintain a good attitude while weathering what seems like a never-ending storm of sickness and other things. Since I've had to continuously remind myself of these words the last few weeks, I thought I would share them with everyone in the hopes that someone who needs a little encouragement will see them.

Happy Monday.

Becoming Mommy

Having a kid changes everything. Yes, I know it's cliche, but it's so true.

I haven't slept all the way through the night, other than the weekend I was in a friend's wedding and Alexis stayed with her grandparents, since before she was born (I wasn't sleeping through the night at the end of my pregnancy). Even if she doesn't wake up, I do because she makes a noise or has rolled into a corner. I also haven't slept until my alarm goes off, but I still set it every night because I know the one night I don't, she'll sleep in.

I don't get to see my baby nearly enough during the week - just a few hours a day; but the ladies at her daycare sure do love my little girl and that makes it a little easier, as does the fact that her daddy gets to spend more time with her because of his schedule.

I think about things differently now that I'm a mom. It sounds silly, but I've never really thought much about severe weather ... until last week when there were tornadoes around and Alexis was at daycare and I was at work.

Watching Alexis grow is the coolest thing. I swear she gets a little bigger every day! And she's starting to develop a personality of her own. She may only be 7-and-a-half months but I can already tell she's going to be stubborn! She likes to play, reaches for anything and everything, and is so close to crawling it could be any day now! She's not talking yet, but we think we heard a "mama" this week. She likes funny faces and sounds, both making them and seeing/hearing them. Her laugh is just about the cutest thing ever!

Experiencing all of her firsts has been amazing, from her first ride in a grocery store buggy to trying all her first foods (so far the only thing she's turned down is "hawaiin delight" baby food).

About the only not-fun experiences we've had have been the illnesses. It's amazing how she can go from fine to sick so quickly!

Becoming a mommy is definitely an adventure, a fun, scary, learn-as-you-go adventure. I never would have guessed that this little cutie would make our lives so much more complete!

28 Years of Thankfullness

In three days I will be one year closer to 30. That's right. On Thanksgiving, I will begin the last year of my 20s.

I've accomplished a lot during my 29 years of being alive, and while the past month or so hasn't been the best time of my life, I really do have a lot to be thankful for. So as I wind down year 28, I'd like to reflect on those things, hence the following list of 28 things I'm thankful for.

1. My wonderful husband, without who I probably would have gone crazy over the past five years.

2. My beautiful baby girl who brings joy to every day, no matter how terrible of a day it was.

3. My parents. Growing up we didn't always have the newest or most-expensive things but when it came to love and involvement, we truly were spoiled. Now that I'm older and a mom, I'm truly grateful that I had such great examples to emulate.

4. My three best friends. You know you share a special bond when you can see each other once a year but it feels like you were just together yesterday.

5. Growing up in a small town. There's something to be said for knowing your neighbors.

6. Being able to lose myself in a good story.

7. Having a job. I may not like it every day, but I know I'm incredibly lucky to be able to do something I enjoy for a living.

8. Mountain Dew.

9. Situations that show people for who they really are, even when you don't like what you see.

10. All of my followers - here on the blog, as well as on Facebook and Twitter.

11. Naps.

12. Bubble baths.

13. Living close enough to my family that I can see them whenever I want.

14. Cell phones. As aggravating as they can be, I am thankful for the ability to stay connected.

15. Music.

16. Date nights, even when we don't do anything at all.

17. DVR. Otherwise I would never get to watch my favorite shows.

18. Sleep!

19. My coworkers. I may not relate to them all the time (age difference) but they keep me laughing most days.

20. The production crew at the station. None of my "visions" would come to fruition and look the way I imagine them.

21.Our pediatrician. He is so good with Alexis and patient with us new parents.

22. Sunshine.

23. My Jackson pup.

24. Warm, fuzzy blankets.

25. Orajel, especially the night-time formula.

26. Criminal Minds marathons on ion television; Supernatural marathons on TNT; and The Big Bang Theory marathons on TBS.

27. Crock pots.

28. Another birthday.

Monday Motivation

I'm struggling with this these days but I am trying to work toward it. Maybe these words will help motivate someone out there to let go of a painful situation and move forward with their life.

2015 Peanut Festival Wrap

It was a bumpy ride, but we survived the National Peanut Festival again this year - despite rain, mud up to our knees and even a canceled day for the first time in festival history. Here's a look behind the scenes of our live broadcasts.

