Winter Weather Fun

Although, I am a Florida girl at heart and absolutely hate being cold, reporting in winter weather can actually be fun.

The fun all started when I got an email Monday night, telling me to be waiting for a 5:30 am wake-up call and that I'd need to be LIVE shortly after that. I'm not usually "a-LIVE" at that time and I don't particularly enjoy standing out in below freezing temperatures. However, there's something about being the first to tell viewers something that gets the adrenaline pumping and makes it really fun. Although, I could see my breath and barely feel my nose; I felt like I was really doing something good for the community by warning people about the icy driving conditions before they left home. Monday's fun continued until the six o'clock news for me, where I continued to inform viewers of what was happening on the streets.

Tuesday's fun began even earlier, when there were no wake-up calls and that I was to be ready for LIVE shots at 5:30 am. Today was even colder too. I think it marked the longest time I have ever stayed outside in weather that was just barely thirteen degrees. Now don't be fooled, when you didn't see me in front of the camera, you can bet I was warm and cozy in the LIVE truck with a blanket and all.

We don't have to stand outside for hours at a time in freezing temperatures. But, there's a bright side to being cold on camera. It allows us to accurately tell viewers what is going on because we were experiencing it firsthand.

Another thing, I think most reporters would agree with me that being LIVE is one of the most fun things about the job. On winter weather days, as you probably saw for yourself, everyone had plenty of LIVE shots. By having so many LIVE shots in a row, it allows us reporters to be creative with what we show and tell you.

Nevertheless, I am glad that the sun is back and that the winter weather is gone. But, I'd definitely do it all over again!

4 o'clock Stress

Everyone has their moments when they find themselves engulfed with "stress."

I have those moments on a regular basis; specifically around 4 o'clock most weekday afternoons.

Why 4 o'clock?
For a reporter, it's when you know there's barely enough time to get all the work you've done throughout the day complete for the 5 and 6 o'clock newscasts.

It's amazing how fast the morning goes by, and how convenient it is that most interviewees are tied up in the mornings; only having free time to meet in the afternoon cutting it close to deadline time.

My co-workers always know when I am stressed because instead of sitting at my desk typing up my stories, you'll find me standing up typing at my desk.

For some reason, standing up makes me feel like I am able to get everything done faster and more efficiently.

Standing up does help me get through the 4 o'clock stress but it also gives me a backache by days end.

Anybody else have strange ways of dealing with stress?

Austin-Over and Out

Day two in Austin started bright and early, when we had to get our press credential passes at 7:30 am. The passes allow you, as the media to go on the floor with a camera (in the House) where the Legislative session takes place.

The "floor" was packed with State Representatives, sitting in their assigned seats with their family members, friends, or guests sitting alongside of them. The balcony was packed with fellow Texans showing their support for the state.

Afterwards, I mingled with other reporter-photographer teams from larger markets. They were impressed that KRBC was there and that our crew on the assignment was doing this for the very first time.

Because of all the technological problems we ran into, much of our day consisted of sitting in our hotel room, editing and sending multiple downloads to Abilene.

Picture this, we had three computers going. We'd be writing our scripts for the newscasts, for the web, and then we'd be blogging.

It was definitely different working outside of the newsroom. While, we only had one specific topic to cover, "the Legislative Session" it felt like more work than on a normal work day. For example, when I am busy working on my daily, "package" the longer stories (where you actually see me), and a couple of "vosots" (when you see video and sound from an interviewee) that all have absolutely nothing to do with each other, it felt like much less work then the we've done even as a team the past two days covering one topic.

The phone conversations you might have heard with me on the newscasts were quite interesting. While, I am sharing a hotel room with KTAB's Katherine Lane, who also had a "phoner" (as we call a phone conversation on air) for KTAB at about the same time. Instead of having us both talk from the same room and drive our photographer, Danielle (and probably each other crazy) I had my phone conversations in the car. It was neat though because I could see the Capitol building from the car as I was describing what I'd seen and done throughout the day.

While our trip is coming to an end, and our final story for the ten o'clock newscast has just about transferred, I definitely would do the experience all over again.

It was overall a great learning experience. It really taught me how to think on my feet. There was a lot of pressure to compare to all of the professionals that have been in the business for years that were all around me.

I think the work that I put in here, after just two days will definitely impact a higher-quality product from me as a journalist for KRBC to you as a viewer. Thanks for sharing in my journey to Austin.

An Inside Look to the Legislative Session

Our trip to Austin started bright and early, when KTAB's Katherine Lane and photographer, Danielle Reeves and I headed for the state capital. The drive took about four hours. As soon as we arrived I met with State Representative Susan King, who informed me of some of the things on the top of her priority list.

The top things she mentioned were:
Education and how important our local schools are, as students are our future. She put emphasis on the importance of funding for Cisco Jr. College, as well as our three private universities.

Water and how she plans to put forth the plans with building a dam out at the Cedar Ridge Reservoir; bringing in an additional supply of water to the City of Abilene.

Wind Energy is something that Representative King also wants to keep growing in the Big Country area.

Oil and Gas Industry is on everyone's mind and it is also a priority for State Representative Susan King.

Representative King was so welcoming that she gave of us a tour of the Capitol building, including the "mysterious" lounge that legislatures can convene throughout the session. It was pretty tiny for 150 people but a much needed spot as no food or drink is allowed in the House.

After our tour, we rushed back to the hotel to get our stories done for the six and ten o'clock newscasts. It was stressful as the internet connection was pretty slow. However, we worked really hard and made a great team, putting together a high quality product. If you didn't get a chance to see it at 6, definitely check it out on the website.

The opening ceremony begins at noon tomorrow when the Representatives of the House will be sworn in. We will be there bright and early to see how the day pans out. We'll be bringing you the latest throughout the day.

This has definitely been a great learning experience and I hope to go on many other out-of-town assignments in the future.

As for the "Rest of the Story"

Some people have asked if there are things that we leave out of the news.
We don't intentionally leave out information. However, we as journalists need to find the key points to every story to inform you, and we only have a minute and thirty seconds (at best) to do that.
This is one of the things that makes the job difficult. We'll go a whole day, sometimes longer getting information from various sources for a story and then we'll have to condense everything to that one minute slot in the newscast.
Fortunately, with the internet we are often times able to give you those additional details that we simply run out of time for during newscasts. But, just note we're not hiding any juicy details. After all, it's our job to keep you informed. ; )
Thank you for watching KRBC!