While many East Tennesseans spend their weekends sleeping in, I get up bright and early to bring you 10News Weekend on Saturdays and Sundays. I began working at WBIR as the station's first backpack journalist in October of 2006.
I like to think my career in journalism began in my bedroom in my hometown of Newark, Ohio. To practice my reading skills, I used to line up all my stuffed animals and read books aloud to them, making sure to show those stuffed animals the pictures as well. Perhaps that's why I later went into broadcasting.
After graduation, I went on to attend the Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern University in Evanston, Ill. As part of my education, I spent the spring quarter of my junior year working as a reporter at WKYT-TV in Lexington, Ky. It was my first official job in the business, and I ended up working there through the summer, which added up to a six-month stint.
After earning my Bachelor of Science degree in Broadcast Journalism, I returned to my Ohio hometown to take a job at the Gannett-owned newspaper, The Newark Advocate, where I worked as an education and diversity reporter. I think my time there allowed me to improve my writing skills, as it challenged me to write creatively, given that I had no video to help me tell the stories at the time.
My love for broadcasting eventually drew me back to television, where I took a job working behind the scenes at KSDK-TV, the Gannett station in St. Louis. I experienced all sorts of TV jobs while there, working as a production assistant, helping out on the assignment desk, and acting as a field reporter, working with videographers to put together stories for the reporters and anchors at the station.
The itch to tell my own stories finally pushed me back to reporting, so I accepted a position at WMAZ-TV in Macon, Ga. It was my first experience living in the south, and I was hooked. While there, I covered several memorable stories, including one about a man who spent more than half of his life as a fugitive from the law after escaping from prison as a young man. I also covered a series of stories about the gang activity in Macon and the problems with methamphetamine in the area. I was privileged enough to be awarded "The Gabby" from the Georgia Association of Broadcasters for my stories on the Fugitive and both the gang and meth series.
By the time I left Macon, I had been promoted to the evening weekend anchor, where I gained the valuable experience I bring to my position here at WBIR today.
I have been so fortunate to be a member of the 10News team. I have met such great friends both here at the station and in the community, and I have felt both challenged and lucky to tell the stories I have here.
I will never forget my trip to Sweden in 2007, where I met Peter Lillelid, the only surviving member of his family after the terrible attack on his family in Greene County in April 2007. I've covered elections, fires, shootings, homecomings, charity events, and more. But I've perhaps been most touched by the time I've spent with The Love Kitchen sisters, Helen Ashe and Ellen Turner. Seeing their passion, dedication and heart in action has been a gift. I feel so lucky to have been there to experience their overwhelming joy and gratitude at the $100,000-plus community donation they received for The Love Kitchen just before Thanksgiving 2009, their disbelief at seeing their homes transformed during the Labor of Love project, and the sheer excitement they had while preparing for their experience on the Oprah show in Chicago.
A journalist's life is made up of the experiences she's had, the people she's met, and the stories she's been allowed to tell, which makes me a truly honored and very grateful journalist.
I only hope to continue on that path here in East Tennessee, which has been one of the most welcoming and supportive places I've ever had the pleasure of working.
Thanks for watching!