Monday Motivation

No one should reach the end of their life with a single "what if?" Take the chance. It just might turn out to be everything you want/need.

Happy Monday!

Monday Motivation

After a couple of really bad weeks, I've decided I need a new motto in my life. "Good vibes only" will be my new mantra in everything I do. I'm done with negativity in all forms. It takes too much time and energy. Happiness and being positive are so much easier and way more pleasant.

Happy Monday!

Ashton's Ultimate Non-Scary Halloween Movie Guide

If you're like me, scary movies aren't your thing. That can make navigating the Halloween movie scene a little difficult, but never fear! I've put together a list of the ultimate non-scary movies perfect for a Halloween movie marathon. There's a little something for everyone, I think. If your favorite non-scary Halloween movie didn't make my list, share it in the comments!

1. Hocus Pocus (1993 - Rated PG)

This is my favorite Halloween movie of all time. Who couldn't love a comedy about three witch sisters coming back from the grave after 300 years? Their home has been turned into a museum and the boy they turned into a cat (Thackary Binks, played by Sean Murray) before they were hanged is still alive helping Max (Omri Katz), Dani (Thora Birch) and Allison (Vinessa Shaw) send them back to hell. This movie is sure to have everyone-  from your youngest viewer to the oldest - laughing at Winnifred (Bette Midler), Sarah (Sarah Jessica Parker) and Mary's (Kathy Najimi) antics from start to finish.

2. Beetlejuice (1988 - Rated PG)

No Halloween movie list would be complete without Beetlejuice on it. Starring Michael Keaton as Beetlegeuse, it centers around the lives of Adam (Alec Baldwin) and Barbara (Geena Davis) Maitland ... after they've died. The couple continues to reside in their home after death and are forced to share it with the Deetz family. After deciding they can't live with the Deetz's, Adam and Barbara set out to scare them away and eventually hire Beetlegeuse, a crazy poltergeist who wants Lydia Deetz (Winona Ryder) as his bride. Trust me when I say the scariest thing about this movie is Beetlegeuse's moldy hair ... or the part where he turns the stair banister into a snake.

3. Casper (1995 - Rated PG)

This is the perfect Halloween movie for kids. A paranormal expert, Dr. James Harvey (Bill Pullman), and his daughter Kat (Christina Ricci), move into a haunted mansion. Dr. Harvey was hired by the mansion's new owner, Carrigan (Cathy Moriarti), to exorcise the ghosts. Her real goal is to find the treasure hidden in the house. Along the way, Kat and Casper form a special friendship, while his uncles - Stinky, Stretch and Fatso - lead Kat's father astray. It's a story about love, family and not judging someone by their ghostly appearance.

4. The Addams Family (1991 - Rated PG-13) & Addams Family Values (1993 - Rated PG-13)

IMDb calls the Addams clan a "comical Gothic, horror-movie type family." Inspired by the cartoons of Charles Addams, the Addams live with all the trappings of the macabre ... right down to Thing, a severed hand servant. They're also quite wealthy. In the first movie, a scam artist tries to steal the family's money by posing as Gomez's (Raul Julia) lost brother, Fester (Christopher Lloyd). In the second, Fester marries Gomez and Morticia's (Angelica Houston) nanny, Debbie (Joan Cusak), who turns out to be a serial killer out to steal Fester's millions. The comedy is dark, no doubt about it, but the actors, including a young Christina Ricci (plays Wednesday), are superbly talented and manage to find the perfect comedic balance to the macabre. The best part about these movies - other than their silliness, of course - is the underlying theme of family.

5. Corpse Bride (2005 - Rated PG)

Corpse Bride is set back in the 1800s. Victor (voiced by Johnny Depp) is all set to marry Victoria (voiced by Emily Watson) to solve her family's money problems, but when he practices his wedding vows in the woods, Emily, the corpse bride (voiced by Helena Bonham Carter), believes he's married her. While Victor is trapped in the afterlife, a newcomer enters the picture vying for Victoria's hand. There's murder, romance and dancing skeletons. And it's directed by Tim Burton, the Halloween master. How could this movie not make my list?

6. The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993 - Rated PG)

Another Tim Burton classic, this movie also made my ultimate Christmas movie guide. Jack Skellington (Danny Elfman) becomes bored with Halloween. When he accidentally discovers a door to Christmas town, he falls in love with the holiday and tries to take it over, kidnapping Santa Claus and nearly ruining the holiday.

