I was always fascinated by what was happening inside the TV. The lights, cameras, and perceived glitz and glamour originally drew me in as I announced the morning news as I got ready for school.

 

But as I got older, I discovered a love for writing and luckily, I was really good at it, too.  That, combined with my creative, artistic eye, and my persistent curiosity and need to know all the facts, and know them first, made me realize I was meant to bring the news into people’s living rooms. I wanted to create what people see and hear.

 

As a producer, I not only get to inform viewers of the things they need to know, but I also get to tell the stories of everyday people, and at times, the stories of people that may otherwise not be told. Through these stories of bravery, strength, heartache, anger, and joy, I get to introduce people to others they may never have otherwise gotten to meet.

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It’s important to never lose your compassion or empathy when telling these stories. You can’t do your job as well if you become a numb, emotionless robot while keeping your reporting fair and balanced.

 

I tell these stories through words, video, and graphics. And putting all these elements together is an art form that I am so passionate about. I love to interweave elements to better tell a story and make people care. Like a puzzle, I love to take the pieces of news I have and put them together in a way that makes people not only want to keep watching, but also gives them something no app or website can.

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I’m beaming with pride after every show I build, even those on what you may call a slow news day. When that show open rolls and we go live, I’m working from beginning to end to ensure everything I’ve created gets on air smoothly. I’m constantly striving for perfection. And at the inevitable and exciting moment when a story breaks, I never want a person at home to know things may be chaotic behind the scenes.

 

I need to control that chaos as I type as fast as I can and talk with my director and anchors in order to get whatever information or video we may have on air. Despite the speed, I always work to ensure I have the same pride about this new show as I did about the show that now sits in my virtual recycle bin.

 

Watching the news as a kid, I never understood what went into building a newscast. And now that I do, I couldn’t imagine doing anything else.