Today marks five years that I’ve written, reported and edited local news for @nbcwashington. I’m thankful to my team for teaching me to write breaking news better, to newsroom veterans for imparting decades of knowledge and to TV reporters for showing how to write visually.
I admit I was skeptical at first of descriptions of “the News4 family.” But it’s real and I’ve felt it most in times of difficulty, including now during the pandemic. I was moved, too, by how supported I felt when I was pregnant with my daughter.
A little look back: Earlier this month, our digital team won a Murrow Award for running the best TV news website in the region for the sixth year in a row. In 2017, we won for being the best in the country.
I’ve managed 20 interns — including @abbyvesoulis @realcpaz @laurenmlumpkin and @Gelman_Scott — and it’s been a blast to watch them thrive.
Here are a few of my favorite stories over the years: Entomologists told me “murder hornets” are just animals trying to go about their business and the D.C. area doesn’t have much to worry about yet. https://www.nbcwashington.com/news/local/alarmed-about-the-murder-hornet-dc-area-has-little-to-worry-about-experts-say/2299473/">https://www.nbcwashington.com/news/loca...
I’m writing dozens and dozens of stories about how the coronavirus is changing our lives, including our daily mainbar. https://www.nbcwashington.com/news/coronavirus/">https://www.nbcwashington.com/news/coro...
I reported a viral story on the moment a man valiantly held on to his beer cans as a World Series ball flew toward him. Marketing experts said we can expect to see more ads that seize on viral events. https://www.nbcwashington.com/news/local/beer-guy-moment-jeff-adams-worth-estimated-8m-in-ads-bud-light-tells-how-it-happened/2051540/">https://www.nbcwashington.com/news/loca...
@susanhogantv, @MeredithRoyster and I helped get Virginia to set standards for the use of motorized room partitions in schools after a 9-year-old boy was crushed to death. https://www.nbcwashington.com/news/local/virginia-governor-signs-school-partition-safety-bill-after-child-wesley-lipicky-is-crushed-to-death/162444/">https://www.nbcwashington.com/news/loca...
I reported in Pyeongchang, South Korea, ahead of the 2018 Winter Games. https://www.nbcwashington.com/news/local/welcome-to-pyeongchang-a-look-inside-the-2018-olympic-host-city/30542/">https://www.nbcwashington.com/news/loca...
For years, I reported exclusives on what happened after two young people were killed after a fire in their illegal apartments near Dupont Circle. https://www.nbcwashington.com/news/local/illegal-apartments-can-go-unnoticed-dc-officials-say-after-2-deaths/1996722/">https://www.nbcwashington.com/news/loca...
I ran our digital story the day of the Capital Gazette shooting and was first to report the shooter’s suspected motive. https://www.nbcwashington.com/news/local/active-shooter-reported-at-newspaper-building-in-maryland/54042/">https://www.nbcwashington.com/news/loca...
I wrote narrative on the stray bullet shooting death of reporter Charnice Milton. I’m thankful to @WendyWarren for giving me all the time and space that required. https://www.nbcwashington.com/news/local/year-after-reporter-charnice-miltons-murder-family-works-to-turn-tragedy-into-turning-point/66484/">https://www.nbcwashington.com/news/loca...
To more good stories, good breaking news coverage and Working 4 You!