Live From Oregon

Perks of Being Older

2012-02-29T20:37:00.002-08:00

Checked the mail today.

Ad.

Promotional Credit Card.

Ad.

Bill.

Ad.

Weekly Newspaper.

Ad.

Promotional Checks.

Ad.

I keep only the bill. Open it and look it over.

It's for auto insurance.

Looking closely I see something's different this month.

I'm paying less.

My monthly premium has gone down. "Rates have been changed. Change in operator age."

Getting old is awesome.

Leap Day

2012-02-29T00:01:00.001-08:00

TV teaches me a lot. Like if I yell and don't listen to other people, I can have a talk show on a 24-hour news channel. Also, if I'm the offspring a famous lawyer, I, too, will become famous. It's also taught me about Leap Day.

Fall all of you who didn't grow up in a town that celebrated Leap Day, here's a little history lesson: Celebrated every four years on Feb. 29th, Leap Day is a magical extra day for you to take chances. And if you're lucky, Leap Day William visits. He's from the Mariana Trench, and every four years he emerges to trade children's tears for candy. Oh, and you have to wear yellow and blue or you'll get poked in the eye, have your hair pulled, or worse.

How did I learn this? 30 Rock.

The major moral taken from the episode is that Leap Day is the one day to do something you've always wanted to do, but never did. Do something crazy. "Real life is for March."

So do that.

Today is a free day, and you only get one every four years.

Oregon in the New York Times

2012-02-23T08:21:00.002-08:00

Klamath Falls is a city of about 20,000. To get there from Medford you've got to drive about an hour and a half over a highway that's at once beautiful and treacherous. Ice pack covers the pavement most of the winter. The small shoulders of the two-lane highway drop off into deep ravines lined with countless evergreens.

That long drive is one of the reasons why we don't make the trip to Klamath Falls that often. I've been making it more frequently on Friday nights to cover basketball, and a few months ago to cover football. In fact, sports coverage accounts for probably half of my journeys over ice and through forests to Klamath.

A writer from the perhaps the most respected newspaper in America made the trip, also covering sports in the city. The New York Times released a story about the coach who, for 41 years, has held the position of head coach of the basketball program at Oregon Institute of Technology. And as the article tells you, it's not the only lasting achienvement he's made in Klamath Falls.

Grand Juries

2012-02-22T20:55:00.004-08:00

A few weeks was the unofficial week of Grand Juries.

In January there were two deadly officer-involved shootings. One with the U.S. Marshals and another with Medford Police. Somehow the hands of fate placed both of those cases in the Grand Juries' laps in back to back days.

But first, what in the heck is a Grand Jury? I think all of us have seen video or pictures or some sort of image of what a courtroom looks like. Think "Law and Order" or "A Few Good Men." But what about a Grand Jury? Is it held in some bigger, gilded courtroom? No.

Here's a beginner's guide to Grand Juries:

It just so happened that that day was the day that one of the officer shooting cases was in Grand Jury. Elias Ruiz, an 18 year old, was shot and killed when he ran after police. Two officers were cleared of any wrongdoing in that case. The news came down in a press conference after 4:30. At 5, I had a live report from that room. It wasn't my best. But I had another hour to prepare and this was my report at 6:

The very next day the U.S. Marshals were ruled justified in shooting 20 year old Jimmy Georgeson, a federal fugitive. That news came down real late in the evening and we had full coverage the following day. My story used surveillance tape, 911 tapes, and an animated mock-up. I'm really happy with it.

http://kdrv.com/page/238806

Fires in February!?

2012-02-17T02:00:00.000-08:00

For a few days in the last few weeks, smoke could be seen coming from the forest above Ashland. A prescribed burn to clear out thin fuels and brush was lit about two weeks prior. Little rain and snow, lots of sun, and a bit of wind kept the fire going for a bit longer than planned.

Last Tuesday, I drove an hour and a half on Forest Service roads and went inside the firelines where the burning was happening.

Usually, it's June, July, or August when I have to put on the bright yellow fire gear (which I love), but I got to get a taste of summer in early February.

If the weather keeps this course, could be a dry summer and an active fire season. And those clothes will be getting a lot more use.

What Journalists Do

2012-02-16T12:07:00.001-08:00

School Sex Abuse in Medford

2012-02-16T01:04:00.000-08:00

Sex Abuse scandals in schools have been popping up across the country over the past few months. Teachers and volunteers acting inappropriately towards students.

Wednesday night we got a press release from Medford Police saying the Rogue Valley had been hit, too.

Working the nightshift, I was on duty. I grabbed my camera, phone list of school officials, and headed to McLoughlin Middle School, where the abuse is suspected to have happened.

Birthday

2012-02-13T02:00:00.000-08:00

Last Saturday was my 24th birthday. I'm not one of those people who love big celebrations with the spotlight on me and my increasing age. I don't like the attention, I don't like the big show, I don't like feeling as though I have to entertain everyone. If a birthday is the day where you get to do what you want-- I want to spend time with my close friends, do something fun, and enjoy the day. I got to do that last weekend.

Jessica, Sarah, and I snowshoed Crater Lake. We drove up in the morning and went on a guided hike in some of the backcountry, leading up to the rim of the lake. From there we overlooked the deep, blue, beautiful water.

In the winter, there's a 50-50 chance that clouds form inside the caldera and block any view of the lake, but it was a clear, sunny, and somewhat warm day. Perfection.

The whole shoeing trip was about two hours, a bit tough, but beautiful and serene. The best part: it was free! Thanks Teddy Roosevelt for creating National Parks.

Later in the night, the same friends came over for pizza and beer and we watched "Super 8." It was a quiet evening. And it was just what I wanted for my birthday.

Variety

2012-02-03T02:00:00.000-08:00

One of the reasons I love my jobs that everyday brings something new, something unexpected, or at least something different.

This week, I've covered a smattering of topics: from pesticide use in schools, to a murder trial. From a hotel joining Holiday Inn, to a crashed car stuck since Christmas.

What will Friday bring? I'm not sure. But I bet I'll like it.

Under Fire

2012-01-25T01:00:00.000-08:00

In the past three weeks there have been two deadly, officer-involved shootings in Medford. One was a 20 year old federal fugitive who was shot by U.S. Marshals. Another was an 18 year old who was killed by Medford police officers.

Having two fatal shootings by police has sparked fiery responses in the community. Very fiery.

Our station's Facebook page has seen hundreds of passionate parents, teenagers, people who live in the Rogue Valley respond. Some of them ticked off, some trying to explain the police's rationale.

It seems as though some people have made up their mind and what we report either reinforces it or must be incorrect.

That's an incredibly difficult audience to work for. I love this job because I can make a difference with my reports. Illuminate confusing topics and connect people with their community. I can't do that when my audience is a brick wall.

Rather than use scare tactics or sensationalizing stories, I want to tell only the absolute truth. I think the facts are interesting and satisfying enough on their own.

On Tuesday, I talked with the Medford Police Chief about the department's training and when they use force. How guns are a last resort.

I'm proud of how this story turned out.

Just minutes after my report aired someone wrote on our station's Facebook page, "Thank you for your coverage and explanation... thank you for serving us locally."

My pleasure.

Happiness and Passion

2012-01-24T02:00:00.000-08:00

A quarterlife crisis is when you're a twentysomething and freak about everything you're doing and not doing and where you are and who you associate with and what you stand for and what you haven't done yet and what decisions you passed up and why you're here.

I'm not having one of those.

But I tend to think about those questions a lot. Unexamined lives aren't worth living, right?

A friend sent me this article about finding happiness and following passion. It says the opposite of what I've been taught to think-- Passion doesn't automatically lead to happiness.

It's an intriguing and quick read worth a few minutes of time now and lots more thought later.

Forever Faithful

2012-01-14T22:13:00.000-08:00

That was one of the best games I can remember. Nearly four hours after kickoff my voice was gone, my hands stung from high fives.

The Niners beat the odds and shut up the critics, beating the Saints on not one, but two last minute drives.

36-32. San Francisco.

This game I'll remember forever and two plays will be etched into my mind and many others among the Niner Faithful.

(1.) On a 3rd and 7, Smith runs around the edge, picks up a few key blocks and gets into the endzone. SF up with just about two minutes to play.

Everyone was thinking pass, no one was thinking run. Especially a Smith run. What a call.

After the utterly deflating strike by Brees and Graham, I almost knew we'd score again. I knew it wasn't over. The energy level was too high, the Niners had come back already. One more wouldn't be too tough, right?

Smith to Davis over the middle, putting us in field goal range.

But Harbaugh didn't play it safe. No settling for the field goal and tie. If we had tied here's what would have happened. Either the Saints get the ball and march down to score a TD. Or the Niners get the ball and the loss of momentum from the previous drive being cut short to a FG deflates the team. We end up punting and New Orleans wins. It's a lose-lose in OT. But not in regulation. Plus, Harbaugh probably watched the Fiesta Bowl.

(2.) Smith to Davis on the goal line and into pay dirt.

The sight of Davis with tears streaming embracing his leader, his coach was amazing.

It's being called The Grab. To me, it was the The Catch II, part 2.

And it'll be as memorable for me as the original was for generations past.

Never been prouder to be a Niner fan and more excited to share the moment with friends in red and gold.

Deadly U.S. Marshal Shooting

2012-01-07T18:27:00.000-08:00

"Are you psychic?"

That's what the Chief Deputy District Attorney asked me in a voicemail early Friday morning. She was returning a message I left the previous evening.

My call asked about laws surrounding police officers and lethal use of force.

Less than two hours after that first call, two U.S. Marshals shot and killed a 20 year old they were trying to arrest. It happened in a crowded parking lot in front of Albertson's.

-- --

I was one of the first reporters on scene and spent the next few hours giving live reports, tracking down police, shooting video, trying to find out what happened.

Information slowly started emerging from police, family, and witnesses. It was a 20 year old Medford man, Jimmy Georgeson, who had been arrested in the past and served time for assaulting a U.S. Marshal.

Co-worker Steven stayed late and did a major portion of the work in putting together all the information for the 11:00 broadcast.

-- --

-- --

The next day we had complete coverage once the dust started settling, and the victim's family became very unsettled.

Jimmy's family talks about their late son's history of mental illnesses and being behind bars in Juvenile Hall, jail, and prison.

They admit Jimmy did not have the best record, but they believe he was unarmed and killed without justice.

-- --

The Marshals who fired their weapons are on paid leave, Medford Police is investigating, the family is preparing a lawsuit.

This will be a long, time-consuming, and evolving story. It's got an incredibly interesting beginning.

Christmasy Stories

2011-12-27T03:00:00.000-08:00

There's always talk about making the Christmas feeling last the whole year long. That's how good the feeling is this time of year. Thoughts of goodwill and love. Families coming back together. A spirit of generosity flowing.

I had the honor and the pleasure of telling two stories that hopefully warm your heart, as they did mine.

-- -- --

An anonymous donor gives dozens of bikes to local children in need . In ten years, he's given more than a thousand bikes.

-- -- --

An Oregon National Guardsman flew home on the 23rd. Coming home to his parents, wife, and two kids after five months in Qatar. I was there for the emotional homecoming at the airport.

-- -- --

Let's do our best to keep the best feelings with us through the rest of the year.

I'll Be Home for Christmas

2011-12-23T12:00:00.000-08:00

I will be home for Christmas. The past two years have taught me a new, deeper appreciation for those words and that feeling.

In the past, Christmas meant four weeks off of school, spending just about all day at home, enjoying all the holiday cheer of Casa Navarro. Nowadays, it's work 5 days a week, no matter what week it is. And I'll get maybe 40 hours at home for the holiday. It's just not the same.

There's no place like home for the holidays, no matter how far away you roam.

I'll be heading home right after work on Friday. Spending Christmas Eve and part of Christmas Day at home before driving back for work on Monday. I'm one of the very few lucky ones in the TV business who don't have to work, let alone travel home to be with my family. My friends who aren't so lucky will be missing their families in Chicago, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Arizona, and as far as Japan. I'm blessed that Christmas falls on a weekend, and that I'm only five and a half hours from the people that care about me most.

-- --

Christmas is nothing without the songs. Here are a pair of originals, a fun(ny) rendition, and my all time favorite.

"Donde Está Santa Claus?"
What a great song. Oh so funny, oh so accented, olé!

"I Really Don't Want Much for Christmas"
It might be nice if what the season brings could last beyond just one silent night.

Homemade caroling:

"Silver Bells"
Probably my favorite Christmas song. It sounds quiet, warm, nostalgic, friendly, anticipatory, loving-- everything Christmas is. Maybe it's just the bells in the background.

-- --

Friends and family have been sweet and sending me Christmas cars. I love it. They line my dresser.

-- --

As I've gotten older, Christmas has become less about the gifts, and more about the feeling that lasts the whole season. It's less about the presents, and more about the presence.

Really, there's nothing that I want for Christmas. I've got about all the stuff that I need. What I want is what I don't get the rest of the year, time with my family. Spent laughing, talking, eating, drinking, and just enjoying each other.

I can't tell you how much I'm looking forward to doing that Saturday and Sunday.

-- --

Merry Christmas.
I hope the holiday fills your life with love, your heart with hope, and our world with peace.

Past Week's Stories

2011-12-19T22:01:00.001-08:00

Let me bring you up to speed on what stories I've been doing over the past week or so.

A set of twins were arrested for setting up a "one stop shop" for drugs. Their home was around the corner from a school: http://kdrv.com/news/local/233322

Friday, a man poured gasoline on himself and intentionally lit himself on fire in a city park. Some people nearby put out the flames. After being flown to Portland's burn center, he passed away the next day: http://kdrv.com/news/local/233712

A newsroom is like a classroom when it comes to spreading disease. I've been battling a cold and got to include some of my own sickness in this story about seasonal illnesses: http://kdrv.com/news/local/233896

-- --

Then there's this story. Remember the Criado family that was murdered in July, and the husband/father was arrested? I went to Bakersfield and covered the funeral. In that time, I developed a relationship with the victim's brother, Jesse.