7. Dark Shadows (2012 - Rated PG-13)

This Tim Burton film is based on the 1960s-era television series bearing the same name. In the film, an imprisoned vampire named Barnabas Collins (Johnny Depp) is set free after 200 years. When he returns to his family estate, he finds it in ruins and his family in need of his protection. Also starring Michelle Pfeiffer, Eva Green and Chloe Grace Moretz, Dark Shadows is quirky and fun to watch, but be warned - there is a lot of blood in this movie so it might not be suitable for everyone.

8. Hotel Transylvania (2012 - Rated PG)

This is the perfect Halloween movie for kids. Dracula (Adam Sandler) runs a resort for monsters. When a human teenage boy stumbles into his world and his daughter, Mavis (Selena Gomez), falls for him, Dracula goes into overprotective dad mode, and what ensues can only be described as typical Adam Sandler antics but in cartoon form.

9. The Legend of Sleepy Hollow (1999)

This movie may have been made for t.v., but it's a Halloween must! If you're a fan of the story of Ichabod Crane but don't want all the blood that comes with Johnny Depp's portrayal, this is the cinematic version for you. Ichabod moves to Sleepy Hollow and becomes the new school teacher, where he meets and falls in love with Katrina Van Tassel. In an attempt to scare Ichabod away, Katrina's suitor Brom Bones dresses as the headless horseman, but the real specter shows up.

10. Halloweentown (1998 - Rated TV-G)

This movie is the epitome of a Disney Channel movie in the '90s. It's cheesy; it's corny; it's teaches life lessons. Marnie (Kimberly Brown) is a teenage girl who's just found out she's a witch and has to learn how to use her powers before her 13th birthday or lose them forever. But there's a bigger problem - her grandmother Aggie's (Debbie Reynolds) hometown, Halloweentown, is turning normal. It's up to Marnie to save it, and along the way bring her family closer together (in true Disney Channel style).

11. Monster House (2006 - Rated PG)

This animated movie gives a whole new meaning to haunted house. DJ, Chowder and Jenny discover that the house across the street is a living, breathing monster. On Halloween, the trio and monster house engage in an epic battle. This one's fun for all ages.

12. The Craft (1996 - Rated R)

This is one of my favorite suspense movies. It centers around four high school girls who form a coven. The girls get a little spell-happy, though, and are soon cursing their high school enemies. It all comes down to a battle between the newest member, Sarah (Robin Tunney) and the self-appointed leader of the coven, Nancy (Fairuza Balk). This movie has some pretty intense moments and may not be right for young children.

13. Practical Magic (1998 - Rated PG-13)

This is one of my favorite movies to watch any time. Practical Magic is the story of the Owens sisters, Sally (Sandra Bullock) and Gillian (Nicole Kidman), and their magical bond. Despite their vastly-different personalities and views when it comes to love, the sisters share a connection that can't be broken. The sisters must also overcome a family curse that dooms any man they fall in love with to death. Warning: the scene where Sally saves Gillian is a real tearjerker.

14. It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown (1966)

This tv movie has been around for nearly 50 years, and it doesn't matter if you're 2 or 102, the Peanuts gang is an instant winner. Charlie Brown and his friends celebrate Halloween in traditional ways while Linus hopes he'll finally be visited by the Great Pumpkin. As one IMDb review says, "The complete lack of scariness makes this the classic feel-good movie of the season."

15. Buffy the Vampire Slayer (1992 - Rated PG-13)

 This movie is everything you'd expect an early '90s movie to be, namely - cheesy. Starring Kristy Swanson as Buffy, this movie has bad fashion, corny acting and lots of vampires. When Buffy learns it's her destiny to be the Slayer, she teams up with Pike (Luke Perry) to save the world.

16. Teen Witch (1989 - Rated PG-13)

 This movie is the epitome of a bad '80s movie, which is probably why it's gained a cult following. Louise is the least popular girl in school until she discovers she's a witch and starts using her powers to change her fate, including casting a love spell on the captain of the football team. The best part of this movie is the ridiculous choreographed dance at the end.

17. Edward Scissorhands (1990 - Rated PG-13)

This Tim Burton romance-horror-gothic-fairy tale hybrid movie is a must on every Halloween movie watch list. It's the story of Edward (Johnny Depp), an artificial man who has scissors for hands. After living in isolation for all of his life, he moves in with a suburban family and falls in love with their daughter, Kim (Winona Ryder).

