Is it just me or is that optimism I see? 2008 for me was great, but for the rest of the country, seemingly not so great.

A lot of people lost money and jobs and with the two, a sense of hope was taken.

What I have noticed in this New Year is that many people, even those in the media, are ready to embrace something better.

And as there will most likely be more stories about layoffs and down days on Wall Street, I think in general, people are ready to move on.

Posted under Newsroom

Before coming to KTIV I had always wanted to work in TV. It was the dream job, but one thing that I have found is that the news business is just that, a business. All of us, whether the title is reporter, anchor, producer, director, we’re all in this business because of a passion that we have for what we are doing, but at the same time, this is our means of support and security. This is a very transient business and different personalities are always coming in and out of the station doors. That’s what makes this business so special. You have lots of different personalities working together to achieve the same goals. It’s a very unique feeling to be in a creative field that combines writing, video and sound in such an informative way.

Posted under Newsroom

You may not recognize her last name but Marla Stroman had been Marla Harris. The mother who lost both her girls one-year ago today by the hands of their step-father and Marla’s then husband, Larry Harris. He’s the guy that allegedly killed the girls over a “spell gone bad”.

I interviewed Marla today in front of the home where her girls were slain. Just seeing the hurt in her eyes makes you cry yourself. The only other times I’ve cried while working is at soldiers’ funerals.

My heart goes out to Marla Stroman. I wish I would have never met her or have heard of Alysha and Kendra… that would mean her girls would be alive today.

I also wish I would have known them, they sounded like wonderful, fun-loving little girls.

I also got more insight to the hell Marla has been through this past year.

Marla was the only mother, Larry Harris’ 3-year old son knew. She was to adopt him in towards the end of January in ’08. The day her girls died, the state took the little boy away from Marla. He’s been adopted by another family. And she’s been ordered to never see him again. Since he was in the home at the time of the killings, officials say it would be too hard for him to forget if he had contact with Marla since that is the one thing connecting the tragedy.

Larry Harris’ little brother lives near-by. He wants his brother to go to prison for the rest of his life. He helps Marla make it through tough times. He went to clear the snow off Kendra and Alysha’s gravesites so Marla could visit the girls on Christmas. He told me he never saw this evil side to Larry… the killings came as a complete shock.

A complete shock to everyone it seems, but Marla did tell me that 2 weeks before their murders, Larry said to her that he could hurt her in the worst way possible without even touching her. Marla says she thinks he knew exactly what he was talking about.

Marla is in the process of forgiving Larry so she can be at peace. But she says she wants him to get the maximum sentence if the jury finds him guilty.

Many people think/say that reporters are heartless. That we love when people cry on camera. I didn’t love my job today. In fact, I didn’t like it at all. It makes me sad, depressed and angry. But I am happy to give the victim’s a voice. Because without the media no one besides family and friends would stop to remember Alysha and Kendra and I guess that’s how I get through a tough day like today. Although I can’t imagine the “tough days” Marla has endured and will continue to undergo for years to come.

Posted under Newsroom

To my surprise, over the past few years I have been in Sioux City I have interviewed a lot of prominent people.  Some of those include White House Press Secretary Dana Perino, NBC’s Tom Brokaw,  Presidential hopefuls Barack Obama and John McCain, Senator Hillary Clinton, and USA Today Founder Al Neuharth.

I remember my first interview with a very prominent person like it was yesterday.  My friend called me from the University of South Dakota and said CBS Newsman Bob Schieffer is going to be on campus because he is receiving the Al Neuharth Award for Excellence in the Media, from the University of South Dakota and the Freedom Forum.  He said you should try to do an interview with him!  I immediately picked up the phone and called the public relations department to try and get a one-on-one interview.  At that time they told me they would look into it, but couldn’t guarantee anything.  Several days later I received a call back and was informed that I was one of a few journalists who did get the interview with Mr. Schieffer.  I was so excited and nervous at the same time, but the interview wasn’t for a couple of weeks.

Several weeks later the day finally had come and I was so nervous to do the interview, but I did do my homework and felt well prepared with great questions.  I remember getting a call from one of my “elderly” friends back home, and she told me, “Adam don’t be nervous you’ll be fine, and just remember he puts on his pants the same way you and I do…One leg at a time.”  I thought wow that was an interesting way of looking at it.  Needless to say the interview went great!  I was able to get a great story out of it, learn a lot about the news industry, and get my first interview with a nationally recognized person under my belt.  To this day I have a book signed by Bob Schieffer and remember some great advice he gave me.  He told me, “Adam…Wherever the story is go there…Ask great questions…Get both sides of the story…And report the facts!”  He went on to tell me that the facts are the most important thing in a news story and don’t stray from that.