Last week, on Tuesday, the murder suspect was in court and the Judge, anxious to get the justice system wheels moving, entered a plea of "not guilty" when the defense asked for more time. I gave Jesse a call (he lives in Phoenix) and talked with him about his feelings in the months since July.

Before dialing the number, my stomach was in knots, my heart racing. I hate having to talk to family of people who have died. I hate having to bring up horrible feelings. Even more, I hate doing it over the phone when impersonality is even higher.

Jesse picked up, saying "Hi Bryan," right off the bat. That calmed the nerves a bit. We talked for a little bit and then told him why I was calling. He said he would be happy to talk with me, but asked if we could do it the next day or later on in the evening. Deadlines loomed for me and I asked if he wouldn't mind doing it sooner than later. "You know what, for you, Bryan, yeah, I'll do that. You've treated us so great and got our message out there to the Medford community. Yeah, I'll do it."

We talked and he had the same message since Day 1: Forgiveness. Jesse is a man of strength, calm, and love. I'm inspired every time I get to talk to him. And I'm lucky to have met him.

Here's the story: http://kdrv.com/news/local/233458

"A Charlie Brown Christmas"

2011-12-14T05:00:00.000-08:00

Tomorrow night, at 8:00, ABC will air one of my favorite short films: A Charlie Brown Christmas.

Wanting to know more about the 30-minute cartoon, I did some reading about the movie and found a conversation with producer, Lee Mendelson.

He talks about an interview with Time magazine where the Peanuts characters make an appearance on the cover and stirs up interest from advertisers. That leads to the special we know and love today.

Once it was animated, voiced, and put together, Time got a sneak preview. Their review was much different from what the network thought of it.

Great, behind-the-scenes conversation here.

Difficult Stories

2011-12-11T11:22:00.000-08:00

I get emotionally invested in just about every story I do. It (hopefully) brings some passion to my storytelling and becomes more interesting for the viewers. But it can pose some problems when the stories are tough to handle. I've had a few of these stories lately.

-- --

A few weeks ago, a 23 year old man was brutally murdered in an apparent random killing. A few days later, I talked with David Grubbs' friends about who he was.

A 19 year old girl from the Medford area was killed in a highway accident. I talked with some of Kiana's high school classmates and teachers about how she grew from a quiet freshman who was finding her place, to a strong senior helping others find their places.

Two horses were rescued from a home where they were being neglected. The horses hadn't had their hooves trimmed in two years. One couldn't stand and was 200 pounds underweight. I was there when the vet took x-rays and the farrier trimmed down the horses' hooves.

A disabled father who needed help getting around, died in a fire in his home last week. I talked with neighbors who knew him, his wife, and his two school age children.

-- --

These stories grip my heart. I see people crying, their worlds torn apart. I play reporter, but also psychologist. And their feelings dominate as I listen through interviews, piece together the most emotional pieces, and write around them. Their words become mine.

It's draining to go through this.

But it's always an honor to be able to tell these stories. Hopefully, doing them justice, and making the viewers feel something. That's what it's all about.

Outdoors

2011-12-08T04:00:00.000-08:00

One of the best things about Medford and Southern Oregon is the great outdoors. Hiking, biking, skiing, rafting, lakes, mountains, rivers, trails. Just about anything you want to do outside, you can do here. In beautiful scenery.

There are days when I get the great opportunity to head out to these beautiful places for work. Get paid to go to Fish Lake? To drive to the summit of Mt. Ashland? I'm on board.

A few months ago (before the cold and snow) I did a story on one of the area's lakes was getting stocked with a few hundred hybrid species of fish. I got to work early, drove about an hour out to the lake, and enjoyed the peace, quiet, and serenity of Fish Lake. Then the Department of Fish and Wildlife showed up with a tank of Tiger Trout. It was excellent.

Just a few days later I got a call from a high school teacher who was taking 150 students to Mt. Ashland. The students were going to learn about both sides of the argument around expanding the ski area on Mt. A. Some say expanding would mean better ski runs for beginners. Others say it would destroy the watershed that brings water to Ashland and the rest of the Rogue Valley. The students got to see the expansion issue firsthand. I reported on the story, from the absolute summit of the mountain. 7000 feet up.

Beautiful.

Snowversary

2011-12-07T05:00:00.000-08:00

Two years ago this morning, Saint Mary's and the Bay Area woke up to a winter wonderland.

It's a once-in-a-generation sight: Snow in Gael land. The last time it happened was 1971.

Monday morning at 2am, I had snowball fights with friends, took pictures in the fluffy stuff, and eventually grabbed my video camera.

30 minutes of slow motion footage was edited down to a 3-minute music video pieced together at 4am. The computer worked it's magic overnight, I uploaded to youtube at 9am, posted a link online at 9:30, took a final, and two hours later had blown through campus like an avalanche. Staff, professors, friends had seen it and passed it on.

I got emails from dozens of people. People I hadn't heard from in years, some I'd never met. Newspapers posted it.

It's the most gratifying and humbling experience of my life.

What I'm most happy about is that today Gaels current and old, staff and students, classmates and strangers can watch the video and travel back in time to the cold, snowy morning before Finals. A time when magic was not only possible; it was real.

Olden Times and Ancient Rhymes

2011-12-04T09:56:00.000-08:00

Christmas is a magical time of family, friends, tradition, memories. It's an annual trip through time.

In the small town of Jacksonville, just 15 minutes from Medford, Christmas looks like it did 150 years ago. Storefronts are preserved in the Old West fashion they were originally built. Holly and lights are hung above every window and door. Carolers in Victorian garb stroll the town, chestnuts are roasted and sold, carriages carry travelers through the town.

The festivities kick off with a Victorian Christmas parade on the first Friday of December. On Friday, I had a live shot overlooking the parade route in Jacksonville. It was a fun way to wrap up the work week and kick off the holiday season.

It was in the low 30s and my camera operator and I kept warm by running inside between the live shots. The fog rolled in, and created a cloud blanket. But the parade-goers kept warm with free apple cider and holiday cheer. It's a fun, classic Christmas event. And I'll be back to enjoy it a bit more on the weekend.

Thanksgiving Weekend: A Visual Essay

2011-12-02T21:43:00.000-08:00

I didn't take pictures of everything I did on Thanksgiving weekend, but most of it. Here's a look at the wonderful weekend that was.

Christmas trees trucked from Oregon to California.

Shasta under cloud cover. Looks pretty neat during sunset.

Drivetime. Benicia Bridge.

Facebook headquarters. I "like" it.

Tailgating. Tables, Chairs, BBQ, Beer, Football, Family.

And half a dozen kinds of chips.

Pops.

Kevin is smart.

Fully stocked.

Good times abound.

Tree and santa and Kevin.

Good form, kid.

Eldest and youngest Navarro.

Master of the flame.

Grillin' on the ground.

Smoke monster.

How to stay warm in the grove.

Rummer up to be our Christmas photo.

Hoover Tower. Not named for the vacuum cleaner guy.

First Row, Second Deck, between the Uprights. Navarro suite.

Crazy Cardinal fan.

If I wasn't a Stanford fan, I'd be an Irish fan.

Gameday.

Loco for Luck.

All right now.

Kickoff.

Lots of Tebowing.

Candid.

Casa Navarro at Christmas.

Free return by January 31st.

Hutch.

"Some of the decorations are creepy." -Dad

Where to, dog?

Milestone on drive back.

Thanksgiving Thursday and Black Friday

2011-12-02T07:00:00.000-08:00

It's my first Thanksgiving spent away from home. I was working on Thursday so co-workers who have husbands and wives and kids and families could spend time with them. Also, so I could get holiday pay. But mostly the first.

However, I didn't have to completely give up the Thanksgiving feast. Our meteorologist, and local celebrity, Scott Lewis hosts an annual treat for NewsWatch 12ers: The Orphan Dinner. Anyone who is working or can't travel home can have a homecooked meal at Scott and his wife's house. Turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, green beans, sweet potatoes, gravy, cranberries, pies, wine (I ate all but one of these. Which one was it?) It was fantastic to have the traditional dinner with friends and co-workers. I appreciated it, and I'm sure my family did, too.

But I had to stuff myself quickly before heading to work. It was just hours before Black Friday started and many were trying to get a head start on the savings. At Best Buy, camping out for 36 hours didn't mean they had to give up Thanksgiving dinner. Then I scrambled to get the first doorbusting deal-finders at Toys R Us. Then Black Friday began for real, at midnight at Best Buy. There were good samaritans warming up the masses with free coffee. And the mall saw one of it's busiest, buslting days of the year.

All those stories were shot, written, and edited between 4pm and 5am.

Then I went home. Exhausted. And sick.

I woke up Friday feeling far from 100%. It had been a long week. I was on call and was brought in for breaking news twice, staying awake for 24 straight hours and 22 straight hours. I called in sick on Friday.

-- -- --

Though I had to work on Thanksgiving, I was thankful.

Thankful to have a solid job that I love.

Thankful to have a place to live, food to eat, and health.

Thankful to have a place to go when I'm 300 miles from home.

Thankful to have a corps of friends, near and far, with warm wishes.

Thankful to have a family that built me up to chase my dreams to another state.

Thankful to have a family that gives me the freedom to be away.

Thankful to have a family to come home to on the weekend.

It's beginning to look a lot like...

2011-11-21T03:00:00.000-08:00

I'm not going to say it. Not going to say the C-word. I'm not going to say the shortened version starting with an X either. But even if I don't say it, it's all around us. Store windows are decked, radio stations are jingling certain songs, and trees are flocking to empty lots near you.

There are many reasons this transformation happens before the turkeys are carved or even bought. Some say the spirit of the season is so wonderful it should be stretched as long as possible. Some say the stores cash in on the shopping craze as long as possible.

Last week, I reported on how the Black Friday mania is already creeping into consumer consciousness. Shoppers are already thinking about their line-fighting, coupon-cashing splurge session. Part of the reason is stores are creating their own buzz by starting Black Friday earlier than ever before.

I'll be working late Thanksgiving night and early Black Friday morning. I've never done the Black Friday thing. I don't even like shopping on a normal day, let alone a steroided version of it. But who knows, since I'll be up anyway, I may grab a gift or two.

As for the early holiday hubbub: It's completly up to you to celebrate whenever you want, however you want. In fact, my apartment is already decorated.

Top Honors can be the Pits

2011-11-20T20:17:00.000-08:00

Being number one is the best. If you can't be number one, you want to be number two. If you can't be number two, then three. And so on.

Recently, Medford placed fifth in a nationwide ranking of cities. Fifth overall. That's pretty great.

But it all comes crashing back to Earth when I reveal what the list was. The brokest cities in the country.

Based on unemployment, median income, and average personal debt-- Medford is the fifth brokest city in the United States.

Football is a Game.

2011-11-11T01:00:00.000-08:00

Look, football is a game.

The Penn State scandal is "not just the worst sports scandal in modern history but also one of the worst scandals in modern history."

Paterno is out because football is just a game. He's the Godfather of everything Happy Valley. But only because of football.

And, football is a game.

Saturday's Penn State-Nebraska will represent more than just a matchup. For the team, it represents perseverance, unity, progression.

But, football is a game.

It's a diversion. It's entertainment. It's a distraction.

Just because something appalling happened involving some people who happen to be involved with football, it doesn't have to sour every other version.

Football is still football. It's a game.

Last week, I shot one of the most exciting games I'd ever seen in person. A play-in, loser-goes-home, double overtime thriller.

I'm not trying to lessen the significance, breadth, depth of what went on, is going on, and will go on at Penn State.

But let's enjoy what isn't rotten.

Meta-Penn State

2011-11-10T21:33:00.000-08:00

I'm a fan of thinking about things. More than reacting, I love watching reactions. Looking at how others look at it. I love debating debates, discussing discussions.

Going meta-, if you will.

What's happened (and is still happening) in Penn State is engrossing. As a member of a culture and society, you can't not be interested in it. Wednesday night, ESPN had wall-to-wall, commercial-less coverage from 7:00pm PST until 9:45pm PST. You're crazy if you think I changed the channel once.

Today, it's the fallout. Columns, articles, podcasts, TV opinions. Condemning the Board, Joe, students, the media, McQueary, "the institution," and Sandusky. Everyone's pointing fingers. Everyone's assigning blame.

That's not necessarily unjustified.

Who knows how many children were ruined. Someone should pay. Dearly. That's the mentality.

Not necessarily unjustified.

I don't want to read everything there is to read. I want to read rational thoughts. I want to know what people think, not feel. I want to go a layer beyond: I want to know what people think about what they think.

One of my favorite columns Thursday is called "Scampering around the word Rape." Why do we place a veil around something that should be uncovered and dealt with?

My other is an independent review of ESPN's coverage of the scandal, starting nearly five days ago when news broke. Simply titled, "ESPN stumbles with Penn State coverage," it starts by directly saying ESPN was slow to grasp the full implications of the criminal indictments.

Wednesday, watching the action was fascinating, mesmerizing.

Today, that's how I feel about watching the counteraction.

Fired Up over Firing

2011-11-09T20:33:00.000-08:00

I can't add much more to the dialogue radiating from the Penn State scandal.

But, I want to pass on the words I wish I'd thought of on my own.

It's a multi-perspective look at a two-hour old moment, a decade-long lapse in judgement, and impulsive reaction.

-- -- --

Co-worker Steven Sandberg's blog post: "No sympathy for old men" written about 45 minutes after the firing announcement.

ESPN personality, Michelle Beadle: "Penn St finally gets something right tonight. PSU students- read the 23 page court document. Put your blind loyalty aside. Life trumps sports... Parents of Penn State students- turn on CNN now. If you see junior acting like a moron, might be time to have a talk. Growing up time is now."

Bonnie Bernstein: "Wonder if Penn St students revolting over Paterno's departure will feel shame about this day when they have children. #perspective"

Lindsay Joy, local news and sports reporter at KTWO in Casper, Wy: "The more this week went on, the less it seemed appropriate to watch Joe Pa on the sidelines this and every Saturday. People can blame the media all they want, he turned a blind eye and that will never be understandable."

