My First Real TV Job

Well, I call it my first real tv job. It was my senior year in high school; my parents moved to a town called Valdosta, GA. The tv bug bite was still itching pretty bad. In fact, so bad that I somehow got brochures sent to me from Frontline Commuications about their live trucks and one, as well, from BAF which is another manufacturere of live trucks. I would look at them all the time. How weird is that?

Since it was all I could think about, I was determined to somehow become part of the tv news business. I figured that I would call around and see if they would take a high school intern. If I only knew then what I know now, I would have never made the call. However, the sucky part was that little ole Valdosta did not really have a tv station. BUT, two tv stations from different markets had bureaus in Valdosta so I grabbed a phone book and made calls. The first one I called was WCTV 6 which was based out of Talahasse, FL. The guy, Brian Shumans, said he would have to get back to me because he did not know station policy. I took that as a "get lost kid, I'm in tv and don't have time for you!" So I called the other tv station. It was WALB TV 10 based out of Albany, GA. I called the number listed in the phone book. The gentleman answered, "Newscenter 10 Valdosta Bureau." His name was Greg Loyd. He was the sole reporter based in Valdosta. I gave him my proposal of wanting to come and work with him learning to be a photog. Boy was I surprised at his answer.

To be continued.........

I Hate Bloggers Who Don't Post For A While

That includes me. I apologize for not posting lately. I know all three of you who read my blog have probably been upset and let down. Please forgive me. Since I am no longer in "the biz", I am very busy these days. I now work for a large non-profit that is a first responder when there is a disaster. (NOT the Red Cross!) So, as you can imagine, I have been very busy coordinating disaster work along with overseeing my regular employees. Let me just say that I am very pleased with the organization that I work with. We have put in MANY hours and have kept a good attitude, an attitude of compassion, that has allowed us to reach many people who are displaced physically and emotionally.

Now I am not gonna post without saying something about the media. I live in a very large market, DALLAS/FT. WORTH. I have to say; the photogs, for the most part seem pretty friendly. There were times when I was somewhere where there were live trucks and photogs and I had a bout of withdrawal. I wanted to be back apart of the media and covering a story. So, when I approached a photog and told them I used to be a fello photog, they did not brush me off and make me feel stupid, and I appreciated it. Thanks photogs in DFW! So, if a person comes up to you one day in the field and tells you that he is an "extvtog", please humor him and make him feel welcome.

I promise, I will get back to regular posting as soon as this disaster recovery wraps up in the DFW Metroplex area.