Crunch Time: Verify Your Facts

It's that time. The clock is ticking and the newscast is creeping upon you, but you still haven't verified your facts with the official source. The competition already has information online, but they beat you to the scene and got the story confirmed. You arrived with one sheriff left to say, "Sorry. I've been told not to talk about what happened to the media for now...I think one of our guys talked to KMIZ [the ABC station] before he was told not to." Great.

We heard on the scanner a possible robbery. Our desk and I made some phone calls but no response. At five o'clock, the competition has a live reporter on the scene with basic information about a woman robbed and taken to an ATM. It happened on Demaret Drive. "Olivia, that's by the Lake of the Woods area...St. Charles Road." They send me on a goose hunt with another reporter to see if we can catch up on the story. I've got to get this figured out for the nine and ten newscasts...not to mention on the web asap!

After a failed conversation with the sheriff, I start knocking on doors. Sure enough, one neighbor heard something and knew a general idea of what might've happened. He was sitting on his front porch and heard two men yell, "Get down! get down!" He said it sounded like it was coming from the backyard of the house nextdoor. Then, he said a woman screamed and it stopped.

(Photo Courtesty: massachusettscriminaldefenseattorneyblog.com)

I knew KMIZ reported there was something about these men taking the woman to an ATM and demanding money. I had nothing confirmed from the Boone County Sheriff's Department.

I got some video of the street and houses he described where it might have happened and left unaware of where this supposed.ATM was. I got a call around 7 p.m. from the Sheriff's PIO, but he said he couldn't tell me anything until they got more details on what happened. He claimed they'd send a press release before the 9 p.m. news.

I pulled into KOMU stuck with a neighbor's testimony and the competition's report. The number one thing I've learned at the Missouri J-School is always check your facts and never report anything without doing so. Of course, that press release didn't come as anticipated. As the clock neared nine, I made another phone call to the Sheriff's PIO. I explained what I needed: just a confirmation that a robbery occured and essentially, what KMIZ reported. He finally realized I wasn't asking for specific details he couldn't confirm himself.

Here's what I reported: Two men asked a woman to meet them at Demaret Drive for a 'purchase'. They pulled out a gun on her and demanded she go to the nearest ATM and give them money. She got there and couldn't take out money. They sped off with her car.

Robbery turned kidnapping turned carjacking. If I hadn't verified that information, I would not have been comfortable claiming what I heard from a neighbor and saw on KMIZ's website.

Missouri Still Waiting for Federal Snow Funds

Illinois got disaster relief funds from the Federal Government Tuesday following the February snowpocalypse. Missouri is still tapping its foot...waiting.

Tuesday night, I worked with Theo Keith, another KOMU reporter, to get the facts about Missouri's hope to gain funds to pay for the snowy clean-up. Missouri asked President Obama for $14 million. Illinois got $63 million for 43 of its counties.

State Emergency Management said 52 of Missouri's 64 counties had record or near record snow fall amounts. It also said it had no clue if or when the President will give Missouri any blizzard help.

Reactions I got from people I chatted with since yesterday range from that's not fair to Illinois is Obama's home state so that makes sense to Missouri got hit just as hard; we need the money.

Take a look at my webstory on KOMU.com and my live shot from I-70, where for the first time ever, it was shut down statewide.

The Aftermath

You have half a year. Half a year? That’s it? What the heck happened to my college life? Here I stand, only days away from finishing up my second to last semester in college and I wonder, where did the time go? I’ve spent the past semester swamped with reporting, IT projects, theater performances, and all this talk about the future of journalism. Now, it’s coming to a close with one final go around in the spring.

Yesterday, I interviewed two women who don’t have enough to give their children much of anything for Christmas. Thanks to the Voluntary Action Center in Columbia, they have piles of gifts to put under the tree. Stories like these are what keeps me going in this business and this world. The rest of our newscast was filled with a story about a police officer scandal, a man charged with pornography charges and yet again, MU is discussing more tuition hikes. And there was my beautiful, sweet tale about volunteers giving their time and money to families less fortunate than some.