A Grantland article that came out Tuesday morning, before much of anything hit the fan. It's called "Growing up Penn State" and written by a State College native. Beautiful, heartbreaking.

I'm paraphrasing now, but on Tuesday an "Outside the Lines" personality said something in the vein of: We didn't need a hero in this situation. We needed an adult. We wanted someone to act like an adult.

-- -- --

Joe Paterno: "I wish I had done more."

-- -- --

What's happening with the firing of Joe Paterno, the students' reaction, and resulting impact crater is incredibly fascinating. I've been hooked to the TV watching it all, and refreshing my twitter feed, reading it all.

ESPN is reporting (9:05pm PST) that students have flipped a news truck. He says, "I don't know if [police] have the capacity to break up this crowd."

Now, 9:17pm PST, "They have their batons out. I'm looking at about five officers here. It's a mess out here. It's hard to tell how many are actually protesting and how many are just out here to look at the protest.... [Police] are severely outnumbered. I'm afraid this could get ugly."

Steven Sandberg 9:18pm PST: "It's a football coach. There's no need for violence. Everyone needs to calm down before someone gets seriously hurt."

-- -- --

You say, "We are Penn State!"

Who are you?

-- -- --

Here's the thing. In several hours this will die down. In days, we'll be on to whatever next scandal captivates us.

There will not be a day in the coming months, years, decades, lifetimes that the victims will not be tormented by what happened.

-- -- --

"All that's necessary for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing."

Driveby

2011-11-08T08:00:00.000-08:00

4:15am. Fast asleep after covering a Halloween parade and nighttime shenanigans.

Work phone rings. Breaking news. A driveby shooting and high speed police chase.

Shot video and got what little information I could, and turned it over to the dayside reporters.

That was one week ago. In that time, more and more information has come out about what happened early Tuesday morning. A young couple was in the victim car. In the suspect car, four people, 20 years old and younger. Three shots rang out, at least one hitting the driver in the jaw. Other passenger was out of the hospital after one day. The shooter's car flew off, leading state police on a chase that ended in a crash, killing one of the passengers. A 17 year old. The others in the car-- two 19 year olds were taken the hospital and eventually taken to jail. And a 20 year old took off. He's still on the run.

Investigators believe all four suspects are gang-affiliated, and say one is on a statewide Department of Justice watch list.

This summer gang violence erupted with a fatal stabbing and several large gang fights. This is the first time that gang violence has hit non-gang citizens, spilling into a residential neighborhood.

We've been following the story every day, covering the search for the fourth suspect, what it means to be a documented gang member, and how gang activity is checked at high schools.

It's something we'll be covering in many ways for the days and weeks to come.

Southern Oregon Adventures: Oregon Caves

2011-11-07T01:00:00.000-08:00

There are many, many things to do in Southern Oregon. On my list since near the beginning has been going to the Oregon Caves -- a National Monument about two hours from Medford. Eight of us from work carpooled up the winding, mountain roads to the Caves. At about 4000 feet, we were high enough for the rain to fall as snow. We hiked a snow-laden trail before warming up in an idyllic lodge and heading into the Caves.

Our group spent about an hour and a half in the caves. We weren't crawling on our hands and knees, or squeezing between crevices, or rappelling down cliffs. What we did do was climb steps, duck under low hanging rocks, and step through a small puddle or two.

There are few stalactites and stalagmites in the caves because it's one of the few caves worldwide made of marble, not limestone. It makes for easy incredible kinds of formations. The rooms and areas were named: The Imagination Room, The Ghost Room, Paradise Lost, The Speakeasy, Angel Falls.

The tour guide, a Forest Service Ranger, Derek, called himself a bit of a historian of the Caves, giving the story of how they were discovered, explored, and turned into a tourist attraction.

There are some creepies in the cave-- hibernating bats, daddy long legs crawling on top of each other, and the remains of a bear.

Temperature inside the caves: 44˚

Outside: 32˚

While we were inside several inches had fallen outside, creating a mini winter wonderland (and snow-pocalypse on our cars).

And of course, it wouldn't be a Southern Oregon Adventure without a group picture.

Technology Troubles and Complimentary Caller

2011-11-02T09:20:00.000-07:00

A few weeks ago I got a call on my work phone, our assignment editor frantically asking me to come in early. There had been an officer-involved fatal shooting with possibly several victims. It happened a few hours before in Myrtle Creek, about an hour and a half north. I rushed to work, grabbed gear and directions, and jammed up I-5.

I grabbed video and interviews at the crime scene. Found a mom who lives just down the street and saw the standoff. I shot my pieces in front of the camera, describing the scene. I felt good about what I got and what I was putting together.

By this time it was about 4:00pm. Not enough time to drive back and get the report and video back for the 5, 6, and 6:30. I had a laptop and would sned the stories back using the internet. But ran into some online obstrutctions. Technology didn't work and nothing got back to the station. It's the most frustrating feeling in the business-- by no fault of your own, all your hard work, is for nothing.

Frustrated, I went back to Medford and put everything together for the 11:00 broadcast. This time nothing would get in my way. I put it together and finished it all up.

Later that week, someone called our newsroom, wanting to talk to me. It was a man from Myrtle Creek. He watched me out there. He saw everything happening earlier in the day. His coworker was the first shooting victim. He watched and read "all 32 articles" about the shooting. Newspapers and TV news reports from Medford, Roseburg, Eugene. He said many of them got their facts wrong, misspoke, took words and quotes out of context, and sensationalized. He said my report was the truest, most factual, and did the most justice to what actually happened.

The best compliments come from the people directly involved with the stories.

Full of gratitude and pride, I thanked him, and headed out to take on the rest of the day.

It's here. "Extreme Makeover"

2011-10-28T04:00:00.000-07:00

Set your DVRs right now. ABC 8-10pm.

"Extreme Makeover: Home Edition" is airing its Southern Oregon episode. It's a 2-hour special featuring a local family who's given much of their time and energy and love for others. Now, they're getting back some of that devotion.

With cheers and tears, it was a moving moment when they "moved that bus."

It's a two hour special focusing on Sparrow Clubs and Autism. You'll enjoy it.

-- -- --

Do you live in Southern Oregon? Set it for 6:30pm, too.

We're broadcasting a 30-minute special looking back at the all the work, all the businesses, and the deserving family.

-- -- --

It was an incredibly special experience to be a (minor) part of the whole thing. It'll be something I remember forever. More on this later.

-- -- --

Set your DVR.

One Day 'til "Extreme"

2011-10-27T02:00:00.000-07:00

"Extreme Makeover: Home Edition" in Southern Oregon.

Tomorrow (Friday) our 30-minutes special and the two-hour ABC program will air.

Very exciting for a lot reasons.

Yesterday, I posted a link to all of the reports we had covering the "Extreme" build. Today, I'll post a couple of my favorites.

Quick recap of what happens. A lucky and deserving family is nominated and selected to recieve a beautiful, new home. Local companies and builders volunteer time and supplies to do it all in 130 hours. The family is whisked away to a lovely vacation where they have no idea about what's going on. The cameras get in place, Ty Pennington talks with the family, The Bus pulls away and the family sees their home for the first time.

We cut into our normal programming to carry The Reveal live on the air. I was the lucky one who was able to be live on scene, narrating the moment for everyone at home.

Meet the McPhails -- the lucky, deserving recipient

Behind the scenes of the ABC cameras

A look at the work about two days into the five and a half day build.

Talking with the McPhails after moving in.

It was a stellar experience for a lot of reasons. More on that tomorrow.

Set you DVRs: ABC, Friday, 8-10p. You won't regret it.

Extreme Makeover in Southern Oregon

2011-10-26T04:00:00.000-07:00

Last month, ABC's show "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition" was shooting an episode in Medford. If you've never seen the show, it's magical. ABC brings its stars and designers into town to rally the community to build a new home for a deserving family. Just about everything comes from local businesses and individuals. Supplies, labor, design skills, food-- it's all given.

I've always believed Southern Oregon is a community, and the coming together for Extreme Makeover, was proof.

In two days, what happened here will be shown on your TV.

Friday from 8-10, a two hours special featuring Southern Oregon.

If you're in the Rogue Valley, NewsWatch 12 is airing a half-hour special starting at 6:30.

But right now, you can see some of that magic (our news stories) on your computer screen.

Check out that site, click around, and watch some of our stories. Thursday, I'll feature more of the best stories. Friday, I'll remind you to set your DVRs.

Stay tuned.

Tim Tebow, Converter of the Passes

2011-10-25T21:21:00.000-07:00

I've lauded the website Grantland.com before. It's a site blending sports, pop culture, and a bit of scholarly academia. I read its columns, articles, and blogs and watch videos just about everyday. Some are good, some are great, some are outstanding. "Tim Tebow, Converter of the Passes" is one of them.

Tim Tebow is a lot of things. "Other religious players are religious individuals; Tebow is a whole culture."

This article looks at what Tebow means, or doesn't mean, as a Christian icon in the sports world. "Tebow scoring a two-point conversion on an off-tackle power play *could* prove that Jesus rose from the dead on the third day, or it could, well, not."

Does rooting for Tebow mean rooting for Christianity? Or God? Or not? "Since no one really knows whether the universe is meaningless or not, things rapidly grow confusing."

Great article.

Pumpkin Pickin

2011-10-24T03:00:00.000-07:00

If you don't go to a pumpkin patch in Autumn, then there's something wrong with you. Or you're probably doing other things. It's probably the latter.

Saturday, friends and I made the rounds to one of the nearby patches-- Seven Oak Farms. There were rumbling hay rides, goats to feed and pet, U-Pick pumpkins, gourds galore.

Top of Table Rock

2011-10-22T07:21:00.000-07:00

Southern Oregon is beautiful all the time, but it's gorgeous this time of year.

Biting cold mornings give way to warm-but-not-hot days. Hillsides ablaze with yellow, orange, red leaves. People enjoying the sun and warmth before La Niña steals it away.

Last Saturday, I took advantage with two coworkers, Sarah and Jessica. We hiked Lower Table Rock. What is Table Rock? Does "Lower" mean that there's an Upper? Was the hike awesome? How about the view?

Old lava. Yes. Very much so. Inspiring, empowering, and peaceful.

The hike to the top takes about 45 minutes of climbing switchbacks, under a tunnel of dying trees, and by dried creek beds and waterfalls. The path spits you out on top of the rock, but on the complete opposite side from the city. In order to get the views you've gotta walk. The flat land on top of Lower TR is 300 acres. It's not a short walk.

But it's a beautiful walk.

The flat top of the TR is a pretty special place geologically and biologically. The rock has not eroded because it's andesitic lava rock and is impermeable. Rain and snow collects in vernal pools, doesn't seep into the ground, eventually evaporating in the Spring. Those pools are home to some crazy flowers and tiny animals. In April and May, wild grasses and flowers bloom, but they dry and turn brown. It looks like an African savannah up there. You half expect to see antelope leaping in the distance. In other areas the lava rock prevails and looks like the surface of the moon (debatable, but I stand by my comparison).

At the far end of the TR is a vantage point of the Rogue Valley-- half a dozen cities, orchards and irrigation ponds, roads cutting through the anti-metropolis, and the meandering Rogue River lazily rolling on. Sublime.

We sat on the edge of the cliff-face and talked and marveled for well over an hour and a half. Talk of work, winter adventures to come, guesses at how the TRs were formed. There was a quiet buzz from the roads below us and the occasional series of cracks from the shooting range.

And there were quiet moments of reflection.

I felt on top of the world. I think we all did.

Friday -- Blue Whale

2011-10-21T02:00:00.000-07:00

Kayaker spots a blue whale next to him, and dives in for a crystal clear, underwater picture. Producer Jessica saw and called dibs on this great video earlier this week.

video platform video management video solutions video player

Harbaugh

2011-10-16T11:30:00.000-07:00

As long as I can remember, I've been a Stanford Cardinal football fan. There were good and bad years. In 2007, Jim Harbaugh took over as head coach and in three years of fired up coaching took the team from 1-11 to 11-1.

He left for the 49ers this Spring.

Heartbreaking for the Cardinal fan in me, heartening for the Niner fan in me.

Now, the team is 4-1. Harbaugh's inexplicably turning heads again.

"What's his deal?"

He's doing in San Francisco what he did in Palo Alto.

Here's a professional look at Harbaugh's style and influence this year.

Fear Friday

2011-10-14T02:00:00.000-07:00

Halloween's coming. Haunted houses are popping up. And people going in, have their eyes popping out of their skulls.

Found this entertaining collection of pics of people jumping out of their skin, getting scared in a haunted house. Take a look, have a laugh, and happy Friday.

Why Do Movies Suck?

2011-10-12T02:00:00.000-07:00

I love film. I've always fancied myself a Director or Cinematographer. I love studying the intricacies of script, acting, composition, editing, sequencing. Films are beautiful. Or, they can be.

I hate crappy films. Boring premises. Flat characters. Simple shooting. Predictable dialogue. I think they're such a waste of time, money, talent.

I want to be completely engrossed in the story. I want to feel something when the movie's over. I recently re-watched "Chinatown." It's one of my favorite films. Layered like an onion. And just as smelly. I felt completely depressed at the end of the movie. And I love it.

A Grantland.com column this week featured a movie producer trying to answer the question: Why Do Movies Suck? I thought it was a pretty good read about a question I ask fairly often.

I still want to direct a film. Probably a documentary. Films have a large, captive audience and can get a message across in an artful way. They have power. And responsibility. I want more films to live up to that. And be an active part in that.

...and All That Jazz

2011-10-11T02:00:00.000-07:00

Live music is about a million times better than recorded music. Energy, passion, improvisation. Music that I normally wouldn't listen to on the radio or iTunes, sounds fantastic in person.

I like jazz anyway, but when it's performed live it's unbeatable.

