FOCUS... I said Focus and Read This...

Those dang story ideas. I love features, profiles… But sadly, that is not all you can do in a newscast. And often are not the best things to include because there is so much other news that fill the limited time we have on air.

I am notorious for being bad at finding story ideas. Luckily, we get thousands of press releases at KOMU each day that my lack of stories always balances out. My problem is not the ideas themselves but how to truly implement them.

The other day, I wanted to a story about the first frost of the season that was early for Missouri. But you wouldn’t just do a story about the frost…  You would need focus.

What is focus? Well you could say it is a setting on a camera. And yes, your right. And we need focus of the camera too… But not the point.

Focus is what I like to call the main element, story, or theme behind your story that helps capture the information in a meaningful way. Sounds easy right? Well if it was, we would have people winning awards for journalism left and right.

Focus is hard because there are so many angles you can position a story. First, your angle must always remain unbiased and fair. And second, it’s got to be catchy.

For example, the frost story could have been boring. The anchor could read.: Missouri had its first frost today. The end. But you can spice that up. How does the first frost affect Missouri? Well you could choose to do it about local farmers and crops, school children waiting for school, homeless people… And they all have their benefits and disadvantages. I also like to go with the unique angle people will understand. School children is interesting and relevant but it does not have the unique feature that doing a story about how the freeze affects local wineries may have. Most people think about the children but will learn how their Friday night fun may be affected. And it’s a whole new meaningful angle.

And this is not enough focus yet. If you can, narrow your focus even further. Find a winery and use that winery to tell it. How is this winery being affected? What does it mean for business? Now what? Really bring the story together in understanding this winery.

Focus makes it or breaks it. If you can tell the story with focus, you are already becoming better than most journalists. Make sure when you go to editors, have your focus in mind because your story will seem much more newsworthy than just a first frost story.

A Few of My Favorite Quotes and a Poem

"I don't the key to success but trying to please everyone is not it." Bill Cosby

“Jealousy is that pain which a man feels from the apprehension that he is not equally beloved by the person whom he entirely loves”

"Patience is the ability to idle your motor when you feel like stripping your gears"

Happiness can be found even in the darkest of times, when one remembers to turn on the light." Allbus Dumbledore

"Don't stop believing. Hang onto that feeling." Journey

"If you want to feel rich, just count all the things you have that money can’t buy."

The Colors

The color of the black is dark,

Portraying the history of the Negros.

All the while,

White is delicate and fragile,

Symbolizing virginity of our lost souls.

Red is blood and love,

Ironic Perhaps?

To love and to lost,

To give and to shed,

The benediction of our very existence.

Yellow is bright,

The color of our sunshine,

Warming the Earth and harming the inhabitants.

Orange is playful but dangerous,

It is crisp autumn leaves,

Just as it symbolizes the burning flame,

The destruction of our lusts and desires.

Pink is just another pigment,

Symbolizing the laughter and embarrassment of our flushed cheeks.

Blue is vital and depressing,

Our oceans water and blue skies,

Our biggest fears and saddening surprise.

Purple is our escape,

It is the color of many wishes.

And green has the potential to be natures ripe beauty,

But it is wealth and anguish of the world.

It slowly destroys our minds,

Because it is the color we ponder most about.

The colors, everywhere they be,

Symbolize the emotions we live.

For if it was just a black and white world,

There wouldn’t be many who lived.

Married. In College. What?

Today I pronounce you as husband and wife.

I first met Daniel coming out to Missouri for school. I showed up on my first day alone in the big world after my dad and aunt drove me out here and left me stranded in my dorm room. Okay, maybe it wasn't so bad to be stranded but I was nervous and Mizzou was a big school waiting for some fun exploring.

I remember walking to class on my first day with limited contacts. Luckily, as someone from Colorado, there was a girl who went to my school who actually came out here with me. We weren't great friends in high school but we both knew we were alone together in this strange place.

