Getting To Know... Kate Stacy

The local news business can be a hectic one. KOLR 10/ KSFX's Kate Stacy exemplifies this as she heads out almost daily in search of bringing viewers of the Ozarks the best story possible. Recently I had a chance to talk to Ms. Stacy about life at the station and beyond.

2K: How long have you been at KOLR?

KS: I've been at KOLR three years. I started here in April of 2005 as a general assignment reporter and became weekend anchor 6 months later.

2K: What is life like behind the scenes at the station?

KS: It's always busy, but a lot of fun! Each shift begins with an editorial news meeting. We discuss story ideas and then crews head out into the field, while producers start to build a newscast. Everyone relies on one another to get a show on the air, so we all work as a team. However, after two and a half years working the weekend show, that crew has become especially close. You'd think we would want a break from one another, but you'll often find us hanging out together after work.

2K: So...I've heard rumors that there is a fierce competition between KOLR and KY3. Care to confirm or deny this rumor?

KS: I don't think you'll find anyone at any station in this market who will tell you they don't want have the best news product possible. We scramble to be the first on a live shot or to scoop a big story. However, several of us in this market have worked together at other stations at another point in our career. And since we're on the same stories, we get a chance to get to know other reporters we haven't met yet. So, while there's competition, I don't think you'll see an "Anchor Man" back alley brawl any time soon. In fact, I'm just weeks away from marrying someone who works in the KY3 newsroom, so we try to keep things as peaceful as possible!

2K: What are some of your favorite shows on television?

KS: Not a day goes by that I don't catch several newscasts...obviously! But when I'm ready to veg out, I try to catch Grey's Anatomy, LOST, How I Met Your Mother and Entourage.

2K: Where is your favorite place to eat in Springfield?

KS: I love going out to eat, so I'm not picky. But some of my more frequent stops include Mijuri and Kai for sushi. I also enjoy Neighborhood Pizza Cafe, D'Arpinos and Touch.

A big thank you to Kate for taking the time to talk to us. Oh, and congratulations on the upcoming wedding!!

Getting To Know... Lauren Keith

It is often easy to forget that there is a television station in the Bootheel of Missouri. What can't be overlooked is some of the talent that resides at KFVS. Recently, I had a chance to talk to morning anchor Lauren Keith about life in Southeast Missouri.

2K: What is life like behind the camera on The Breakfast Show?

LK: Hectic, but fun.
I come in at 4 am (which means my alarm goes off at 2:45 am) I start proofing scripts and we hit the air at 5 am. I’m in charge of coordinating “live shots” from local events and interviews…mostly features…to lighten things up in the morning. I also do morning updates at 8:25 and 8:55. Then, I have from 9 to 11 am to shoot my popular “Does it Work Wednesday” pieces as well as any stories I want to work on for the Breakfast Show. Usually, my stories don’t air “the day of” because of the tight turn-around. I anchor the Noon News, so I start proofing those scripts at 11 am. The fast pace keeps the day flying by and makes it easier to not feel so “tired” on the shift.

2K:What are some of your interests outside of your job?

LK: I like to work-out. I also like to cook. My husband is a veterinarian. Sometimes, because of our opposite schedules, and because I go to bed so early in the evening, I will go along with him on emergency calls. His line of work is equally fascinating and he’s able to help a lot of pet owners and save a lot of animals’ lives, literally.

2K:Do you have any favorite tv shows?

LK: American Idol, Desperate Housewives, and I’ve been known to watch Family Guy. It cracks me up the writers can fit so much sarcasm into 25 minutes.

We want to thank Lauren for her time. You can catch her co-anchoring the KFVS Breakfast Show, Monday through Friday from 5 - 7 a.m., with Jim Burns.

Getting To Know... Josh DeBerge

Whether it was from his time at KOMU in Columbia or his recent move southward to KSPR in Springfield, Josh DeBerge has a busy time keeping his eyes to the skies. Recently (between flooding rains, severe weather outbreaks, and tornadoes) I had a chance to chat with Josh.

2K:How is life behind the scenes at KSPR?