18. Ghostbusters I & II (1984 & 1989 - Rated PG)

Any Halloween movie list would be remiss if it didn't include Ghostbusters. It's the sci-fi tale of three paranormal scientists who lose their jobs at a NYC university and decide to start a business trapping ghosts, eventually suiting up to save the Big Apple from a giant marshmallow man. Starring Bill Murray, Dan Akroyd, Harold Ramis and Sigourney Weaver, this comedy is guaranteed to bring a giggle or two to your Halloween. Who ya gonna call?

19. Labyrinth (1986 - Rated PG)

A selfish teenager, Sarah (Jennifer Connelly), accidentally conjures up the Goblin King (David Bowie) while reading a story to her baby brother at bedtime. The Goblin King steals the baby and takes him to his castle in a labyrinth. Sarah has to rescue the baby before midnight or he will turn into a goblin. This movie was directed by Jim Henson so you can expect lots of creepy puppets throughout, as well as ridiculous songs like the one featured above. And I would be remiss if I didn't mention the fact that David Bowie's crotch region gets bigger and bigger as the movie progresses. Oh, and be on the lookout for the random chickens.

20. Scooby-Doo (2002 - Rated PG)

This movie is a live action ode to the cartoon series bearing the same name. After splitting up to pursue their own interests, the Mystery Inc. gang is reunited at an island theme park after two years. Spooky Island lives up to its name and Scooby and the gang must band together to get to the bottom of the mysterious goings-on. Jenkies!

Happy Halloween!

Monday Motivation

I missed posting last Monday, for no real reason other than time getting away from me. After last week, I need a little motivation. It wasn't that it was a particularly bad week. It was just a long and exhausting week - you know, one of those weeks that just gets you down. So this week is all about perspective. You may not be where you want to be yet, but you're also not where you once were. Use your past progress to keep making more. Happy Monday!

(Not So) Basic Journalism Skills: Finding Focus

Have you ever gone out and covered a story and come back with so much stuff you don't know where to get started? Sometimes finding the focus of a story is easy. Other times, it's like looking for a needle in a haystack.

In college, the stories you do are assignments. You know exactly what's expected of you for each one. In the real world of journalism, things aren't always that cut and dried. Sometimes you get to a story and realize there are multiple angles you could pursue, so you shoot it all and then end up with more stuff than you can use in one story. So what do you do?

One solution would be to do different versions of the story in multiple shows. But for the sake of this post, we'll pretend like that's not a viable option and instead focus on how to narrow down what your story should be about.

Probably the biggest piece of advice I can give you is this - have an idea of how you want your story to turn out before you go to your first interview. This will help you narrow down what questions you want to ask, what video you need to shoot, etc. However, do not get so locked into one idea that you can't see a better option. If the story you thought you were doing turns into something else that's better, pursue that instead!

Take notes during your interview. I cannot stress this tip enough. Not only will it cut down on the amount of time you spend logging, it will also help you identify the points you really want to include in your story. (For other tips on interviewing, click here.)

Once you've finished your interview, identify who the characters of your story are. The character(s) is what the story will revolve around. Once you've found that central figure, it will help you identify important elements. Keep in mind that characters don't always have to be a person. You can turn a building or event into a character. (Here's an example of using a play as the character - Swamp Gravy.)

Knowing how you want to put the story together is a good way to narrow down your focus. If you know up front that you're going to be profiling someone, you know that all of your elements should revolve around that person. If you're explaining a new law, you know that all of your elements should work in that way. Identifying the type of story you're going to tell will help you determine the type of interviews you'll need and what video you'll need. (To learn about different types of stories, click here.)

And sometimes, even when you've done everything I've mentioned, you'll still get back and have no idea where to start. It happens to the best of us. So what do you do in those situations? Go back to the basics and answer the 5 W's - who, what, when, where and why. And if you can, focus on how.

For more tips on finding a focus for your story, visit the American Press Institute.

Monday Motivation

In life it is so easy to get down and out about how something didn't go our way. My challenge to you this week is to make the best of every situation. If you change your mindset and start looking for the positives in every outcome rather than dwelling on the "what could have beens", think how much happier your life will be. Happy Monday!