This weekend was the Medford Jazz Festival. I covered it Friday afternoon and got to sit in on a few minutes of a performance for my story. Used a lot of nat sound, fun soundbites, and music puns. Really happy with the way that everything turned out. Hope you enjoy it, too.

"War on Weed"

2011-10-10T02:00:00.001-07:00

Smoking pot is legal in Oregon. Kinda.

Medical marijuana smokers in Oregon say the Federal Government is starting a war on weed.

In the Beaver State, about 40,000 people are legally prescribed marijuana as medicine. They grow and smoke it under state law. But the Federal agencies do not recognize weed as legal. One plant, one ounce is illegal.

In the past two weeks or so, two large and seemingly legal (under state precedents) grows have been raided by the Drug Enforcement Administration. About 800 plants in total. Affecting 150 patients.

You may have heard that the Federal Government ordered medical marijuana dispensaries in California to close or face prosecution.

It seems as though state and federal laws are clashing. And the battleground is right here in my (and your) backyard.

Moving

2011-10-09T07:56:00.000-07:00

One of my friends from work, Sarah, is moving. She lived with a roommate in Ashland, which is a great city, but it's a 25 minute drive to work and to hang out with friends. And since Sarah is also an overnight producer (working from 11p-8a), that's about 40 minutes of commuting she could spend sleeping. Her roommate wasn't awesome either. For all of these reasons, Sarah pulled the trigger and moved to Medford on Saturday.

She brought boxes of clothes, lamps, and other knickknacks, but her small car would't be able to take the big stuff. That's where Nick and I (and our cars) come in. A queen size bed, box spring, and frame, and a dresser.

She was convinced that moving those two big items would take one trip. I was not.

Saturday afternoon we got there and spend time lifting, sliding, pushing, turning on end, and jimmying the furniture through the stairway and hallway. Once we got it all out of the apartment, it was time to figure how to get it in the S10 and 4Runner. More pulling, hoisting, and shoving to make it work. Well, we did. Dresser in the 4Runner, all the bed pieces on top of the cover of my truck bed. Strapped down with more than a hundred feet of rope and half a dozen bungie cords.

Where bungies connected with other bungies and the metal could scrape against the truck and scratch or chip paint, I covered them up with socks. Yeah, I had old socks just sitting in the truck. Don't ask.

It did not look like the most secure thing ever. And it probably wasn't. But it held through 25 minutes of driving, I-5 speeds, and city intersections. It held.

We unpacked and shifted everything where they were supposed to go. Nick built the TV stand, Sarah ordered a thankful pizza, and I set up the TV. We ate, watched a movie, and fell asleep in the evening.

Sarah's closer to work and friends (and actually shares a wall with Kristin and Nick, close friends from work). And we made it all happen in one trip. She was right.

This Week's Stories

2011-10-07T02:00:00.000-07:00

It's been a weird two weeks including working Saturday and Sunday, having two separated days off in the middle of the week. But I've had some cool stories come out of it. Hopefully you like them, too.

Mon 9/26 Spanish Scrabbler: Ashland man looks to be "numero uno" in the World
Wed 9/28 $300 Million worth of pot pulled in Northern CA
Sun 10/2 Rogue River looks like Chocolate River
Mon 10/3 What caused that Wonka-esque river color change?
Thu 10/6 "War on Weed": Feds vs. Legal Growers

Steve Jobs

2011-10-06T23:32:00.000-07:00

Like the death of a religious leader, the news of Steve Jobs' passing spread like wildfire on TV news and social media. It led our 5 newscast, less than 45 minutes after learning of the news. One friend wrote, "How is it I'm so sad about the death of someone I've never met?" She then answered herself, "Steve Jobs seemed like a truly incredible man- full of knowledge and wisdom."

What I was most fascinated by was the sweeping messages and momentos that were spreading on Twitter, Facebook, and at Apple stores across the world. Makeshift memorials and gratitude for iPods, iPhones, and laptops.

Jobs once said Apple was where Technology intersected with Liberal Arts. It seemed like every college student and professor, coffeeshop screenwriter, and tech-savvy-parent-to-be had a Mac and loved it. It helped them turn what they envisioned into something they could hold and showoff.

Jobs gave the Commencement Speech at Stanford in 2005, touching on mortality, chasing passion, and encouraged grads to "stay hungry, stay foolish." It's an inspiring, rousing 15 minutes speech and is worth the watch.

AP reporters made a plea via twitter for people to share the impact Jobs had on their life. At first glance I thought this was weird. After a moment, I realized Jobs created the easy-to-use personal computer, the basis for the software we use, and technology that redefined and pioneered several industries. Then, I thought Jobs's products did have a huge impact on me. Not because I couldn't live without my laptop or my music player. It's something deeper, I've used Apple computers almost exclusively. Apple's focus on media enabled my passion to develop and turn into a career. When I was in high school, iMovie taught me how to edit slideshows, then video. In college, Final Cut Pro opened up the world of video production. Both of those proved my passion already existed, and helped show me that I could do it day in and day out and be paid to do it. It's something I choose and wouldn't have known that I could without his innovations.

I think he's a technological legend.
But I don't know if I'd call him a hero (I've got plenty of family members who qualify).

"Sometimes life hits you in the head with a brick. Don't lose faith. I'm convinced that the only thing that kept me going was that I loved what I did. You've got to find what you love. And that is as true for your work as it is for your lovers. Your work is going to fill a large part of your life, and the only way to be truly satisfied is to do what you believe is great work. And the only way to do great work is to love what you do. If you haven't found it yet, keep looking. Don't settle. As with all matters of the heart, you'll know when you find it. And, like any great relationship, it just gets better and better as the years roll on. So keep looking until you find it. Don't settle."

I'm a (news) Junkie.

2011-10-04T09:32:00.001-07:00

What's wrong with me?

I've been in the TV news biz for 15 months. I guess the changes have been gradual, but they're there. Today, my actions confirmed it-- I'm a junkie.

When I go home and head out to a Bay Area bar for a bachelor party, I am drawn to the TV for a live report by the ABC station.

On my days off, I constantly check the newspapers, websites, and TV stations to find out what and how each outlet is covering.

When I get home from work, I'll go A-block surfing; that is, flipping back and forth between to see what each station leads with and who they talked to.

I live near a fire station. This morning I heard at least two engines sirens blaring, and screaming down the street. My first move is to go to the county's dispatch website to see which units are being called out, where they're going, what the call is, and to listen in on the police and fire scanner.

Yes, I have the website address memorized.

Yes, I'm an addict. A junkie.

But I'm not horribly concerned.

Yet.

I'm a Father

2011-09-25T10:34:00.000-07:00

For 23 years I've been shirking responsibility. But that ends now. I'm a proud papa.
Of two betta fish.

I've wanted betta fish for about two years now, but could never handle all the duties that came with them. Feeding them, cleaning the tank, teaching them to read. Lots of stuff to do. Couldn't handle it. Now I can. I think.

Meet Ben Linus and CJ Cregg.

Ben Linus is a pretty amazing bad guy from "Lost." Every scene he was on camera, I couldn't look away. He was evil, manipulative, and crazy. And now he's my pet.

CJ Cregg is the Press Secretary in the fictional "West Wing." She's strong, outspoken, smart, feminine. And she's my pet.

I'm excited to watch these guys grow, stay colorful, and maybe learn a trick or two.

"Modern Family" Mom

2011-09-23T01:00:00.000-07:00

This Sunday, the Primetime Emmy's were given the tongue-in-cheek name, "The 'Modern Family' Awards." The show took home the most trophies, including Best Comedy series, and matching awards for Best Supporting Actor and Actress.

I was happy about for this. Personally and professionally.

"Modern Family" is one of my favorite running shows. I've watched almost every episode since season one, love talking about it with friends near and far, and genuinely enjoy the jokes, characters, and happy ending/morale of the story. My parents like, my friends like, my coworkers like it. It strikes a chord with a lot of different people. A good chord.

My second favorite character (behind Manny) is Phil Dunphy, the bumbling, well-meaning father of three. He's played by Ty Burrell. Ty is from the Rogue Valley and we've done several stories about his Hollywood stardom.

Monday, after the Emmy's we talked with his mom who lives in Ashland. She's a sweet, warm woman and it was more than a pleasure to talk with her earlier this week, and share her story of the night celebrating her son's victory (and, in part, her's as well).

Facebook Fury

2011-09-22T00:10:00.000-07:00

About 36 hours ago, Facebook started changing its look. It's not the first time, it won't be the last. The social networking site's function is essentially unchanged. No information was lost. Users seem to have access to more information than before.

But many are in a frenzy over the "face"lift. So much so, it sparked a newsroom debate in the first 15 minutes of the day. That debate lured in everyone-- including the middle aged anchor who shuns all social networking sites.

He said, "Is this that big of a deal? Do we need to do a story on this today?"

The answer: a resounding, overwhelming, furiated yes.

The Game

2011-09-21T02:00:00.000-07:00

"It’s like just falling in love—you want the sensations to last forever. You don’t want to go to sleep because you know that no matter how good you feel, in the morning it won’t be as good as it is right now.” -- Kinsella, W.P., "Shoeless Joe."

The San Francisco Giants' season looks like it's finally out of steam.

One year removed from the magic championship team feels much more deflating than I thought it would. I'm moving on to other sports, leaving baseball behind.

"The play reaffirms what I already know—that baseball is the most perfect of games, solid, true, pure and precious as diamonds. If only life were so simple." -- Kinsella, W.P., "Shoeless Joe."

The leaves are starting to turn in Medford. The outermost leaves on the smallest trees are turning a fiery orange. They darken, die, and fall. But they'll be back in six months, born again, ready to soak up another half year of summer sun.

So will baseball.

"I have to absorb the new season like sunlight, letting it turn my winter skin pink and then brown." -- Kinsella, W.P., "Shoeless Joe."

-- --

An article is sticking in my mind and heart. It tells one of the countless untold stories of baseball. Not of a star player. Nor a player who made it to the majors. It's a 32-year-old chasing down dreams and struggling to find peace.

I'm instantly brought back to one of my favorite video features about another minor league player, Josh Faiola, who has a stay-with-you story of his own.

-- --

"[They'll come] ...innocent as children, longing for the past... Baseball reminds us of all that was once good, and could be again."

-- --

To me, baseball is gone for now.

Sleeping, waiting its turn in the sports year.

Ready to blossom again with a new season's worth of players, stories, and hope.

“If I’d only got to be a doctor for five minutes, now that would have been a tragedy. You have to keep things in perspective. I mean, I love the game, but it’s only that, a game.” -- Kinsella, W.P., "Shoeless Joe."

Diving Right In

2011-09-14T04:00:00.000-07:00

A few weekends ago, I did something that I haven't done in years-- play water polo.

I'm volunteering and helping with the Ashland Water Polo team. Over the summer the team plays "pick up" games and I was invited to get in the pool with them.

I played about half of the 40 minute game, and barely survived. I was sore for days. But loved every second of it.

There's something reassuring about getting back in the water, feeling exhausted. It's like hitting the "reset" button.

And being around the loud teenagers was like going back in time 6 years and seeing myself with my friends. Polo players are fun, chill, loud, goofy, easy going. Good people.

I'm set up to help coach the JV team in October, and may swing by a couple of home games to help out too. Really looking forward to it.

Lost

2011-09-13T04:00:00.000-07:00

In early May I started something I'd been interested in for a long time-- watching "Lost." I wrapped up the six-season, 121-episode series two weeks ago. I'm still looking to fill the void.

I ate up the show, burning through two or three episodes at a time, needing to know what would happen next and how each's episode's cliffhanger would be resolved. Needed answers to the questions. So many questions.

The thing is that I watched the whole season in less than four months, averaging about an episode each day. Sometimes I went two or three days without one. Somedays I watched four at a time. I'm not necessarily proud of those moments, but I do love the show. It's probably my second favorite, behind "The West Wing."

Plot-driven and always moving forward, seeming towards an important and thematic ending. I was hooked.

Characters brought up questions that had no definite answer. Discussions could not be resolved: Good/evil, Free Will/Destiny, Fate/Coincidence, Motivation/Truth.

I watched the show at about the same time as a co-worker did and we stayed no more than four episodes ahead or behind of each other throughout. Several times, we spend an hour plus discussing all the above themes, which characters were our favorite and least, who we would follow into the jungle, and why they acted as they did.

Discussions are best accompanied by burgers and brews.

Recently, I came to the conclusion (albeit a personal one) that "Lost" is art; that is, it puts forward an argument in the guise of media and each viewer can see something different. The conclusions that I draw from the same 42 minute episode can be completely different from my brother's, roommate's, friends'. You have to make your own kind of answers. That means a seemingly unlimited number of meanings that can be culled from the show. Think of the debates and arguments it could spawn. And did. And does.

--

In some ways, "Lost" took over a major portion of my life. It was the basis of at least 1/5 of my conversations for a few months. Was that because of a personal flaw? The brilliance of the show? Or the expanse of technology manifesting itself on my couch?

An article from grantland.com talked about being able to watch the entire series of "Friday Night Lights" online. Many other shows exist in their entirety on Netflix, including "Lost." His feelings are put into words much more eloquently than mine:

I am often perplexed by the modern desire to consume entire seasons of television shows with services like Netflix, Hulu, or even Amazon Gold Box Deals. No longer are we watching last night's episode of a popular series to talk about it around the water cooler at work. The emotional and intellectual journey you went on with a TV show says a lot about the way you interpret the human condition by simulating it thru the content that you spend your time consuming.

Binging on an entire season of a television show without commercial interruption allows you to completely 'immerse' yourself in the world of your new favorite show. You aren't waiting thru commercials or watching the same annoying network promos over and over again. If you were forced to watch the same show week by week, it wouldn't be as meaningful because you allow the show's portrayal of 'real time' to override your personal version of real time. Cliffhangers would be obnoxious. By binge-watching, you are spending quality time with the characters, forming a deep emotional connection with them.

That's exactly what I did-- become good friends of Locke, Sawyer, Juliet, Hurley, and learn to hate Jack, Ben, and Smokey. That's right, I hate Jack Shepherd.

