Local Reporter Spotlight: Sydney Ryan

Robert Charette
July 15, 2014 4:13 PM

Target’s attempt to initiate a gun ban in their stories before the July 4 weekend came back to bite them when gun rights groups picked up hamburgers and buns on their way to their Fourth of July BBQs while armed. Second Amendment defenders spoke loudest in Texas and KJTV’s Sydney Ryan was on call to put a microphone in front of them.

Local Reporter Spotlight: Anna Gilligan

Robert Charette
June 30, 2014 5:05 PM

It’s hard out there for local reporters. You have to deal with inclement weather, crime scenes, and drunken "man on the street" interviews. The last thing these intrepid storytellers need to hear is double entredre from a colleague after a harrowing live shot.

Local Reporter Spotlight: World Cup Edition

Robert Charette
June 19, 2014 12:19 PM

When a nation hosts 32 countries to compete in a World Cup, not only does it need to accommodate for the hundreds of players and staffs, it also needs to brace itself for a deluge of negative coverage by the thousands of news outlets, all with their own ideological bent. So far, I’ve been enjoying ESPN’s Wright Thompson blogging about the varied scrumtrulescent South American cuisines and cervezas. Another reporter worth following is Mexico’s Vanessa Huppenkothen.

Local Reporter Spotlight: Jessica Headley

Robert Charette
June 12, 2014 1:14 PM

If it weren’t for LeBron's Game 2 resurgence and San Antonio’s historic Game 3 performance, all anyone would still be talking about is Game 1’s "LeBroning" episode. KABB out of San Antonio piled on with some LeBroning of their own.

Local Reporter Spotlight: Madison Burke

Robert Charette
May 8, 2014 2:04 PM

Local reporting is like community service, but with more make-up. Volunteerism inspires the truly great local reporters to seek out and report on topics ranging from serious problems such as a community's dangerous pot holes to lighter fare such as the local pet show. People will climb over one another to report from a red carpet, but it takes a certain someone with a sterling community service record to share stories of people in the community.

Local Reporter Spotlight: Rachel Harkbarth

Robert Charette
February 27, 2014 12:53 PM

In a perfect world, local news would be reported by, well, locals. There’s a certain texture townies provide in covering their home region, bringing history, cultural understanding, and a general appreciation to their beat. Nostalgia is the no-calorie sweetener of reporting.

Local Reporter Spotlight: Hillary Papers Edition

Robert Charette
February 10, 2014 2:45 PM

We break away from our regularly scheduled Sochi Smokes programming to encourage everyone to take a gander at Goodman's deep dive into the Hillary papers. Woo Pig Sooie, indeed. While America is counting on Miss Goodman to report on the once-and-future Hillary, residents of the great state of Arkansas look to KHOG’s Paige Preusse to report on their own daily happenings.

Local Reporter Spotlight: Grecia Aguilar

Robert Charette
January 31, 2014 2:00 PM

Shifting demographics have forced newsrooms all over the country to pay more attention to the American Southwest, or what I prefer to call “God’s Country.” The increase in America's Hispanic population, for example, puts bilingual journos like KSWT’s Grecia Aguilar at a premium.

Local Reporter Spotlight: Allison Harris

Robert Charette
January 10, 2014 3:27 PM

The journalism industry's Holy Grail is Matt Drudge linking to your story. And KXII’s Allison Harris report on the heartbreaking story of a Texas family fighting for their child's healthcare after it was canceled by Obamacare was a Drudge favorite.

Local Reporter Spotlight: Breana Pitts

Robert Charette
December 13, 2013 5:00 AM

There are many paths for a young, optimistic journalist to take on his or her path to a network news anchor’s chair. While some can afford the advantage of nepotism, others toil for years by erecting a career in small and mid-sized markets before making the leap to the big show. It’s pretty much the plot of Anchorman. But before even a greenhorn journo can begin reporting live from the Poughkeepsie livestock show, they start as the lowest of the low rungs, a Production Assistant. This week’s local reporter spotlight shines on WHDH’s News Coordinator and aspiring entertainment reporter Breana Pitts.