Monday Motivation

In my part of the world, this week started off gray and rainy. For many people I know, it also started off sad. A girl I went to high school with died in a car crash over the weekend. While Lauren and I weren't what you'd call "friends", we did work together once upon a time and she was my oldest brother's friend. I remember her as someone who was always smiling. She was 27 years old. Her death is a poignant reminder that life can be cut short at any moment for anyone. To all those who are grieving and mourning the loss of Lauren, I hope today's post helps motivate you to make it through this week.

Focus on what's important. Remember the good times. Learn from the negatives. Never give up.

Rest in Peace, Lauren.

Monday Motivation

This is something I have to remind myself of occasionally. A couple weeks ago, I had a particularly bad day at work. It actually reached the point that I threw a pair of head phones. That was a first for me, and something I'm determined to not let happen again. That's the best part about the news business, though - no mater how bad of a day it is, once the show is over, it's over. Every new day is just that - new. Plus, I have a guaranteed good ending to every day in the form of a beautiful little girl.

Happy Monday! I hope you find the good in every day this week!

Monday Motivation

These are definitely words to live by. Happy Monday! Hope everyone has a good week!

3 Month Photo Session (2 Months Later)

Alexis turned 5 months old on Monday. So I figured I should probably share some of the photos from her 3-month session before she grows/changes too much. She's a little different every day - whether it's that's she's a little bigger, learned a new sound, or started doing a new "trick". We're doing a year-long photo session for her first year. At the end of the year, we'll have photos for 3, 6, 9 and 12 months; and we're lucky in that each session will correlate with a holiday -Independence Day, Halloween, Christmas/New Year's and Easter. For our first session, we didn't do anything themed really. But we have a tiara that we'll be using each session to show how much she's grown. Here are some of my favorite 3-month photos:

Monday Motivation

Hopefully not many of you are having to work on this holiday for laborers. However, as we all know in this business, news doesn't take a holiday (unless you're lucky at Christmas) so I know a lot of you need some motivation to get through this day.

I am:

A journalist.

A mother.

A wife.

A friend.

A sister.

A daughter.

A granddaughter.

A blogger.

What are you?

Monday Motivation

This week's Monday Motivation is a little late. I started the week off at the doctor's office after developing bronchitis over the weekend. A shot in the hip, some strong cough medicine and a 2-hour uninterrupted nap later and I don't sound like I've got a frog stuck in my throat anymore. Anyway, this week's motivation hits really close to home for me. Once I decided I wanted to be a journalist, I really didn't dream much further than being able to tell the stories that the people I grew up with and around cared about. Now that I'm reporting a couple days a week covering my hometown and surrounding area, I'm realizing that dream didn't die. It evolved a little and got pushed to the side for a little while, but it never really went away. I may have started realizing my dream a little late but that's okay. I'm getting back to the roots of *why* I wanted to do what I do and that's a great thing. Happy Monday!

Across the country, newsrooms have been shaken to their core. Alison Parker and Adam Ward were doing a live interview for the WDBJ Mornin' show when a former employee fatally shot them. Every journalist's worst fear came true this morning and it happened on live television by someone who was one of us.

Every day I send reporters out to cover stories. I go out and cover stories a few times a week myself. While I've never found myself in a situation I didn't feel safe in, we have had some scary situations pop up. Our policy has always been safety first. No story is worth one of our people's lives.

I didn't know Alison or Adam but their deaths have still had a great impact on me. In this business, maybe more so than other industries, everyone is connected somehow. We all work together regardless of if we've ever met face-to-face or even talked over the phone. I can't even imagine what the WDBJ family is going through right now.

A lot of people are sharing the video of the shooting. It's readily available on every social media site. But as a journalist I encourage you not to watch it. Instead watch and/or read the tributes to Alison and Adam. Over the course of this day we'll learn a lot about their killer, but for once - and maybe for the first time - let's focus on the victims. It's time to stop giving people like Vester Flannigan/Bryce Williams what they want.

4 Simple Ways to Make Your Show Better

It's something every producer struggles with - adding depth to your show without overdoing it.

As a producer, it's easy to fall into the trap of using something special to set every story apart. But if you overuse your special elements, they lose their uniqueness and soon the thing you were relying on to catch your audience's attention goes unnoticed. One double box is cool and unique; a double box for every live element you have is overkill.