Also, being at essentially the same point in the series with one of my friends allowed me to have those "water cooler" talks. Meaning my addiction wasn't as self-destructive as it could've been.

The end of a 36-hour, seven-episode binge in a Bakersfield hotel.

-- --

There was a lot of buzz about the conclusion at the end of the series. I loved it. I thought it wrapped up everything beautifully. But I have several personality traits that are too personal to delve into here that played a role.

Most everything was well done. But that's only my interpretation of the art.

10k

2011-09-12T12:00:00.000-07:00

Sunday this blog hit 10,000 pageviews. Thank you for reading, responding, sharing. I look at my writing here as a bit of a conversation, a bit of a diary, with a dash of scholarliness thrown in. I appreciate you checking it out and coming back.

If you're reading this, chances are you played a part in me getting to where I am now. Thank you for that and thank you for this.

Hopefully, it just keeps getting better.

Welcome back, NFL

2011-09-12T05:00:00.000-07:00

I don't think I've ever been as excited for the NFL season to start as I am this year. I've got a good looking Fantasy Team, am learning more about the game, and am getting to share game-watching with more friends.

This year, my roommate and I bought the NFL Redzone package. We get more than a dozen college networks, the MLB and NFL Networks, and the Red Zone channel. It whips us around to all of the games currently playing. No commercials, no boring games. Having that premium channel means people want to experience it with us. Six people came over this Sunday. All of us in our teams' gear: Niners, Cardinals, Eagles, Bears, Dolphins, Vikings. We made french toast, pizza, and just hung out. Looking forward to the rest of the season.

My Fantasy Team is looking pretty good. I won't bore you with the details, but it could pay off nicely if they do well.

Wildfires

2011-09-12T01:00:00.000-07:00

Southern Oregon typically has more than a handful of wildfires in the late summer. This year's weather pushed summer, and wildfire season, later than normal. In the past three weeks, I've been out to two wildfires.

I like covering wildfires because there's flames, smoke, danger, homes threatened, crews working. News ready to order. Point, shoot, report.

The first-- North River Road Fire. It sparked just off of I-5 near the city of Rogue River, about twenty miles north of Medford. I went out to the fire Thursday evening when it first caught, covering the nuts and bolts of what happened and how it was being fought. My story ran at 11, and was requested by ABC stations in Eugene and Portland. Some technical difficulties came up, but if it weren't for them my story would have aired in all of Oregon. Cool.

I got home around midnight and went right to sleep, but got a call at 3am... the producers needed me to come in and report for the morning show. Awesome. I got some coffee and reported live over the phone four times in the morning shows.

Later that day, I covered how the firefighters were battling the flames in the wilderness. They do it on the ground and by helicopters. Guess who got to up in the helicopter?

Here's the story:

The Second-- The Dead Indian Mountain Fire, later renamed Little Butte Fire sparked about 20 miles from Medford. I got there at the same time as the media escort and he took me down to the front lines of the fire. I got great video of flames-- a rarity in wildfire reporting. Happy with this story.

Fire officials expect this fire season to last for another month or so. We're not out of the woods yet. So to speak.

September 11th

2011-09-11T15:05:00.000-07:00

I'm not sure that I can add anything to the public dialogue that hasn't already been said.

I, like almost everyone else, can recount where I was and what I felt when each of the dramatic, tragic moments of the day unfolded.

Something else that I'll have with me, is where I was and what I felt when I got to see and touch a piece of 9/11 rubble in Southern Oregon this week.

Friday Nights

2011-09-11T11:04:00.000-07:00

High school football is back. And I'm back to covering it.

Two Fridays ago was the first week of games this season. I trekked an hour and a half to Klamath Falls for the game. As long as the drive was, it was equally beautiful. The sunset brought out deep blues on the horizon melting into rose pinks. All of it silhouetted by towering crags topped with trees.

But it was nothing compared to the sight of the high school. Henley High School is on the outskirts of the Klamath Falls, surrounded by ranches, barns, cattle, and mostly open field. As I was getting closer, the lights rose up from the horizon. Standing bright against the drab grasses, the lights stood tall, glowing and attracting everyone in the basin.

Walking on the field, my senses were overloaded. Feeling the cool of the field just by walking on. Seeing the families huddled under blankets on the grandstands. Hearing the high school kids running around, yelling at each other, the benchwarmers laughing about something that happened in class, asking about the bug spray. Smelling the wet, dank field. The smoky ether of grilled burgers. And the sweat of the players.

Then as the game wore on, something different started taking over.
It wasn't what I was smelling, hearing, seeing, or feeling.
It was a feeling.

I remembered all the Friday nights at Pittsburg High with my dad and brother. Sitting in the same spot on the visitor bleachers. Talking about Simonton, Tafoya, and all the other players who seemed decades older than me. The all-orange uniforms that split our family's fashion sense. I remember the marching band taking over the field at halftime.

Today, I know more about football. Understand the intricacies better. Appreciate the effort of these athletes and coaches more.

Last Friday, I saw two things that really stuck out.
1.) A bearded man in his 40s was on the track, as near as he could get behind the bench, yelling at the team. "Second effort!" "Put a block on him!" "Get your team in the game!" His face was deeper red than the team's uniforms.
2.) A father in his late 30's holding his toddler son up to the railing to point out some players as they run out of the locker room.
Immediately, I'm whisked away into a fuzzy, warm place called "nostalgia."

I recognize the games that I'm at are happening in thousands of stadiums big and small across the country. The same exact moments are happening in all of them.

One day that toddler will be ten years older and love the marching band, pretending he's part of them in his own front yard. He'll grow older still and be yelling, joking, or looking for bug spray on the sidelines. Or screaming in the student section. He'll get older again and go to games a decade out of school and see things in the games he's never seen before. Fastforward another decade and he'll have his own toddler he'll be holding. Ten more years, and he'll still be at the game-- red in the face from yelling. Or cheering. And he'll keep going back, looking down on the Simonton's and Tafoya's a generation and a half younger than him.

The 48-minute games take place on a 100 yard piece of grass.
But it happens in places much more far-reaching and eternal.

Old Album, New Favorite

2011-09-10T20:00:00.000-07:00

I've been really enjoying Paul Simon's "Graceland." The music is unusual, catchy, a bit African, and summery. The lyrics: sweet, relatable, layered.

"You Can Call Me Al" -- takes me back to PHS football games.

"Graceland" -- a song of redemption, a greater peace.

"Under African Skies" -- a summer bbq song.

"Gumboots" -- the chorus is a kernel of truth for every love story.

"Diamonds on the Soles of Her Shoes" -- another archetypal love story.

"Homeless" -- relaxing.

All of the others are also good. And I really like this album.

Working

2011-09-06T08:28:00.000-07:00

I haven't updated the blog in 3 weeks. Long time.

I've been busy with work and errands and fun.

At work, I've been sent out to breaking news 7 times in the last 13 work days. 6 of those times I was either asleep or off the clock.

The latest edition is a wildfire that sparked yesterday afternoon. I went to the front lines of the fire and shot my story with flames, smoke, dozers, tankers, and hand crews.

The other stories will be up here over the next week or so.

Also-- I covered another wildfire, flew in a helicopter, bought a new old bike, drafted my fantasy football team, Kevin came to visit and we jumped into Crater Lake, started shooting football again, finished one of my favorite television series ever, made good on a bet that I lost, threw a bachelor party for my college roommate (his wedding is in less than two weeks), played water polo, and hiked the highest peak in Southern Oregon.

All these and stories and more. Coming up.

San Fran

2011-08-16T04:00:00.000-07:00

I can't remember the last year I did not go to a Giants game. Last year, I made in the second to last game of the year. This year, I made it a bit earlier and to a game with high stakes. I work with Kristin Ketchell, who's a Jersey native and as big of a Phillies fan as I am a Giants fan.

Section 311. Row 9. Seats 12-8.

The crew: Nick, Kristin, Me, Sarah. Two Phillies fans, one Giants, and one Cubs fan/underdog-rooter.

The best part of the Giants experience? $9 beers.

Beautiful day in the Cove for boats, kayaks, and the like.

Before we walked in the stadium, we saw some promo guy throwing free shirts out. Kristin says to me, "Why don't you go try to grab one?" I walk over, box out someone with my backpack, and catch a shirt. All within 30 seconds.

I saw the mainstay of AT&T Park, John Crespo. He's the ticket-taker in the second to leftmost station at the front gate. And he's a great family friend. Every time I go to a game, I see him. It's one of the best parts of the day.

For everyone but me, it was the first trip to San Francisco, the first trip to AT&T park, and Nick's first baseball game ever.

Later in the day, we drove to Pier 39, saw Alcatraz, sea lions, Ghirardelli Square, and Fisherman's Wharf.

Even later in the day, we did more sightseeing: Coit Tower, Union Square, the Ferry Building, and the Painted Ladies. But we went to more important places like Mrs. Doubtfire's house and the Full House house.

((More pictures are still to come. Check on Friday. Hopefully.))

On the drive back to Medford we made the obligatory stop at the northern-most In-n-Out in Redding.

Eat, Move, Learn-- There and Here

2011-08-14T05:00:00.000-07:00

A friend of mine, Theresa Hayes (who keeps three blogs, including one of her photography) shared one of these videos on Facebook. Now, I'm sharing them with you.

It's a series of three quick videos that depict an amazing trip around the world. They're ordered from my least favorite (which I still love) to absolute favorite. Below are the videos and a description from the filmmakers:

3 guys, 44 days, 11 countries, 18 flights, 38 thousand miles, adn exploding volcano, 2 cameras and almost a terabyte of footage... all to turn 3 ambitious linear concepts based on movement, learning and food ...into 3 beautiful and hopefully compelling short films....

= a trip of a lifetime.

EAT from Rick Mereki on Vimeo.

MOVE from Rick Mereki on Vimeo.

LEARN from Rick Mereki on Vimeo.

Sure, when you go to nearly a dozen countries for more than a month, you're bound to have some life-changing beautiful experiences.

But you don't need to go somewhere far to do something different. Explore the world around the world you live in.

Eat somewhere you usually skip, you might find a cuisine you love.

Move in a direction you don't usually travel in. Driving 30 minutes in a new direction, could land you in a whole new universe.

Learn something you've always wanted to. Piano, dance, cooking, changing your oil, riding a horse. It's not too late to learn something new.

There are worlds of opportunity waiting to be found.

Barrack, this is Genevieve. Genevieve, Barrack.

2011-08-11T05:00:00.000-07:00

Want to be the President? That's tough to accomplish. Unless you have an uncanny resemblance to him.

Want to eat lunch with the President? A bit easier. Especially after keeping a debt ceiling from caving in.

Want to take a picture with the President? Apparently, that's no problem.

SMC classmate Genevieve is visiting her brother DC. They went to a burger joint on Wednesday. Who shows up? Just the Commander-in-Chief. With a gaggle of media folk and Secret Service ninjas.

She's able to steal him away from those professionals and snap a cell phone pic with him. One of the more appropriate cell phone pics from Capital Hill in recent memory.

Many take-aways from this story--

1) Always eat out in DC. Never know who you'll run into.

2) Good Stuff Eatery sells good stuff.

3) In other way you can get a Prez Pic is by being a champion. And/or being bearded.

4) Genevieve will be widely considered the most successful SMC Gael from the 2000's on.

4) If this Genevieve can meet Obama, maybe another Genevieve I know has a chance, as well.

Bakersfield 6

2011-08-11T04:00:00.000-07:00

As promised last week, here is the story from Saturday in Bakersfield. It focuses a bit more on the siblings. Hopefully, it shows their emotions and feelings on the crazy day.

Celebrating the Criados from Bryan Navarro on Vimeo.

Note: my name is actually Bryan, not Brian as it's CGed in the story.

Bakersfield and all it means

2011-08-05T03:00:00.000-07:00

A week ago I was in Bakersfield, covering the viewing and memorial of the 30 year old mother and her four children.

Got first notice of the assignment 24 hours before I was on I-5. Wednesday, my News Director called and asked if I'd be interested in covering the story. Of course, I was. Before I could go, I called the victims' brother and uncle, Jesse Adams, who I had talked with when he was in town the week before. He said it was ok, and that was the greenlight my boss needed.

What were our options if we didn't travel? We could rely on the ABC affiliate to cover the story, put it together, then send it to us. But that's like asking your cousin who lives in another state to pick out a gift that you would be giving to your kids. It's impersonal. It doesn't build off of the stories that have already been told.

So it was settled. We kept the travel plans secret. In Medford, friendships spread from station to station when we're off the clock and he did not want any word getting out that we made special arrangements to travel to Bakersfield. My coworkers didn't know until Friday morning.

After half a day on the highway, I hit a major roadblock. Hotels were booked solid. It took nine hotels to find a place with a non-smoking, single room. I'm not complaining, I was just floored that they were so packed. I asked if there was a convention in town. They said, "Yes. A Jehovah's Witness convention."

I landed at the Travelodge which, serendipitously, was only a few blocks from the churches where services were being held. Thursday night consisted of testing out the equipment and setting up the Bakersfield Bureau.

Friday morning meant work. In the early afternoon I met Tabasha's mother, Gwen, and showed her video from the Medford candlelight vigil. She cried and she clapped. It brought tears and took away her words. She expressed her gratitude that 300 people, many who didn't know Tabasha showed up and showed their love. She says she wants to come to Medford and hug everyone. She says that's where she draws her strength.

At the end of my visit, Gwen threw her arms around me and squeezed tight. I felt the love.

A short while later, I was invited to the memorial viewing. I did not shoot or show any video of the five victims, but I did look for myself. I couldn't not look. They looked, as the family said, at peace. The kids' toys tucked next to their arms. Four caskets for the five family members. 2-year-old Aurora, "the princess of them all," was nestled up next to her mother. One remained closed.
At the end of the evening I talked with Jesse. He, as always, was gracious and thankful. As were other members of the family. They said hello and smiled. I was the only media person allowed in. I sent the exclusive story back to Medford for the 11.