I have “blossomed” as Sarah Hill, our KOMU 8 News at Five Anchor/Reporter, put it this semester and throughout the years. I knew I’d get better but I have to say I’m quite proud of myself for getting this far without giving up or losing my mind, quite frankly.

My camera and interviewing skills are miles better. Not to mention how much more comfortable and cool I am on-air. I finally decided to give myself the goal to memorize my six live report since I have the five and the recap to work on it. It felt exhilarating to be free without paper and to just let it flow. My live shots are a heck of a lot better that way. I can only go forth and keep on improving.

Here's my latest story at KOMU: The Best Gift is Giving

On a Weekend Getaway...Journalism Follows.

Wherever I go this summer, especially, journalism seems to slip up on me, no matter where I hide. I decided to venture down to Charleston for a weekend to see the beautiful, southern charm of a town while a college friend traveled there for a photography convention. Not just any convention, the National Press Photography Association's Awards convention. Patrick somehow led me to believe it was something lesser of value. Oh I figured out in no time, I was in for a treat. I didn't think much about the convention. I thought I'd sight see and show around then meet up with him whenever he wasn't occupied. Turns out, you can't escape the journalism world, especially during this lesson-filled summer I'm experiencing.


Still photographers weren't the only ones invited and recognized at this event. Videographers too were amongst the ranks. Patrick told me to bring some of my video work and have those professionals take a look. I arrived at 8:30 and sure enough, not a minute later, the critiquing began.


I sat down with two videographers: one from Des Moines, IA and the other from Wichita, KS. They both had some great suggestions and tips to strengthen and improve my video. One big shooting tip I remembered the most is to think about the flow of your shots: when you're about to shoot something think about what you want before and after that shot. It's got to be a continuous flow, so thinking about the big picture is key.


We went through my videos and picked on one story I did where I had this sticky situation about shooting still objects. That was the theatre story three weeks after it burn down. Mary, from Wichita, said the best thing you can do as a videographer is to find a way to shoot something 25 different ways.


"That was the most difficult thing to do...I had to shoot a park bench 25 ways," Mary told me.


"Shoot the donut and the donut hole...get creative," the Des Moines photographer explained.


They both talked about wanting to see the specks of te fire on the stage; we've got to see the tiny details. Try a wide shot from different angles: through the trees, from the parking lot.


Turns out, making this trip would be more than just a shopping spree...a bit more rewarding you'd imagine.


After that evening's critique, Patrick and I headed out to see the town of adorable Charleston. It has such wonderful charm and quaintness that I couldn't possibly give it justice. There are numberous shops, cafes, restaurants, one more cool than the next. Boutiques block after block, a place my mother wouldn't dream possible.


Saturday morning rolled around and I decided to venture out in the daylight. There was a farmer's market set-up across the street...long story short, I walked around and spent two hours just browsing the town until I couldn't take the heat or the walking any longer.


After lunch with Patrick, I swung back over to the photography convention, only to realize I came just in time for the best lecture, (at least for me). Fox 45 in Baltimore's photographer, Darren Durlach, won numerous awards for his phemonenal videography. He had some fantastic editing, audio and video to display and tips to go with them. 

• Always have your ear open for the best audio; don't just shoot video.
• Get the mic up close and personal; get those nats!
• Think creavitely...go for the interesting angles: shadow, reflection, etc.

Those are just a few of the many notes I jotted down at his engaging lecture.

Later that night, everyone get primped and pretty for the awards banquet. I got to see some amazing photos and video. One's that captured the pure essence of life that drives me to be a better visual journalist. This kind of work makes me realize how much I love the field. No matter the small pay, I'm positive this career path I have begun is worth all the stress.

At the end of the banquet, we all went out, enjoying the quaint town of Charleston. Sitting there among brillant photographers, I felt lucky to be surrounded by such talented, fun-loving people who understand and love the crazy world of journalism.

I never expected to learn such a wealth of knowledge in one weekend, originally thinking it would be an escape from journalism. Like I always say...Journalism follows those who truly have their heart deep in the depths of the field.