On that first day, I carried my map looking for the music building to attend my Jazz, Pop, and Rock course. I found it and grabbed a seat in the front row alone when suddenly, here comes Daniel, who immediately sits down and introduces himself.  I did not know a year and a half later, we would end up being soul mates.

Our first date ended up being a swim at the Mizzou Rec Center in the Tiger Grotto Pool. We didn't plan it as a date but it sure ended up being that way when we just kind of kissed.

We grew over the course of the year. We had romantic nights, college moments, trips with his fraternity, trips to Colorado... And we had some rough moments. Some where I needed to grow and some that were cultural differences.The family had some rough issues with him at first but we talked through them and I believe everyone loves us now for who we are.  And we made some unwise choices to move in together before marriage which then soon blossomed into the question, "Why should we not consider marriage?"

The proposal was erratic but he did it. Daniel took me out for a romantic date night on Labor Day weekend in August 2010. We were going to go to a nice winery outside of town but he loves his motorcycle so I jumped on the back of his bike in my black dress for a ride down the highway while he was in a suit and tie. We were headed to the Lake of the Ozarks for some barbeque. Daniel made reservations thinking it was nice restaurant. We arrive and find we were the only ones there sitting on the balcony watching the sunset as we ate BBQ ribs at a shack. We were in nice clothes at a little shop that servers were able to wear the BBQ sauce on their aprons. We had a reserved table with a paper name card and our names hand written on it but that was not necessary since we the only ones there. We ate dinner comically laughing at the situation thinking that we would remember this for the rest of our lives. After dinner and desert, we took a little hike up to overlook the lake because it was a beautiful night. Looking over the dam, we cuddled together for awhile before Daniel decided to pop the question on his knee. "Will you marry me?" And of course I said yes slipping a ring on my finger he designed. 

We talked for weeks and months and underwent counseling to decide whether this decision was right. Both of us were scared. We knew we loved each other but we were so young and had so much life ahead of us. And I was personally scared of the military. Not only was I committing myself to Daniel but I had a commitment to the United States Government as a military wife. That wasn't easy. We had talks about how tours would work, how kids fit in the picture, and how a determined person like me was going to be able to achieve my goals when I had limited choices of where we were going to live.
But in the end, we saw really no reason to get not get married and that God wanted us to after nights of praying. Yes, young, but we wanted more time together. And who said we could not have the college experience as a married couple? We still do things that an average college student does. We have the mirage of parties, nights on the town, trips, internships, all nighters... Marriage is sometimes an obstacle with the stress of school work because we have that other person to worry about. But we are doing it and are coming out way ahead of our peers.

Daniel and I have already made choices about our life. We have mapped out what we want to together. We have already started saving and even buying some of the big purchases in life. Washers, dryers, cars, bikes, beds... And we have so much motivation to do well because we want the other one to be impressed with us. And not to mention, we got so much financial aid as non-traditional students and as a married couple in school.

We did have to grow up a little bit and often times we get along better with people slightly older than us but again, we are so far ahead, so deeply in love, and enjoy our lives.

Everyone was almost always against our marriage. It was not that they did not want us to get married but they questioned our timing. Why in school? Why so young? Why not wait? Some even told us we would regret it and that we would get a divorce.

I can't say that I won't regret it and that we won't get a divorce. But I can say I feel neither now. And as long as we keep working at our relationship and letting our love grow, we can make it through anything.

Sure there are rough times ahead. Navy, separation, children... But we are already talking about those and addressing our concerns to make sure our love never fails.

As we approach a year, we are still young but a happily married couple, waiting to see what is ahead.

December 31, 2010. I pledged my heart to my soul mate. Only as a 19 year old girl.

Why Journalism?

I would always tell people my career goals and their reaction was a squinted face with the question of why journalism?

Since I have been a child, I loved to be in the moment. I would chase ambulances and police up the street in my neighborhood all in attempt to figure out the story.I drive by an accident, by a crime scene, and see a protest, all I want to do is stop. Stop just to see what's going on, get the details, and observe.

Journalism satisfies that craving. This semester, I was working the web shift and part of that shift is listening to the police and emergency response radio. I loved that. When there is something major, I am always sent to go cover it or am supposed to send another reporter.