JD: Life "behind the scenes" at KSPR is good. I think the thing I admire themost about the people here is how hard working they are. It's no secretthat we're the underdog in the market, but that just means we work evenharder and I think it shows in the product we put out. The atmosphere, forthe most part, is laid back and relaxed. Everyone's excited about the movewe'll be making into a new facility in the next year or so!

2K: Is there one thing you have learned in your time at either at KOMU or at KSPR that you wished you would have learned in college?

JD: College certainly teaches you the ropes of forecasting and theins-and-outs of television. But I wasn't prepared for the hateful peoplethat are out there. I guess it isn't something that can be taught but Iwas surprised at how rude and thoughtless many people can be - whetherit's after cutting in to their favorite program, busting a forecast, orsaying the wrong thing.

2K: KSPR has been leading the way in connecting with the viewers indifferent mediums, such as the Weather blog and the new chat room. Why is this important to you?

JD: There are several answers to this question. When we first tossed aroundthe idea of the blog it was primarily because no one else in the Ozarkswas doing it. We felt it would be a unique feature that could provide awealth of information for people in southern Missouri and northernArkansas. It has exceeded all of my expectations and blog trafficcontinues to grow (the active weather of late certainly hasn't hurt).It also gave us a chance to connect on a more personal level with viewersand weather enthusiasts. We realized that the days of being a one-waycommunication tool are gone. With the Internet at everyone's fingertips,viewers want more information than we can give in a 3 minute weathercast.We can give an almost unlimited amount of information on the blog.I should say that a blog associated with a television station certainlyisn't new, but I think the interactivity we've brought to it is! Forexample, during the January 7 tornado outbreak, viewers asked questions onthe blog and almost instantly got an answer on-the-air. It helped usrefine our coverage to better serve our viewers as we got feedback andquestions. Many people are at home, scared, and we've been told time andagain that our personal responses put them at ease. Now, as the blog getsmore and more popular it becomes much more difficult to keep that personaltouch, but we'll continue to do it as long as we can! The chat is just areal-time verson of the blog and it shows promise!My thought about it all is that people make better decisions when theyhave an abundance of accurate information. I want people to make gooddecisions during severe weather and if manning the blog or chat is theanswer, then I'm going to do it. I guess above everything else, that iswhy it's important to me.

2K: Do you have an I-Pod? If so, what songs are on it?

JD: I have all my favorite songs on my I-Pod Nano and I actually like not knowing what song is coming up next. About half of it is filled with whatall my friends call my "melancholy mix" which is collection of indie,alternative, and R&B. The other half is filled with Christian music. Ialso don't mind techno on a long drive.

2K: What are some of your favorite tv shows?

JD: Me and my girlfriend are completely obsessed with LOST and we're weeklywatchers of Prison Break. I like Top Chef and for some reason, every timeAmerica's Funniest Home Videos is on...I'm watching.

Getting To Know... Mallory McGowin

It has been a while since we talked to a local tv news personality to find out about life behind the scenes. KRCG's Mallory McGowin has done a lot in her short time at the station. She graduated from Drury University in May of 2007. I recently had a chance to ask her a few questions:

2K: Why did you choose to go into television journalism?

MM: My response seems to be a fairly common one reporters give to the question of why we entered this business. I decided to enter television journalism because I loved the idea of meeting new people and learning new things everyday. I love print and online journalism, but the visual aspect of television news was also very appealing to me. I love to shoot and edit video, write, and talk with all kinds of people so this was really a perfect fit.

2K: What is one thing you have learned on the job that you wished you would have been taught in college?

MM: Since starting my broadcast career almost a year ago, I've learned just how fast-paced and time-crunched this business really is. I'm not saying college instructors leave this part of the industry out of their lectures, but there's no way you can begin to grasp how much pressure there is until you are in the middle of it all!

2K: What is one thing viewers would be surprised to learn about the newsteam at KRCG?

MM: I don't know if viewers would be surprised by this or not, but the people on our newsteam are really, really funny. It may not seem like it on the air, but we've got some pretty heavy-hitting comics sitting in these cubicles. So, in the midst of the average fast-paced newsday, we still find time to telling a few side-splitting jokes and watch the occasional hilarious video on YouTube!