Saturday morning was the funeral. But the family didn't call it a funeral, instead it's a "home-going," Tabasha and the kids were heading to the place where there was no stress, hurt, or pain. The memorial was in a beautiful Baptist church, draped in purple. It was a Baptist celebration-- there was some mourning, but twice as much singing, shouting, praising, and celebrating.
That isn't to say that there were no sad moments. I was chilled when Evelyn, Tabasha's great-aunt, spoke about the home life of her great-niece. I was touched when the five obituaries were read and each ended with a phrase like "passed away with her sons and daughter." As if they are going on a trip somewhere. Together. That was the quiet, understated mood of the service.

Later, at the burial, I spoke with four of Tabasha's siblings at the same time. It was the first time in the two weeks of covering the story that I saw a difference of opinion in their feelings toward Jordan, the husband and father, who police have, in the past 24 hours, arrested as a murder suspect. Some were angry. Some forgave.

I said goodbye to some of the family members, but knew I'd see them again when they came to Medford.

I turned two different versions of the story. One for 6pm and another for 11pm. I prefer the earlier, but I'm very proud of both.

-- -- --

It was a relief to cover these stories. A form of counseling and closure.

Reporters are expected (read: stereotyped) to be emotionally detached from their stories. We are thought to run after the families of victims hoping for (read: prying for) a soundbite or (please!) a tearful breakdown.

Reality: Sometimes we're the ones who are close to a breakdown. It's hard for me to not be involved in a story. I'm certainly involved in this one.

In the movies, you see detectives or reporters who have some story or case that sticks with them. They can't seem to shake it. This might be that story for me. I'm thinking about Jesse, his religious beliefs, the strength he and his family have shown, and what the community outpouring has demonstrated and how it has affected everyone.

This is an important story for me. I know I'll be continuing to cover it in the future.

And I look forward to it.

-- -- --

In Medford, I have my own desk with script writing software, share computers for editing, and an audio booth for recording narration.

In Bakersfield, I had a laptop and a hotel room desk. I edited on the station's computer and used my own for script writing. I had a mic for recording audio, but had to make some adjustments. If I just spoke in the room, it would sound echo-y. So I draped a towel over my head and the mic to muffle everything.

The glorious life of television. (Sarcasm, yes. But I actually love it.)

-- -- --

I was in Bako for business, but on the last evening I found friendship. The reporter from the NBC station and I were chatting and she invited me out for sushi with her, her coworkers, and friends that evening. We went out, ate, and went to a lounge and had drinks there too. They were all great, fun people. The next morning I got coffee with another NBC reporter. We got along great and I think I've got a good friend there.

KGET 17's Victoria, Kevin, and Paige. Bakersfield Buddies.

TV News is like a fraternity. You work in a market and your friends end up moving across the country, but your relationships never really go cold. As the saying goes, "it's not what you know, but who you know." So the network grows. I was welcomed with open arms in Bakersfield and will do all I can if we host TV folks in the Rogue Valley.

-- -- --

It was also a time for family. I met with Kevin in Sacramento and lunch with him on the drive down Thursday and drive up Sunday.

"I look like I'm scared." -Kevin

-- -- --

A long drive wouldn't be complete with a handful of pitstops to take pictures.

Cooling off at Lake Shasta

Thursday Sunset on SR 58

Sunday sunset in Redding

-- -- --

This was a fantastic opportunity to cover a beautifully tragic story. It will be something I remember for the rest of my life. For many reasons.

Bakersfield coming...

2011-08-01T23:42:00.001-07:00

It's been a whirlwind trip the past few days and I'm working day number 8 in a row.

This blog will be up Thursday morning at the latest.

I want to make sure it's a good one. Expect video, photos, good stories, and new friends.

I'm not here right now...

2011-07-30T06:50:00.000-07:00

Live from Oregon should be retitled, "Temporarily in California." Bakersfield, that is.

I'll have a full report early next week.

In the meantime-- We're in the throws of the dog days of summer, meaning homestands and roadtrips, deadline deals, and pre-pennant race positioning.

But football is on the horizon. The lockout is over. College students are far from classrooms, but the conferences are gearing up. Including the Pac-12.

Back to Normalcy

2011-07-26T04:00:00.001-07:00

Monday brought a welcome change, reporting on stories not related to the previous week's tragedy. However, there was one story last week that I want to share. Yessenia found the four kids' 12 year old babysitter who shared her memories of the lost children.

Monday, I reported on a new study that predicted Medford as the 3rd best housing market in the US for 2011-2016. Also, a library book thief who posed for a picture.

Two weeks ago:

Mt. Ashland expansion appealed

New plan to improve downtown businesses (plus a cool standup)

Heart attack health

Hope against HIV

Ashland company gets $300k investment

Last week is still in my mind. I found this video on Portland newspaper The Oregonian's website, it was shot while Steven and I had a live shot together last Tuesday afternoon.

As per advice from friends and family, I've been looking towards the positive. Remembering that, I've been trying to remember that my stories make a difference. They bring people into the emotion and feelings of the story. I try to remember that several tens of thousands of people see my work everyday. Remember that I get invited into homes to tell stories and, hopefully, affect their lives.

Plus, there's this story out of Seattle that makes me see the power and beauty of our medium.

Swoboda Stays in SO

2011-07-26T04:00:00.000-07:00

One of my best friends, Lindsay Swoboda, passed through Medford this weekend. Consequently, it was one of the best weekends I've had in a long time.

Say's birthday 2009

"Say" and I were in the same Orientation group at Saint Mary's, she was literally my first friend there, we had classes together almost every semester, trained for and played water polo, and travelled to New Orleans for Jan Term together. After graduation she took a volunteer opportunity in Missoula, Montana where she worked at a Women's Crisis Center. She's leaving Montana, en route to San Jose to volunteer for a second year with the Jesuit Volunteer Corps.

Say and I on our last night in New Orleans

She's the person I've kept in closest contact with in the past 14 months and it was an absolute pleasure to have her in town. We went out to eat, out to dance, and then breakfast Sunday morning. It was a whirlwind 17-some hours, but some of the best times I've had here in a long time.

Here's to having more friends pass through.

Continuing Coverage: The Tragedy on Tenth Street

2011-07-23T02:19:00.000-07:00

On Monday, tragedy struck in Medford. A mother and her four children were murdered, seemingly by her husband.
Throughout the week more details emerged about what happened.

Thursday morning, Steven covered the victims' family's press conference. Their message: forgiveness.
Thursday afternoon, just 20 minutes before the 5:00 show, the autopsy results were released.
Thursday evening, the family visits the home where they died.
Friday night, that family held a candlelight vigil where 300 people healed together.

It's been an incredibly tough week for all who knew Tabasha and her family. For the first responders working desperately to resuscitate the children who, no doubt, brought to mind children they knew in their own lives.

I've spent countless hours this week absorbing as many facets of this story I could, then retelling it in four broadcasts everyday (and twice during live coverage where we broke into normal programming). I haven't yet processed everything or even most of it.
I don't feel like myself and am not sure when I will again. I sense another blog coming about all of this. Sometime.

Tragedy on Tenth Street

2011-07-20T10:14:00.000-07:00

There's been a tragedy in Medford. Five people are dead. Victims of a suspected homicide and arson.

They were a 30 year old woman and four children between 2 and 7 years old.
Police have named a 51 year old man, the woman's husband, as a person of interest.

It happened Monday. Details emerged throughout the day with a full picture becoming more clear by the time my story ran at 11:00.

Tuesday more and more information came out about the family and what police believe happened.
By 11, we had a little more information.

We'll be continuing to follow many aspects of this story as more information becomes available.

Poker Night

2011-07-17T10:49:00.000-07:00

Chris and I have been talked for a while about having a handful of guys over for a poker night. Saturday night we made it happen.

$10 buy-in, two medium sized pizzas, and a little over a dozen beers. We started at midnight and went til about 2:00.

Fun times were had by all. Hopefully, it will be a monthly shebang.

Matt won the big pot. (Insatiable Greed)

Chris came in second. (Inconsolable Sorrow)

SO Summits: Grizzly Peak

2011-07-16T22:02:00.000-07:00

Grizzly Peak sits 15 minutes from Ashland, rising some 5900 feet above sea level, more than half of it above the valley floor.

The hike was in the middle of a forested area, surrounded by tall trees, lush grasses, and colorful wildflowers. Most of the 5.5 mile hike was covered in trees, but every now and then were beautiful vistas. Some were enhanced by the Antelope Fire which burned 1500 acres in 2003.

Sarah Schueler, morning show producer, was also on the trail. There were a bunch of other hikers-- families, dog-walkers, old folks on wildflower tours.

A fantastic midday hike with fantastic views.

All Good Things Come to an End

2011-07-15T05:00:00.000-07:00

Friday two fantastic series are closing-- the Harry Potter films, and the TV series "Friday Night Lights."
Both represent a piece of my childhood.

Harry Potter

Potter and I have been pals since middle school when I was first pointed in the direction of a rather thick, previously unknown book called "Harry Potter and the Sorcorer's Stone." Nearly a decade ago, the books were translated into celluloid. I remember vividly, talking with Kevin about how Quidditch would be depicted on the big screen.

I've seen many of the recent editions of the HP films at midnight. Including film 7 part 1 last November. And Part 2 earlier today. USA Today's review.

-- -- -- -- --

Friday Night Lights

The film version of FNL is stellar. One of my favorite football movies. The TV show is a spinoff taking the feeling, politics, emotion of the film (which in turn is taken from the book it's based on).

As many will tell you, the show is less about football than it is about family, friends, high school, marriage, dreams, successes and failures, and the people around during those successes and failures.

I love the show. The characters, the feelings, the cinematography. Even the opening credits hits me like a freight train (I'll be writing a piece about the :45 seconds that open Season 1).

The final episode airs Friday at 8 on NBC. I had the chance to watch it early and loved it. It's a very satisfying ending to an incredibly satisfying series. I can't recommend it enough.

Reflections from producers, directors, actors.

Rekindled

2011-07-14T20:04:00.000-07:00

Remember when I got all crazy about a candle I couldn't find?

Found one.
Compliments of Mom, eBay, and a nice Floridian woman who wrote a note for my mom.

Stellar.

Southern Oregon Adventures X: Emigrant Lake

2011-07-13T07:00:00.000-07:00

Stay-cation.

Easier to take and afford. And they're fun.

I took one this weekend. We went to Emigrant Lake, just 25 minutes from my apartment and only $4/car for the day. Cheap, near, and fun.

Emigrant is a man-made lake just east of Ashland complete with campgrounds, RV hookups, boat docks, waterslides, and lake access for the wanna-be beach bums. That was me and my group of co-workers Saturday.

Six of us made it to the lake, bringing all we needed: chairs, sunscreen, inner tubes, sandwiches, chips, watermelon, and, of course, beer.

From 12-5 we were just relaxing, reading, swimming, laying out, and playing.

Perfect weather -- sunny, hot, but not oppressive, a light breeze -- made for a perfect day with friends.

One Year Here

2011-07-12T07:00:00.000-07:00

One year ago was my first day at KDRV. Time's flown by.

I remember moving in one year ago. Still trying to learn the lay of the land, how to navigate the tricky I-5 overpass between home and work, and the fact that I am legally not allowed to pump my own gas.

Then the real change came when I went to work for the first time.

I remember being in awe of the people, the equipment, the process, the ease with which everyone did their job and made it look good.

Coming from a small school with only two journalism classes put me in David's shoes trying to live up to the work that the Goliaths around me were doing after going to J-Schools with reputations like Missouri, USC, and Florida. I was a youngster in a big world.

I was told by a mentor, "the first year in the bid'ness is a roller coaster of ups and downs."

That's exactly what it's been.

I've come home exhausted, angry about my work. Other days I come home exhausted, but incredibly pleased about how I handled the curveballs I was thrown during the day.

-- -- -- -- --

Beyond work has been a roller coaster in its own right. Making friends who are more than a few years older than myself and seeing some of my bests leave for new jobs and new adventures has happened several times.

Also, being one year removed from college and my friends there has been an odd experience. I miss them, wish them the best always, and hope to reconnected as often as possible.

But it's the circle of life and in the future I'll play a different role, too.

-- -- -- -- --

Completely unrelated to being halfway through my contract, I got a performance review last week. The news director and assistant news director sat down with me for about 45 minutes talking strengths and weaknesses. It was very helpful to get constructive criticism and some tools to help me improve.

As they said, coming from a school that wasn't a Journalism powerhouse (or even a regular house) meant I could have turned out to be a real disaster. But I haven't. So far.

I'll be working on the notes to improve and, hopefully, will be the best I can be soon.

-- -- -- -- --

One year later, it feels a bit different. Every day throws the same number of curveballs, but I've learned how to do more than just foul them off, and actually turn them into solid line drives. Every now and then, there's a home run. And some strikeouts, but fewer of those.

I feel like I've grown a lot in past year. Can't wait to see where I go in the next year.

-- -- -- -- --

Also, I get a raise.
Which is nice.

SO Summits: Upper Table Rock

2011-07-11T07:00:00.000-07:00

Trail number 2 on my training syllabus was the Upper Table Rock, just a few miles from my apartment (I live at the bottom of Table Rock Rd.). I climbed with my friend, Katie Conner, who works at channel 10, Sunday morning.

The trail is only 1.25 miles each way, but gains 720 feet in that span. It was a good trail, not too hard but still gets the heart working and sweat flowing. It's not as exhausting as the Roxy Ann hike was, but I feel it in a different part of my legs. I may try doing both trails back-to-back in the future.

The top of Table Rock is a flat surface where you can look out over much of the Rogue Valley.

Skyline: Roxy Ann is the curved peak on left. Pilot rock is the dome in the far distance in center. Mt. Ashland still has some snow on right.

Mt. Doom -- I mean McLoughlin -- in the distance.

Southern Oregon Adventures IX: The Fourth

2011-07-09T06:27:00.000-07:00

The 4th of July is a 3-day weekend for most folks, but I was working with many friends on Monday. So, we did the only logical thing-- crammed 3 days worth of fun into Saturday and Sunday.