The second prominent interview I conducted was with NBC Newsman Tom Brokaw.  I remember many people saying how he is from Yankton South Dakota and graduated from the University of South Dakota.  That ended up being true, and when one of his professors passed away he came back for the funeral and memorial.  Doc Farber inspired many people at the University for many years including Tom Brokaw.  I remember standing outside the church the Saturday of the memorial and here comes Tom Brokaw walking across the street.  I remember he just walked up no big motorcade or limo’s just Tom.  It was so neat to see him in person because I had watched him on television for so many years when he was the Anchor on Nightly News.  He gave me a great interview and some great advice for my own career as well!  He said take one step at a time and learn from each experience that comes my way.

During the 2008 Iowa Caucuses I was able to interview all of the presidential candidates.  I was amazed they just kept coming and requesting media coverage.  During that time I told my parents what was going on and they were anxious to hear everyday who I had interviewed and what they were talking about.  When I first interviewed Senator Barack Obama he was new to the national scene, and told me he wanted to get to know the people of Iowa.  He was convinced that’s how he was going to get ahead in the race.  Senator John McCain wasn’t very popular in Iowa, and I remember reporting on how his campaign was having a bit of trouble in the beginning.  When I interviewed him about mid-stream before the Caucuses he told me that he was going to carry on his campaign and that was that.  Needless to say he did pull out the Republican Party’s nomination and is now very popular just as Obama is.

Last but certainly not least, I am very excited about everyone that I get to interview prominent or not, because I would like to think I learn a great deal from everyone I come in contact with.  Some of those people I learn the most from, are the “little guys.” Those who you wouldn’t think have a lot to say, they may not be in prominent roles in society, and you would never think of asking information from.  I really enjoy interviewing “everyday” people because I think everyone has something to bring to the table in this world and it’s very interesting listening to the lessons others pass along.  I remember interviewing a single mom several years ago who applied to the Salvation Army that Christmas to receive gifts.  I always remember her telling me if that application isn’t accepted her kids won’t have a Christmas.  The application was accepted and she did get the Christmas for her kids.  Or the family whose house was broken into before Thanksgiving, and their turkey along with money they had saved was all stolen.  I remember they ended up going to a families house for the holiday, and the person was later arrested.  So you can see through my job I get to interview a lot of people and I each and everyone that I have done have made me a better person and a better journalist!

Posted under Newsroom

The rumor is true in the broadcasting industry anything can happen at anytime and we have to be there to cover it, but are we (journalists) always prepared?  I first came to Sioux City in 2005 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Mass Communications, and little television reporting experience.  As one professor of mine once said there’s no experience like the “school of hard knocks.”  Meaning I received a great foundation in college, but some of the best experience is on the job, and there’s only one way to get that. Hard work every single day!

No doubt I received a top notch education from Colorado State University Pueblo, but after about a year in the business I decided to pursue a Master’s Degree.  Needless to say I found a program (Interdisciplinary Studies Program) at the University of South Dakota, which really suited my needs and would better prepare me to be really great journalist.  So over the next two years I took classes such as: Trial and Evidence, Political Campaigns, Journalism Seminars, and other classes.  I found where these classes helped me understand my stories, therefore enabling me to ask better questions of those I am interviewing.  For example if I cover a homicide I now understand the “trial and evidence” process better than I did before.  It’s easier for me to follow a trial than before, and I really have found where I enjoy it more.  I feel I better understand how police officers have to investigate a crime, and why a judge made a decision in a case the way they did.

My political studies at the U… Really helped me during the 2008 Iowa Caucuses as well.  My education allowed me to be more prepared and asked better questions of the people and presidential candidates I interviewed.  What an exciting time for me in my career, and it was really an experience to share with my family back home in Colorado as well.  They’re always amazed at the people I am able to interview because of my job. 

So here I am about three years into my career and I have really enjoyed the opportunities that have come my way.  From interviewing presidential candidates Senator Barack Obama and Senator John McCain to White House Press Secretary Dana Perino I continue to learn something new everyday, and become more educated for the future. 

Who knows where my job will take me, but I do know through my experience here at KTIV and my education I certainly can’t go wrong.

Posted under Newsroom

It’s been a long and tough Holiday season for our area when it comes to fires.  I can’t remember a time when we’ve had so many house and business fires.  It seems like whenever the phone rings, it’s work saying there is another fire that we need to cover.  I think it’s great that the fire departments and volunteer firefighters are so willing to help out at a time when tragedy strikes a family!  It’s amazing how they can stay out in the frigid cold temperatures to battle the blaze.  Especially at three and four o’clock in the morning, talk about dedication and commitment, that is it.  It’s also refreshing to know that fireman are talking with people on how to stay safe.  Those include things like changing batteries on smoke and carbon monoxide detectors, check electrical outlets for overload, and don’t fall asleep with candles on.

Posted under Weblogs