So how do you add depth to your show without desensitizing your audience? Don't worry - there are a few simple things you can do to keep your show interesting and visually appealing.

Tip #1 - Have a visual for every story.
This is one rule I live by. Whether it's a full screen graphic, over-the-shoulder graphic or monitor image, every story in my show has some sort of visual. Not only do these visuals add depth to your shows, but they also provide visual support for your viewers. For example, if you're rattling off a bunch of statistics, chances are your viewers can't follow along very well, but if you put up a reveal full screen graphic that pulls up the stats as your talent is reading them, you've given your viewers a better shot at understanding what they're hearing.

Tip #2 - Use Nat Sound
There's nothing worse in my opinion than an anchor reading over a piece of video that has no sound. If you're doing a story about traffic, the actual sounds of cars in traffic add to the story. If your video is of fireworks, being able to hear the booms helps turn the story into an experience for your viewers. As a producer it is within your rights to ask reporters to leave the nats turned up in their videos. And if your director has a habit of turning the nats down, tell them not to. There's also no rule that says you can't use nat pops in your teases!

Tip #3 - Leave Room for Talent Interaction
In the producer workshop I went to for my station, the instructor talked a lot about what he called 'memorable moments', or more specifically interaction between the talent. Whether it's between your anchors or an anchor and meteorologist or even an anchor and reporter, viewers like to see those interactions. Those moments help viewers connect with a story and remember it once the show is done.

Tip #4 - Change Up Your Reporter Intros & Tags
This one can be a little tricky, especially if your reporters are one-man bands that run their own live shots, but it's not impossible. At the producer workshop I attended, the instructor talked a lot about having the talent start the live shot in one place and end it in another. At my station our reporters use TVUs to go live most of the time, making the whole switch-up thing difficult. Making the tosses to and from look different falls to the producer. The easiest way to make your tosses look different is to include an element in one that isn't in the other. For instance, if you have stingers/animations you could use one of those in the intro and double box back. Or if you use boxes in the first toss, don't use anything for the toss back.

Hopefully these tips will help you take your shows to a new level!

Monday Motivation

If you truly want something, you have to work for it. Not everything comes easily. Sometimes the things that are the most worthwhile are the ones you had to fight for, sweat for and maybe even bleed for. In other words, don't give up when the going gets tough. Happy Monday!

Monday Motivation

Monday Motivation

I think one pretty well speaks for itself. Hope everyone has a great week!

(Not So) Basic Journalism Skills: News Judgment

What makes news newsworthy? The argument can be made that anything is news, but depending on where you are and who your audience is, not everything is newsworthy.

News judgment is something, I believe, you only develop on the job. As you move from place to place and work at different outlets, you'll realize that your news judgment is always evolving.

When you went through journalism school, you probably learned the characteristics of a news story. You might have even learned a nifty little acronym to remember them by. For me, it was TIPCUP - Timeliness, Impact, Proximity, Conflict, Unusual/Uniqueness and Prominence. The trick, though, is knowing what TIPCUP means in your newsroom.

It's all about knowing your audience. The American Press Institute puts it well - "A good story is about something the audience decides is interesting or important ... The public is exceptionally diverse. Though people may share certain characteristics or beliefs, they have an untold variety of concerns and interests."

What makes news in one market won't necessarily make news in another; in some cases, what makes news at one station/newspaper will not make news at another outlet in the same city; and what makes news can even vary from newscast to newscast.

As a producer, it's extremely important for me to know my audience. If I know 75% of my 5:00 viewers are female, why would I produce a show that appeals more to men? It doesn't mean that I completely ignore the men who watch my show; it just means there will be more stories focused on the things our female viewers care about.

The American Press Institute describes journalism as "storytelling with a purpose." I agree. As a reporter, it's important to know why a story is newsworthy. If you can't answer that question, should you really be doing the story? Probably not.

And once you've determined that a story is newsworthy to your viewers, you have to prove it.

"Readers view the news through the lens of their lives and filter the content based on their interests and concerns. Though journalists may think, in fact may know, that something is “news,” declaring it so doesn’t make it true to the news consumer. Relevancy should not be assumed. We need to prove it."

No one viewer is more important than another. And no two viewers will look at a story in the same way. It's important to remember that just because what's newsworthy in one person's eyes isn't in another's doesn't mean it shouldn't be newsworthy to everyone in your audience. It's up to you, as a journalist, to connect the dots for your viewers and/or readers. Remember, it's our duty to inform them about things they need to know but don't necessarily know they need to.