2K: Do you have an I-Pod? If so, what artists are on it?

MM: I know this makes me sound incredibly dull and out of touch with reality, but the I-Pod I have was actually given to me by a friend who got a new one and I do not actively download music since leaving college. But, what I do have on my playlist is a very hodge-podge mix because I like all kinds of music. There's everything from Miranda Lambert and Little Big Town to Steve Miller Band and Van Halen. I also love Michael Buble, Pat Benetar, and Nora Jones. That's quite a list, huh?!

We will hopefully have more getting to know segments in the days and weeks ahead.

Getting To Know... Angie Weidinger

Recently I had a chance to catch up with a very busy Angie Weidinger, anchor of KSFX News @ 9 and reporter for KOLR 10. Here is some of what she had to say...

2K: How long have you been working at the station?

AW: Five years. I started at the station in June 2002.

2K: So what is the best part about your job?

AW: My favorite part is getting to meet and interview so many interesting people in the Ozarks. And, most of the time, it's not the "famous" people who I enjoy talking with the most. I am constantly amazed at how kind, intelligent, innovative and generous so many residents of this area are. Everyone has a story and I consider myself extremely privileged to get to tell so many of them.

2K: Any drawbacks?

AW: Often times I can't spend as much time as I'd like talking with people. We're often chasing a deadline that forces us to cut an interview or conversation short.

2K: What are some of your other interests outside of the news?

AW: My favorite past time is spending time with my family and friends. I grew up in mid-Missouri and still live close enough that I can drive home and catch a Sunday night family meal with not just my mom, dad, brother and sister, but also my grandpa, aunts and uncles.

I also enjoy running. I recently completed a marathon this past June with the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society's Team in Training. Talk about an incredible experience! Not only did I make it through those 26.2 miles, but I was able to work with a group to raise thousands of dollars to help area cancer patients. If anyone is considering training for a marathon, that's definitely the way to do it!

2K: That makes me tired just thinking about it. Congrats! So, if you weren't a journalist, which other profession would you choose?

AW: A journalism teacher. Unfortunately, there are many people in my profession who work with a very loose set of ethics. I would love to teach students how to tell a story fairly and accurately with a rigorous set of morals, just like my professors in college did for me.

I want to thank Angie for her time. Again you can find Angie in the Springfield area on KSFX, Fox 27 News @ 9, Monday - Friday.

Getting To Know... KSN's Brad Douglas

You may know him as Brad, Mr. Douglas, or even "The Gadget Guy". KSN-16's Brad Douglas is a very busy man and has been telling important stories in the 4 states since the fall of 2000. Recently, I had a chance to turn the tables on the journalist and ask him a few questions.

2K: What is the favorite part of your job?

BD: I enjoy the storytelling aspect of it. Every single day is different and some stories are harder to tell than others. I also like that I get to meet new people each and every day, and you really can't predict what the next day will bring. Plus, I like getting out and about and not sitting behind a desk every single day. Everybody does have a story to tell, and it's my job to tell it and do them justice, entertain and hopefully educate.

2K: What is your least favorite part?

BD: Some young journalists fresh out of college really enjoy covering murder cases, court cases and tragedies. The days when I have to cover them are my least favorite.

2K: What are some of your interests outside of the studio?

BD: I'm a big Spider-Man fan. I've been a fan since I was a two year old web-head. In 1998 when I was in college I started up a little website called the Spider-Man Crawl Space http://www.spidermancrawlspace.com/ and it's still up and running. In fact it's one of the most popular Spider-Man sites on the web. We just celebrated nine years online and it's still growing, and I had my biggest month ever in July.

2K: Tell me something about things behind the scenes at KSN.

BD: Behind the scenes at KSN are a blast and would make a great sitcom. We really are like family. There usually isn't a day that goes by where we don't laugh out loud about something. It's a fun place to work and one of the reasons I've stayed there so long.

**More of your favorite anchors, reporters, and meteorologists forthcoming.**