Saturday brought a pool party and BBQ at morning meteorologist Kristin Ketchell's apartment. No pictures because cameras and water don't mix, but also because we were having too much fun. Went from 3 til 11 and included all the necessities: burgers, dogs, chips, chili, pasta salad, cookies, beer, and wine.

-- -- --

Sunday brought something totally different, a 4-hour, approximately 7 mile hike up, around, and to the summit of Roxy Ann Peak. Why? Check out the start of Southern Oregon Summits.

-- -- --

The Fourth brought work, but fun work. At night, a few of us went to downtown Ashland for a snack, then walked towards the fireworks launching from SOU. We saw a few blasts then headed in for the night.

Fun times all around.

SO Summits: Roxy Ann

2011-07-09T06:00:00.000-07:00

I'm hiking the peaks, mountains, and plateaus in Southern Oregon. For fun and for training.

In mid-August a few people from work and I are going to hike Mt. McLoughlin which peaks at 9000+ feet above sea level, and about 4400+ feet above the base. The trail we're planning on taking is 5 hours up, 4 hours down. It'll be rough.

To get ready, I'm hitting trails every weekend leading up to McLoughlin. I'm calling it Southern Oregon Summits. The first edition put me and some friends at the summit of Roxy Ann Peak in Medford.

Sunday's hike was a 4 hour adventure stretching, by my calculations (and assisted by Google Earth) was about 7.5 miles. Roxy Ann is only 2200 feet above the valley floor. It's a definite beginner hike, but you've gotta start somewhere.

Stay locked in for the next chapters in (and photos from) Southern Oregon Summits.

Communication tower at the summit.

Hawks live near the peak.

On the way down, McLoughlin looms in the distance.

Wishes.

Medford from Roxy Ann.

The Real World as Classrooms

2011-07-08T07:00:00.000-07:00

"A journalist, it is said, enjoys a license to be educated in public;

we are the lucky ones, allowed to spend our days in

a continuing course of adult education."

--Joseph Campbell, The Power of Myth

Following this thinking (which I do), my classrooms have been varied this week. They include:

~ a State Senator's office discussing low-income health care.

~ the park where a 40 rival gangmembers fought and 10 were arrested.

~ the office of the Timber Industries Association where companies are filing a lawsuit against the Obama Administration

Working as a journalist I've been forced to become an expert about something I had no previous clue about.

Taxes, Politics, Health Care, Education, Economics, Agriculture, E-Commerce, Courtroom Proceedings.

But there's something I am probably least familiar with -- Pregnancy.

Well, I got a crash course in April.

My real life classroom was a doctor's office.

My textbook, a sonogram .

Feelings, Freire, Forward Progress

2011-07-07T08:22:00.000-07:00

One of the aspects of reporting that I have a hard time with is remaining neutral when telling my stories.

Firstly, how many times do you tell a story with no emotion? Hardly ever. Why should it be different for a reporter? We meet the fascinating people who have been effected in some way or another and it's our job to communicate their experience to viewers. It would be unnatural not to feel something.

Secondly, my education has taught me that when telling stories/making videos, it's normal to feel something. And to embrace that human feeling. This is especially true when uncovering more and more information in an investigation or report.
A quote that sticks with me comes from Paulo Freire's Pedagogy of the Oppressed, "Washing one's hands of the conflict between the powerful and the powerless means to side with the powerful, not to be neutral."

Lastly, documentarians are inciters. They rally people to support whatever oppression, or unfamiliar cause they communicate in films. Most docs have a call to action to wrap up the report. Something to get the viewer off the couch and make changes. Here's one of my journal entries from a college course titled Communication and Social Justice:
Lastly, it is not enough to find and report the problems. There must be action. “...if we labor on with courage and patience, [our work] will bear fruit sixty and hundred fold” (169). Solutions must be presented in order for our work to be taken seriously and put into effect.

At work, I let my emotions fuel the quality of work while keeping it in check. Being neutral is a challenge I try to succeed at everyday.

-- -- -- -- --

Television is a one way medium. The people on the TV dole out information without an any readily available way to receive information back. In the past decade or so, that's changed as social media and networking allows more people who wouldn't otherwise be connected, to be connected.

Still, for the majority of viewers, news media in almost all forms is a unilateral information streams. Freire talks about a "banking" concept of educating where the teacher's task is, "to fill the students by making deposits of information which he or she considers to constitute true knowledge." It sounds good. Who would know better than teachers (or, in this case, news reporters and producers) what is true and how to report it?

The counterargument says that teachers (again, news reporters) are no more important than students (in this instance, viewers). "Implicit in the banking concept... a person is merely in the world, not with the world or with others; the individual is spectator, not re-creator." The student loses agency in reality and, consequently, loses humanity.

The solution is "problem-posing" education, where teachers and students are on the same level and simultaneously teachers and students. No one group teaches the other and no one is self-taught, but all gain knowledge through dialogue about the world. "Problem-posing education affirms men and women as beings in the process of becoming -- as unfinished, uncompleted beings in and with a likewise unfinished reality."

Agency: reinstated. Humanity: reclaimed.

-- -- -- -- --

How do we get there? How can we turn "banking" systems into "problem-posing" systems? It doesn't happen in news or the classroom, it happens in workplaces, community groups, and friend and family hierarchies.
(Here comes the call to action) It won't be easy and it won't be quick. But how many revolutions are?

Holidays Happen to Hail Happiness: An Alliteration Extravaganza

2011-07-05T00:14:00.000-07:00

As I used to say, there are five things I really love in life. One of them is alliterations.

Working on holidays isn't horrible. A lot of people like to complain about working when everyone is enjoying the day, but here are my counterarguments.

~There's not as many people at work, so it's a bit more laidback and a lot less hectic.
~Holiday pay. Having this job isn't about the money, but getting a little extra goes a long way.
~Light, fun, and/or fluffy stories.

For 4th of July that meant going to the 100+ year old Ashland parade. I got to see the floats, the kids catching candy, and the marching bands. Combining my footage with footage from two other parades, I created a wrap of the Rogue Valley's festivities.

It wasn't hard news, it wasn't Pulitzer-worthy. But it was fun. And the script reflected that fun-- nat sounds, cute kids talking about America, and (best of all) alliterations.

Also, I ran into my co-worker's cousin who was visiting from Chicago. I asked her if she wanted to be on TV. She said yes. I interviewed her.

It doesn't get better than that.

PS-- In my tag at the end of the story I stumble over "Ashland High School." My brain wanted to say Antioch because when I typed the script, I wrote AHS. Just a little fun fact for all my East Bay homies.

If it's not on video, it didn't happen.

2011-07-01T10:01:00.000-07:00

Simple as that. If it's not on video, it didn't happen.

The great Dan Garrity has said, "you want to make sure you get the shot of Jesus getting off the bus. Because if you get back to the station and Jesus got off the bus, you don't want to have to say 'I didn't the get the shot of Jesus getting off the bus.'"

Two stories this week when I was successful in getting the shot of metaphorical Jesus.

Tuesday I was covering a protest in Ashland when the picketers walked down Main Street. Police told them to move to the sidewalk. When they didn't, one officer took down the leader. What makes it more interesting, up until six months ago, he was an Ashland City Councilor.

It became such an ordeal that we folo'd the story Wednesday, talking with the former councilor and the Ashland Police Chief about what happened.

Other stations covered the protest, but not the march down the street. They definitely didn't get the smack down.

Wednesday I zoomed up I-5 to reports of breaking news. There was a possible water rescue on the Rogue River. We had heard some chatter over the police scanner, but didn't know many details. When I pulled up, I saw a man and asked what was going on. He told me he saw someone floating facedown in the river, jumped in, pulled him off of the riverbed, and performed CPR for about 10 minutes. It sounded like the victim didn't make it, so I was shocked when he told me his efforts had saved him!

It was about 9:45 when I got the interview and the video and jammed back to the station to have the story of the Rogue River hero in the 11. (Ironic that there's no online video for this story.)

We folo'd it Thursday. As did the other stations and the newspapers Thursday and Friday.

But we had it first.

There's a sense of pride that comes with getting the good story, getting it when no one else does, and getting it on tape.

I believe there's some luck involved.
But I also believe, "luck is what happens when preperataion meets opportunity."

Unwinding after Fast Forward Day

2011-06-28T02:00:00.000-07:00

Work is often stressful and hard. There's several ways I like to unwind at the end of the day.

Lately, my favorite has been to go for a bike ride. Riding for four or five miles to a park, where I pull out a book and a snack and read until either the sun goes down, the mosquitos get too hungry, or the wind picks up and I get cold.

This weekend the pool at our apartment complex opened for the summer. I'll probably be adding swimming to the mix.

Now that it's summer, Jack Johnson music is en vogue. The beach-bum, laid back style brings peaceful times to mind. This song is high on the playlist

Burning

2011-06-26T07:00:00.000-07:00

My dear friend, Gianna Pascale, taught me something about myself. I am a sense-oriented person. This includes candles.

In summer 2009, I took a chance on a Yankee Candle called Blue Waves. It was on sale at TJ Maxx and seemed like a good fit for my dorm room when I was working as an Orientation Leader.

It was perfect. It smelled warm, beachy, and strong. I kept it burning almost everyday that summer. Since then it was the summer candle of choice.

I've gone to TJ Maxx in Oregon several times in the past few months, heading straight to the aisle with the candles. Despite buying a Blue Waves candle there less than 11 months ago, they seem to be out of stock. I walk away empty handed and without any kind of olfactory stimulant. Angry.

This morning I did a Google search, but it's coming up nada. There seems to be little trace of Blue Wave candles anywhere.

I even tried the TJ Maxx in Moraga, the home of the original Blue Wave. Zilch.

This week I went back to the store in Medford and ended up settling for something called Beach Blue.

I settled. It's not the same.

Nats

2011-06-24T08:22:00.000-07:00

I love a story when I can include nats -- nat sounds -- natural sounds.

I think it adds a dimension for the viewer and really brings them in to the story. Network news uses nat sounds all the time, very artfully, may I add. And I've been trying to emulate them.

This week I had the chance for nat sounds in 3 of my stories and would like to share the sights and sounds with you.

Tuesday -- Late Logging: logging companies squeezing in work before fire season hits
Wednesday -- The warming weather is heating up rafting business
Thursday -- School of sound: the American Band College is tuning up for a few performances in the Rogue Valley

Dropping Prices at Rising Phoenix

2011-06-22T06:30:00.000-07:00

Do you know what bio-diesel is?

Manufacturers take used coking oil and refine it into a usable fuel for diesel engines.

That process and lack of demand typically makes bio-diesel 50 to 60 cents more expensive per gallon.

But at Rising Phoenix Bio-Fuels in Phoenix, Oregon prices for bio-diesel are actually less expensive than conventional diesel.

But bio-diesel isn't specific for special cars with special engines. Depending on the mix of the refined oil, you can pour it straight into your gas tank.

It's sustainable (doesn't pollute nearly as much), and its local (made right in the United States), now it's cheaper.

Sights and sounds of home, familiar and un-

2011-06-21T06:30:00.000-07:00

I'm home for the weekend, celebrating my brother's graduation from UC Davis, Father's Day, and a college friends' wedding. I haven't been home since Christmas, and have spend less than half a dozen days in Casa Navarro in the past year.

Being back here is filled with both nostalgia and discovery. Visual and aural cues whisk me back to younger days. While additions and changes are more prevalent and will likely continue to be that way.

My bedroom would looks more like a female gardener's den. I count five fake potted plants. At least 11 pillows with some sort of floral design. A matching bedspread, area rug, a butterfly lamp, and metal thermometer in the shape of a flower.

The multi-colored portable lawn chairs have faded, but still take me back to little league games. Sitting in the teal, orange, pink chairs meant warm summer days, corn nuts, and grass stains.

The pool vacuum has been turned on and a symphony ensues. The glugging of occasional air pockets through pipes in the corner of the backyard. The web of pumps and valves humming low. Trickling water falling from the spa to the pool.

Back to my bedroom for a moment. The Autumn I left for Saint Mary's was a year of remodeling at home. New floors, new paint, new windows, the works. Included in the remodeling was my brother commandeering my former room because it had a cable hookup. In the past five years, I've had the urge to walk into my old room as if it were my current. Still do.

The remodel still throws me for a loop sometimes. It's a trip to walk in and see wood flooring and plantation shutters.

Gone is the Ford Bronco. It was the car I learned to drive in, was my car through high school, and helped me escort several young women on dates. I had a special connection with that car-- there was a stamp on the engine block saying: "Paint OK 2/4/88." We share the same birthday.

In it's place a 2012 Ford Focus. A rocketship of a car. Kevin bought it to replace the aging Bronco. A sporty, silver, sleek 4-door. Proud of him for being able to buy a new car and choosing a winner.

Just spotted a sixth fake potted plant in my room. But this one's different. The flower is one my grandfather's trademark wooden flowers. The flower is orange and black sitting on top of a faux grass in a pot that says "World Champs S.F. Giants."
There's something else different about this potted plant-- it's also a picture frame. The picture shows a family decked in black and orange at AT&T Park. They're smiling at the camera.

Concealed behind all the changes is something that hasn't.

Return of Follow Friday

2011-06-17T07:00:00.000-07:00

You know how some songs get stuck in your head?

You're about to have three new old songs stuck in your head.

"Make your own kind of music" -- Mamas & Papas
Was featured in a few episodes of the beginning of Season 2 of Lost. I've been humming and singing it all week. In the shower, driving in the car, in court at a murder trial.

"Don't bring me down" -- ELO
Featured in Super 8, and subsequently has been featured in my mind and on iTunes.

"I don't want to know" -- Fleetwood Mac
Saw the Glee episode devoted to the album "Rumours." Downloaded it and have had it on repeat. This is a real toe-tapper.