One day, I was sent to cover a vehicle who drove off an over pass into the creek. There was apparently a baby in the backseat. Upon arriving, traffic was blocked off and they were airlifting the passengers to the hospital. I immediately grabbed my camera, ran out of my vehicle, and started filming the helicopter in the middle of the street. I then ran to the scene about a mile through traffic of cars and climbed over the overpass to get the best shot. Keep in mind I am wearing a suit, skirts, and high heels. I climbed through mud puddles, creeks, embankments, and rocks in my heels and bare feet just to do my job. And I loved every single moment. Of course, my story aired and I became the joke of the newscast as I looked like I had just had a mud wrestling fight. But I was praised upon my return. That day began my career as a television TV star in Mid Missouri.

If I had a choice of bad things not happening or my career, take my career away. But unfortunately life has its mishaps. When reporting, I have to be careful in sad, serious, or even death stories because I become excited to do the story. I am not excited about the topic but I am excited that I am doing my job and what I love. Before going into these types of stories, I also have to take time to humanize myself to the people involved in the incident. I can still love doing it but I have to make myself real. And if I do this, I can often get the best shots because I can connect with them and understand the meaning of their feelings. 

I am inspired by creating stories, meeting people who have extraordinary experiences, and love being a part of sharing that. It is one way I give back to the community while improving myself. I may not be famous or even well known in my reporting, but I strive to be accurate and the best I can be.

So while I know I face a tough job market, a low paying job no matter what school I complete, may not be very good (yet), and have to buy expensive equipment, all I have to say is I am willing to work for it, achieve it, and most importantly, I LOVE IT. And I can say I worked hard enough to be a graduate from the top journalism school in the country, the University of Missouri.

Choosing a Financially Smart Path

Government debt. Recession. Wall Street. Gas. Banks charging you to use your own money.

All financial choices we hear about daily in the news. In case you want a prime example of what not to do, we even see our government making decisions that keeps growing the national debt and even hurts US credit rating approval.

I am writing this mainly for a young crowd but here are some financial tips, that while may seem obvious, will help you prosper in a drout.

- Start saving now. Even if you can not do much, $20 a month adds up to $240 a year. And that does not include interest if you invest it or put it in a savings account. 

- Search for banks and even let them search you. All banks want to get you as a customer but do your reasearch and always ask this question: What can you offer me the other bank will not offer me down the street? There are also special banks for different groups of the population like military, teachers, and even single people that may better suit your interests.

- We all like to have fun. New clothes. Night on the town. A trip or two. And a new car. One word. Budget. Set limits on new clothes, the amount you can spend on the town, and even budget that new car. Keep track of all income and expenses and adjust your spending habits to satisfy your goals.

- Borrow sparingly. It is good to borrow money because it builds your credit rating but make sure the monthy payments and building interest will not put your wallet in a tight pinch. Because if your wallet becomes pinched, it may actually hurt your credit score than help it.

- Choose credit card companies carefully. Each card will compete for your business. Keep looking for best interest rates and rewards. It is always good to set a reasonable limit on the card that will keep you financially sound and will not allow you to spend over that amount.

 - One to three credit lines including loans is the recommended amount to have open by many financial analysts. Too many hurt that score and when you go to buy a house, you will regret that decision.

- Invest. Open up short term, long term, and medium term investments to keep you financially sound while maintaining a bank savings account.

- Bargin shop and look for the best deal. Use coupons, go during promotional events, price search, and ask around. It is well worth your time.

- Pay more than the minimum payment on loans. Minimum payments are the trap. They are kept as low as possible to where the company still earns profit but will keep you in as long as possible to keep building on interest profit.Try paying twice as much as the amount due each month.

- Cut those unneeded expenses. Do you really need the best package of cable? How about that cell phone plan - any unused minutes each month? Cut wastefulness out of your.life.

Be smart and make the best decision based on your situation. Always try to pay for things without the need for borrowing and always plan.