Monday Motivation

This Monday morning started out a little rough for us. I got all the way to daycare to drop off the baby only to realize that I'd left all of her stuff at the house. Needless to say, I was late for work which always results in a day of playing catch-up. But I'm determined not to let that minor set-back determine the direction of the rest of my week. Happy Monday, everyone!

Monday Motivation

Last week was a whirlwind for me. In addition to producing two shows daily, I took on some reporting projects. It's something I've been wanting to do for at least a year. And since I volunteered to cover my home county, which is in a different time zone, that meant getting up earlier. (If you'd like to see what I worked on last week, click here and here.) If there's anything I've learned in the past few months, it's that if you want something you can't just sit back and wish for it - you've actually got to DO something. So if there's something you've been wishing for, do it. Happy Monday!

Monday Motivation

This week, for me, is all about taking chances. Remember when I told you back in May that there was something in the works for me to get back to what led me to choose journalism as a profession? Well, things with that really get started this week. Earlier this month, we took my noon show on the road for a patriotic newscast. As part of that show, I put together a feature on the 98th Army Silver Wings Band. Since then, I've put together two very quick, easy-to-piece-together packages for our early evening newscast on days when we were short-handed (all while producing two shows). This week, in addition to producing my two daily shows, I will be venturing out a couple of mornings to cover some stuff happening in my hometown. I'm extremely excited but at the same time nervous because I haven't done this in so long. But, in the end, I believe it will be worth the risk. And eventually, I'll be down to producing just one show a day and reporting for the rest.

Happy Monday, everyone! Take a risk this week!

Monday Motivation

Definitely words to live by. If we're not happy, then what's the point? Happy Monday, everyone!

So You Want to be a Journalist

An open letter to new journalism students:

So you're the next generation of reporters, producers, anchors and editors. You've got some pretty big shoes to fill with all of these news veterans with decades of experience starting to retire.

As if that's not enough, being a journalist entails a lot more today than it used to. Not only will you be expected to generate news for a broadcast or newspaper, but you'll also be expected to generate news for websites and social media.

In today's world of journalism, no one does just one job, especially when you're just starting out. More and more stations are looking for true multimedia journalists, people who not only report but who also know how to produce and maybe even anchor.

With all of these expectations waiting for you right after graduation, it's important that you take full advantage of your days in college. Trust me when I say that just going to class will not fully prepare you for the real world of journalism.

If you do nothing else recommended in this post, do this: Volunteer and/or work at your school's TV station or newspaper depending on your major. While this still isn't quite like the real world, it is much closer than a classroom is going to get you. While you're volunteering or working there, don't just pick one thing and stick with that - try them all. What other way are you going to learn that you don't like reporting or shooting or anchoring or writing or even journalism at all?

If an internship is not required for you to graduate, do one anyway. Sure you probably won't be paid, but you'll get to see the action up close. You'll get to see the stress, feel the hectic nature of news and get an even better sense of whether journalism is really for you than at a student-run station or publication.

Another thing I would recommend is to join journalism-related clubs, especially ones that do stuff. For example, I was a member of the Advertising & Public Relations Society for three years, and each of those three years we took on a business in the community as a 'client' and put together a marketing kit for them based on their needs. It was great experience dealing with an actual customer and working with a team to get something accomplished that I wouldn't have gotten in a classroom.

Be smart when choosing your electives. If you want to be a sports reporter, take some sports-related classes. If you want to write features, take a creative writing class. If you want to cover politics, take political science and government classes. If you want to be a business reporter, take business classes. Si quieres trabajar en una zona con una gran población hispana, tomar unas clases de español.

Some tips from other journalists include being versatile and proficient in as many angles of the business as possible; having tough skin and being ready for criticism; and not confusing a significant job with being significant and becoming self-important.

Oh, and have fun! If you're not in this because you enjoy it, you might as well bail out now. You won't be making enough money to hate what you do. Being a journalist is a labor of love. If you're not called to do it, you shouldn't. Plain and simple.

Monday Motivation

After a rough end to last week (stomach bug made the rounds), this week is already showing promise. Our happy, playful baby is back and we've made it past the weird, short holiday week. Some stuff I'm working on includes planning my next two live noon shows and a blog letter to aspiring journalists as they start their college careers. Hope everyone has a great week!