Grantland, Writers, and Writing

2011-06-15T07:00:00.000-07:00

I'm a perfectionist. Always looking to improve, to be better, to be the best. At work and with this blog, I'm trying to improve my writing skills.

They say "good artists borrow, great artists steal."

I don't know if I prefer borrowing or steal, so I'll settle for imitating.

But I'll only emulate the writers I look up to.
The ones I enjoy reading.
The ones I read all the time.

A week ago one of my favorite writers, Bill Simmons, who's a sports columnist for ESPN.com, launched his own website called Grantland.com. It plays home for columns, articles, blogs, essays, and podcasts on a smattering of topics ranging from sports to pop culture.

Sidenote-- the site's name comes from Grantland Rice, a sportswriter from the turn of the 20th century. One of his quotes "For when the One Great Scorer comes to mark against your name, He writes—not that you won or lost—but how you played the Game."

I've been visiting the site several times each day. Basking in the warm radiance of writers who are far beyond my range.

The articles are better than the run-of-the-mill summing up of a game or series, they look at sports and pop culture with an academic, theoretic, or philosophic eye.

Example: Chuck Klosterman's article Space, Time, and DVR Mechanics looks at why watching a recorded sporting event isn't an enjoyable experience. He makes rational arguments (recording means too much control, lose the "live" feel of the event) and irrational arguments ("my personal involvement and actions will affect the outcome of the game). It may sound complicated, but that's only because I can't communicate the ideas Klosterman puts forward with experience, ease, and wit. Trust me.

His writing pushes me to write gooder.

I've also found that I've got a certain style of writing. You've probably noticed it, too. I don't want to get pigeonholed writing the same wheel. Too much routine gets boring for me, for you, and means I'm not challenging my boundaries.

Consciously writing in a different style means doing something unnatural, and is, consequentially, more difficult. So, it will take time, practice, and effort.

NEWSTEAM - Updated

2011-06-14T20:00:00.000-07:00

*****UPDATE*****

On Tuesday, June 14th, I followed up on a story that had been developing since late Monday night. An 18 year old was fatally stabbed.

Steven Sandberg reported on the story Monday, but I covered it Tuesday. He gave me a call twice during the day-- telling me some of the witness reports that he couldn't confirm, giving me tips about who to talk to, which questions to ask, and even sending pictures of the victim once he had been identified later Tuesday afternoon.

His guidance and help aided me in getting the story that I got. A story I'm brought of. A story, made possible through teamwork.

*****ORIGINAL TEXT*****

Newsteam.

It doesn't always happen, but sometimes the second half of that word comes to life in the newsroom.

NewsTEAM.

Thursday, I was reporting on the closing statements and sentencing of a trial I hadn't covered at all. Thankfully, the team had my back. Kaylin had been in court off and on for the past few weeks covering the story.

She gave me a call and sent me a pair of emails, outlining the backstory of the charges, describing the key players and possible interviews, and recommending questions to ask.

I started the day a bit lost, but, with her help, the story came out well.

Kaylin and I at Phoenix High School TV Production Awards Night; 6.1.11

NewsTEAM.

College: Worth it?

2011-06-12T08:00:00.000-07:00

It's Graduation time. My brother, Kevin, is graduating from UC Davis today. He joins hundreds of thousands (millions?) of other people getting a Bachelor's.

Maybe you've heard about the Thiel Fellowship. It gives young entrepreneurs money to work on their projects. The catch is they cannot be enrolled in a college or university. The thinking is that these promising creators can learn, grow, and do more in the real world than they could in college. Consider rising tuition costs and an ever-increasing debt load on graduates, and you can't avoid the question: Is college worth it?

No.

Dale Stephens is 19 years old and in the Thiel Foundation. Naturally, he's firmly in the No camp. He wrote an opinion piece for CNN.com, from which I've pulled a few excerpts--

"Failure is punished instead of seen as a learning opportunity. We think of college as a stepping-stone to success rather than a means to gain knowledge. College fails to empower us with the skills necessary to become productive members of today's global entrepreneurial economy."

"Of course, some people want a formal education. I do not think everyone should leave college, but I challenge my peers to consider the opportunity cost of going to class. If you want to be a doctor, going to medical school is a wise choice. I do not recommend keeping cadavers in your garage. On the other hand, what else could you do during your next 50-minute class? How many e-mails could you answer? How many lines of code could you write?"

"It's not a question of authorities; it's a question of priorities. We who take our education outside and beyond the classroom understand how actions build a better world. We will change the world regardless of the letters after our names."

Yes.

Jessie Rosen is a self-proclaimed "20-nothing" living in LA who, in her spare time, writes a blog the same name. She says "it depends," but it seems like she's actually saying Yes. Excerpts--

"I graduated from that college and took a job that I got through a connection from my college. Worth it? Yes. Very much so."

"During my college years I focused on four extracurricular activities (NERD ALERT!!). I wrote for the school newspaper, produced and hosted a weekly news show on BCTV, participated in volunteer programs, and started/ran a website that provided weekly reviews of Boston-based events and businesses...

I could have easily done volunteer work and started this website without the help of Boston College - so that goes in the "not worth it" pile, but it isn't likely that a real newspaper or real TV station would give me the kind of hands on experience that my college versions allowed - so that's a "worth it" feature.

But here's the thing. I didn't know I wanted to do any of those things until I entered college - specifically Boston College. These activities/programs/projects grew out of interests I developed based on friendships I made and lessons I learned about myself and my abilities inside the classroom. College - for me - was a place to realize my potential - to incubate, if you will."

My thoughts.

I'm in the same mindset as Jessie, there was no real skill or technique I need for work that I could only learn in college. Reading, writing, shooting, and editing. Only a bit of reading and real-life experience can teach you that. As Matt Damon's character in "Good Will Hunting" said, "you dropped a hundred and fifty grand on a education you coulda got for a dollah fifty in late chahges at the public library."

But, it's all about the contacts. People I met in college are now my closest friends, grooms for whom I'm best man, and the references who got me the job I'm at now.

Plus the real world experience. I got to shoot, edit, write on super high quality cameras and computers.

And I lied earlier. There was stuff that I learned that I use everyday at and away from work. Critical thinking, public speaking, team leadership skills, and a humble, humanistic worldview.

So, yes. Yes, college is worth it.

But I'm biassed.

Your thoughts?

Final Bell

2011-06-10T10:01:00.000-07:00

The bell rings, doors whoosh open, kids run through the hallway, aching to get out the door, away from school, and home for summer vacation.

That's the iconic, Rockwell-esque vision of the last day of school.

But try this one on for size-- the entire Elementary school community, including 100 first through fifth graders and several dozen teachers and staff members, gathered on the lawn in front of the 88-year-old school building. They said goodbye by crying and hugging.

That's what happened at local Evans Valley Elementary School. When it closed its doors for summer, it closed its doors for good. Extreme budget deficits for the coming school year pushed the school district to close the older, more rural school. For more than a year, parents have been lobbying the school board to keep Evans Valley open.

On Tuesday, EVES closed for good. To mark the day, teachers planned a "fun, peppy" day. There was a school-wide assembly and a by a school-wide dance. The kids went back to their classrooms, cleared out their desks and cubbies, filled up their backpacks and left their rooms one last time.

At the very end of the school day, everyone gathered in front of the main building for a closing ceremony. The 5th grade students rang the bell that hangs in the school's rafters. The Principal led one last "Wolf Roar." Then the kids made their way down the hill to the buses.

That's when everyone lost it.

Kids, knowing they would never come back to EVES as a student, started crying.
Teachers, knowing they'd likely never teach at EVES again, started crying.
Parents, knowing the school they love is actually closing, started crying.

I felt a little lump in my throat and a little moisture in my eyes.

The kids slowly walked to the bus line, wiping away tears, and looking back at the school. As the buses filled up, students opened the windows and waved goodbye to the teachers they were leaving behind. As the busses pulled away, students yelled out, "Have a good summer!" "We'll miss you!" "I love Evans Valley!"

Many kids hugged their teachers goodbye. Maybe they were hugging extra hard to say goodbye to the school, too.

Evans Valley's Last Day.

Revolving Door

2011-06-07T10:25:00.000-07:00

The worst part about this television business is the revolving door.

In entry-level markets, people sign two year contracts then move on a few months after that term ends. The thinking is that after two years of pay just above minimum wage, your skills have improved enough to earn bigger pay in a bigger market.

The abstract idea became concrete reality two weeks ago when one of my closest friends at the station, Adam Thompson, left for a job in Houston.

I knew he'd been looking to move on for a while, but when he put in his two weeks notice it was surprising and hit hard. I've been hanging out with him since I moved to Medford. Hanging out on weekends. Karaokeing. Talking film. Watching Netflix. Drinking beers. Taking pictures.

Back in April, he and I worked together on a documentary. It was meant to be the cornerstone of his resume tape, but he got hired before it was even finished. That's how good he is.

On his last day, Friday, May 20th, his last day, we went to a tiny drive-up style diner we'd frequented in the past. Phil's Frosty was delicious. Later that night, we went to a bar and grabbed drinks and said goodbye.

Unlike commencement in college and schools, where classmates and friends move on in groups at the same time each year, hirings are staggered. So are the leavings.

I'm getting a crash course in this life lesson.

Nats

2011-05-31T21:21:00.000-07:00

"Nats" are short for "Nat Sounds" or "Natural Sounds." As a storyteller, it's easy to forget that our broadcasts employ video AND audio. We can bring a viewer to where we are through sight and sound. That's where nats comes in.

Using nats can bring the viewer to the scene of the story just like seeing pictures of it. Maybe even better. In TV news, there's always images from the story, but it's only once or twice a newscast that nat sounds are employed. So having nats is like gold.

Two of my most recent stories used nats. Both of them were "nats off the top" or at the very start of the packages, immediately drawing in the viewer.

Memorial Day camping.

Memorial Day at the National Cemetery.

College, Community, and Cholera

2011-05-29T09:03:00.000-07:00

Earlier this week I had a conversation with another reporter what kind of stories we prefer reporting. She said, "If I could do a feature once a month, I'm a happy girl." For me, it's stories about education and college.

About two weeks, I reported that Southern Oregon University was named on the Presidential Honor Roll for community service. Many of the award-garnering hours came from field research or lengthy, informative field trips that were part of the course curriculum. SOU also organizes Alternative Spring Break trips. Students pay and pack up to go to another part of the country, or world, to do intensive service work.

I enjoyed the story because it reminded me of my 3 Jan-Terms doing something very simliar. Those trips had a profound impact on me. Everything from who I spent time with, the importance I placed on possessions (or lack thereof), how I viewed situations of poverty, to what difference I felt like I could make in the world. The trips blew my mind and heart.

Earlier this week, San Francisco's ABC affiliate reported on Jan Term. They talked with students and professors of several trips, including Shawny Anderson (2:20) who led my trips. I think it's great that the local stations is deciding this is a newsworthy story and that people have a chance to get a brief look at a very special feature of Saint Mary's. Here's ABC-7's story.

Two notes--
1.) In 3 and a half minutes, you can't fully tell the story of how several hundred students are changed my a total of a cumulative 2,000 days abroad. Given the time restraints and depth and breadth of the story, the reporter did a good job giving an overview and dipping into emotions and impacts.

2.) JanTerm experiences aren't exclusive to January. I spent a Spring Break in New Orleans. Last summer, Shawny took a group to Haiti. Right now, she's back with more students. They bought and brought solar-powered water purifiers to give much needed aid in the Haitian fight against Cholera.
Some of the students who are sleeping in tents, learning Creole, working long days, and eating "terrible" food, were the same students who walked across the stage in robes and a funny hat just one week ago.
They can't get enough education.
Neither can I.

Monday and Tuesday's stories

2011-05-24T22:32:00.000-07:00

Been a little bit out of commission lately, but I've been busy. Last week, I worked nightside (2p-12a) and somehow it takes a bit more out of me and blogging goes to the wayside.

This weekend, I had a whirlwind trip back to Saint Mary's for Graduation 2011. Fantastical time to see my friends.

Monday and Tuesday brought good stories with them.

Monday morning we got an email about a local man who was in Portland and saved the life of a transient who was stuck in his sleeping bag, and on fire. It happened late Sunday night, and John Filipowicz wasn't in the Rogue Valley. But thanks to a phone book and a handful of calls, we got a hold of him. You'll see it's a story that's "only on" NewsWatch 12. We were the only news outlet from our area to talk to John. Hero from Gold Hill.

Tuesday, we got an email that Mount Ashland received the go-ahead from the US Forest Service. This comes after decades of hopes of expansion, and about 4 years of additional court-mandated research on the environmental effect. Expanding the area would draw a lot more skiers, say mountain officials. I got to interview three people, drive up to the Ski Area, and shoot a bunch of fun video on the empty mountain. And at the 6, I went behind the desk for the story. Mt. Ashland gets OK to expand.

iPad + Hospital = Montrue Technologies

2011-05-16T02:48:00.000-07:00

Montrue Technologies is a start-up business based in Ashland. The company has developed an iPad application that I think makes a perfect match for technology and the emergency room.

CEO, Brian Phelps, and company have created an app that gives doctors and nurses in the ER the most up-to-date and relevant information in the palm of their hand.

On Thursday, they received a $200,000 angel investment at a conference in the Eugene area a few hours North of the Rogue Valley. They beat out 30 other applicants from across the state and were able to bring that seed money back to Southern Oregon where they plan on expanding.

It's a great product and I was ecstatic to cover the story on Friday.

Nostalgia

2011-05-13T03:00:00.000-07:00

Don Draper in the season one finale of "Mad Men"--

Nostalgia - it's delicate, but potent. Teddy told me that in Greek, "nostalgia" literally means "the pain from an old wound." It's a twinge in your heart far more powerful than memory alone. This device isn't a spaceship, it's a time machine. It goes backwards, and forwards... it takes us to a place where we ache to go again. It's not called the wheel, it's called the carousel. It let's us travel the way a child travels - around and around, and back home again, to a place where we know are loved.

It reminds me of this music video:

Severed Dreams from Ian Bucknole on Vimeo.