CBS 21 Community

Monday started slow.  Very slow.  As the producers, reporters, and managers sat around discussing possible news stories in our morning meeting, we knew it would be a slow day.  I was assigned to cover the State Street ribbon-cutting in Harrisburg at 1pm.  This was gonna be a "cake day" for my photog, Laura, and I.  And then, just as we started shooting some video around 11am, we got the call.  "Head to Lancaster Co., there's been some kind of mass casualty shooting."

Wow.  At this point, we're really hoping someone heard something wrong on the police scanner in the newsroom - because you never want to have to cover something of this grave nature - right in your back yard.  But alas, it turned out to be worse than we could ever imagine.  You've watched the coverage, you've read the articles, you know how it all played out.

As reporters and photogs, your jobs are to: get there, get the information, get the interviews, get the pictures...and get it on the air.  No matter what the info is - get it right, and get it on the air.  No time to reflect, no time to wonder how this could have even happened.  Get the job done.  No emotions allowed - cause there's no time, no room for it.  It's a skill (I think) I've finally mastered.  It doesn't mean I don't have emotions, it just means I have to shove them deep down into a covered corner for a while - so I can tell you at home what's going on.

So there I am, after the PSP Comissioner's very first press conference, relaying the information back to our viewers.  After rambling on for a few minutes, I threw it back to our anchor, Letitia Miele.  She asked a great question.  Something to the effect of Col. Jeffrey Miller getting choked up while speaking about the children's feet being bound with wire, while lined-up in front of the classroom.  I began responding to Letitia's comment, and then, all of a sudden, BOOM.  The image of what those poor, innocent girls must have gone through popped into my head.  I almost lost it.  Almost.  But I knew if I let the flood gates open, just a bit - there would be no stopping it.

Our crews worked several hours later into the night.  And as I was driving by myself back to the station around 10pm, that's when it hit.  I finally let it go. 

A lot of people ask us how we deal with covering such horrible stories like this.  Everyone is different.  Just know that people in the news business have kids and parents and friends and neighbors, just like everyone else.  We say our prayers at night, and thank (whomever) for our blessings.

What happened to those children and their families on Monday affected us all.  At the end of the day, we pray for them, too.

So I was the fortunate reporter at my station who was sent to cover the five year anniversary of 9/11 last week in Shanksville, PA.  I use the word "fortunate" because I truly believe any chance to get an up-close and personal look at an historic place is irreplaceable. 

There are a few reasons I've waited over a week to blog about the experience.  The first being - I worked a 70 hour week last week, and quite honestly, I'd forgotten my first name, let alone how to blog.  Second, and more importantly - here we are a week later, the news has moved onto other things - and yet 9/11 should still be at the top of our minds - but it's not.

You see, if there's one thing I hoped you'd take away from those reports is that - if you're going to visit the memorial site in that beautiful field in Shanksville, do it on Sept. 20th, not Sept. 11th.  Do it on May 5th, December 14th, July 29th - any day but September 11th.

Here's why.

I first visited the site in October 2004.  Just a random non-9/11 day.  There weren't dozens of media satellite trucks...there weren't secret service men and bomb-sniffing dogs getting ready for the president's arrival...there weren't hundreds of other people trying to get a view of the same thing I wanted to see.  There was me, the wind, and a story.

If you go - my advice is to simply stand there and let "it" tell you the story of that day.  Try as hard as you can to "relive" the experience.  Put yourself in the shoes of Cee Cee Ross Lyles - a flight attendant on Flight 93.  Remember where you were that day - and how you found out about the towers, the pentagon, and then the plane that crashed "somewhere in PA."  Read the beautiful stone memorials gifted to the crash site that bare the now famous words "Let's Roll."  Then, say a prayer (if you'd like), and by all means - thank the 40 people who became the first line of defense in the war on terror.

I promise you...it's an experience you'll never forget.

Ok, the news business is crazy.  The hours are weird (and long), we work holidays (totally stinks), we move around from city to city trying to establish (then, re-establish) oursleves as the budding new reporter, and to boot, we do NOT get paid as much as people think we do.  Really, we don't.

But there is one shift that some people refuse to touch with a ten foot pole, no matter what...the early morning shift.  We're talking early people.  So early, that it's actually considered "late" from the night before. 

I had the opportunity to work as the 21 News This Morning reporter for the first year and a half I was here in the Burg.  I LOVE the am staff.  They rock big time.  But the hours, man, they bite - and everyone on that shift will admit it, too. 

But while I was on that shift, the #1 question I got from people I met out in the field wasn't, "What are your most memorable stories?"  Or, "Who is the most famous person you've interviewed?"  It was, "So what time do you wake up each morning?"  The second most asked question?  "So, then what time do you go to bed at night?" 

For all those who are wondering, here's some insight into how the morning show staff "puts it all together for you" everyday.

Our morning show producers come in at 11:30pm the night before to start working on the show, which begins at 5am.  Sherry Christian gets in around 3am (I'm filling in for her this week, while she's on vaca with the fam).  When I reported on morning's, I was up at 3am, and got to work around 4am.  The morning photographer, Jim Stanton, gets in around 3am - but at least 2-3 days a week, he's called in early (anywhere from midnight-3am) to cover breaking news like shootings, fires, bad accidents, etc.

Some people who work these crazy hours sleep in shifts - or whenever they sit down (not mentioning any names - Jim).  Not me.  I muddled through my day after I got off work at noon - ran errands, worked out, etc., then fell into a deep coma every night on my couch while Access Hollywood was on - so, say 7:45ish?  I'm pretty sure Sherry did/does the same - she's got three kids - think she has time to "nap" everyday?  Ha!!!

Somehow, though, despite the tiring hours, it all seems to work - like a well-oiled machine.  Being back on this shift - even just for this week - reminds me of how dedicated and strict you have to be with your schedule in order to get a decent night's sleep.  I think everyone in tv should have to work this shift just once, even if just to appreciate it.  Hats off to our morning crew.  They work hard everyday to bring us the best...and they do it with eyes wide open.  Wait, Jim is that you over there snoring?  Zzzzzzzzz.....

It's the 4th of July. 

Hot dogs, fireworks, maybe a dip in the pool.  Or, for us "newsies," it's another day at the office -

 which, on the 4th of July, means watching other families ejoy their hot dogs, fireworks, and dips in the pool.  "So, how was that Johnsonville brat Mr. Taylor?" " Great!"  "Okay, that's a wrap" (hey, I didn't say I worked hard on holidays...).

It's okay.  I got my sparkle on last night.  Yes, I like sparklers.  They're cheap, relatively easy to light (it only took five matches to light one!), and they're 30 seconds of pure fun.  When my neighbor across the way saw me on my balcony lighting a sparkler on July 3rd, she asked, "Aren't you a little too old for sparklers?"  "Nope," I replied, "You're never too old for sparklers!!"  And by the way, neighbor, thanks for the "old" comment.  What up?

Anywho, the sight of fireworks filling the night sky, the look on a three year old's face who's experiencing the 4th and all it's glory for the very first time...it's the best.  That's what life is all about.

Happy 4th of July everyone, and remember, you're never too old to get your sparkle on.