Golf Hotspot Numbers Up to Par

Here in Myrtle Beach, golf isn't just a sport. It's a lifestyle. After a bitter, cold winter, Golf Holiday and Barefoot Resort and Golf say numbers are looking up as more golfers hit the course. Despite the hot summer weather, those golfers are still grabbing their clubs and hopping on their carts, mostly at those early morning tee times.

Photo Courtesy: wmbfnews.com

I was able to interview and shoot this video for the story. It was a fun story out on the golf course (Fazio Course) talking to golf experts about the tough winter season Myrtle Beach experienced. Golfers, of course, came down once the cold cleared out.
We went out on a golf cart and spoke with some vacationing golfers, who come down to Myrtle Beach every now and then. Some said they preferred to golf in the cooler hours, teeing off around 7:00 a.m. while others said they'd golf any time of day. By this time of the year, the temperatures, especially that day, are up in the mid to upper 90's. With humidity, it feels like 100's!! Honestly, I'm not sure if I'd even be golfing at all. It's already in the mid 80's by sunrise.

Photo Courtesy: Barefoot Golf

Nevertheless, shooting and interviewing on the green, was more fun than I ever expected.

"Isn't it great that one day we're out on a fire and the next we're at a golf course? I love this job," Jennifer said to me. "I know! I love it too!" I agreed.
This is exactly what I wanted from this internship. A path to pull the passion out of me. These kinds of experiences are just what I'm talking about.

My look live turned out really well. Jennifer said I had great energy and good references to my location. I had the golfers gearing up to go behind me. I used some nice video over my voice and then came back to me on camera with the course as the background. I did trip up on my words at the end, but recovered and decided it looked better than the other recordings. I'm very proud of my progress. Every new look live comes with improvement!

WMBF News' webstory

Here's the video!

Fuel Spill at Local Exxon Station

The SC Department of Health and Environmental Control had to flush out a storm water drain after diesel fuel spilled at a Exxon Mobile station in Myrtle Beach on George Bishop Parkway, just off Highway 501.

Horry County Fire Rescue arrived on the scene a little after 5:30 that morning after the tanker's driver said the gas tank caught the curb as he tried to exit the gas station. The truck then began spilling fuel.

Photo Courtesy: thecarconnnection.com

Adam Myrick, spokesman for DHEC, believes the truck lost between 60-80 gallons of diesel from its saddle tank. Myrick said the saddle tank is the fuel tank that helps to power the cab of the truck.

The Exxon station was temporarily closed. It did re-open a few hours after DHEC cleaned-up the spill.

Here's WMBF News' webstory.

I think this was my best Look Live, yet. My writing was tight, I was composed and talked at a good pace. I used a little VO to cover up what I talked about. I'm very pleased with my progress. It also helped shooting this breaking news story after a fresh haircut. :)

Check out the video here!

Oil on Our Shores in SC?

Turns out, if any oil does come our beaches, it's not much to fret about. Even though the threat to oil on these coasts is still months away, state agencies aren't taking any chances.

"DHEC decided to be proactive and get some baseline samples to see what was out there," said Sean Torrens, environmental health manager for the Department of Health and Environmental Control. "[We're] basically looking for oil and references to oil in the water."

Photo Courtesy: wmbfnews.com
Torrens said they took 10 samples up and down the coast, including here in Myrtle Beach near Spring Maid Pier.

"Everything came back at pretty much next to zero," Torrens said. "It was as low as you could read."
At Coastal Carolina's Center for Marine and Wetland Studies, they say they are also watching the spill closely.

Photo Courtesy: wmbfnews.com

"Finding oil in water is not always that unusual," Director Paul Gayes said. "Boats go by, there's other kinds of things that may put oil in it. A baseline is important to give you some kind of sense of what conditions normally are."

Gayes says it would take the oil getting into the Gulf Stream to bring it to South Carolina's coast, adding that the Gulf Stream is well off the Palmetto State's coast, 60-80 miles offshore. Areas like the tip of Florida and Cape Hatteras are not so removed.

We went live from the Spring Maid Pier spot and recorded a Look Live VO/SOT. I'm very pleased with using references as to why I'm where I am and my writing. I rushed my last phrase and my outcue a little too much. I'm working on slowing that down.

WMBF News' webstory

Oil on Our Shores Story Video