It's Just Me

Welcome!

This blog provides a brief outlet into my world of covering everyday, local news. I've been in Kansas City 13 years and it surprises when people say they know me yet they know very little about me. Some of them see me everyday on KCTV 5 News. I want people to know they can reach out to me with issues they would like for me to report on, investigate...get to the bottom of. I promise I will do what I can to help. That's what I'm about...helping others, informing others. 


Photo by Larry F. Levenson

 Here's a little about me...
Born in a small Oklahoma town, I spent my young days pretending to be a "didn't know what it was called then grown-up". With my card board box in front of me, my chair and a book...at the age of six, I knew what I wanted to do.

My poor sister, I made her play with me as the weather person:).Then one day, in my middle school social studies class, we had a career day. At the bottom of the booklet handed out, was a picture of a woman holding a microphone. The caption read, TV News Correspondent. "That's it!" I yelled, "That's what I want to do!". And I've been doing it. In high school working on the school paper (thanks, Mr. Vonderheid); college working on the radio and news paper staff; graduating and working behind the scenes as interns and assistants at WFAA-TV, and the FOX stations in Dallas, Texas where my family moved during my pre-teen years.



 


Photo by Larry F. Levenson, (hair By Laraj)

My first job was a news anchor/ reporter/ camera person (we did it all) in Greenville, Mississippi. I still have my first pay check stub, it was something like $319 a month. When I saw my last name on the dry erase board under the word REPORTER, I was elated. However, happiness didn't last. I also quit that job after a year.

Greenville, MS WABG-TV



Wendy and Me, Wonder where she is now.

It was tough. I was broke and homesick! I went home crying saying I couldn't make it. But something inside wouldn't let me quit. You see, it took two years after graduating from college to get that first on-air job.

Hair by Laraj, Kansas City, MO

  I remember, before taking my first job, I was interviewed for a fellowship program in Boston, WCVB-TV, I think. It was a paid internship working with some of the best reporters. I was one of the qualifying ten applicants left and I was so nervous. Too nervous to answer questions. I will never forget the reporter who told me during the interview that my essay was great. It was the reason I was selected...but she said I wouldn't cut it on-air. "Maybe you should be a writer" she said. I broke down in the elevator on my way out, in front of the other applicants. I couldn't hold it in. She broke my heart, killed my dreams. But I wanted to show her, she was wrong. That was nearly 20 years ago and I still remember that so vividly. The hard knot that stayed lodged in my throat as I tried to swallow my water at the interview table.
So when I quit that first job in Mississippi. Those meddling words came back to me. I didn't want her to be right so I began applying for other jobs.


Kathy and I, reporting in Texas

I met my next news director at a Black Journalist Regional Convention in Dallas. He was from the Shreveport, Louisiana market and he was willing to give me a shot. I worked in the Texarkana ,Texas and Arkansas bureau for three years. Honed my skills as a reporter/photographer. Met some life long friends. But I wanted to work in a bigger market. I got in my car, drove to five states, Missouri included. And only one news director called me back. I've been in Kansas City ever since.

photo by Larry F. Levenson

I met my husband here, we have two beautiful daughters here and I consider Kansas City my home. So now that you know a little about me, come back to my blog. I'll let you in on some more facts about me. I'll even try to get some of my first stories from those Mississippi days in...if I can figure out how to convert those tapes. Until then you can watch me on KCTV 5 News...check out some of my reports or read my bio on www.kctv5.com.
I spent some time in Europe on a journalists exchange program called RIAS. Check out that blog as well http://www.kctv5.com/category/244919/the-overseas-experience. Til' next entry...the journey continues.