Backstage

One Year Ago...

This weekend will mark a very special mark in my professional life.  One year ago Saturday, was when I came to Myrtle Beach to interview at WMBF. I'd never been to Myrtle Beach-- or South Carolina for that matter.  I flew in on Friday morning. My first glimpse of Myrtle Beach was when we circled the city & flew in over the beach! It was a windy, rainy day- certainly not "Chamber of Commerce" weather!  We took a quick trip around the city & I remember wondering if this was where I was meant to be!

Matt (our News Director) and I spent a good deal of time talking about our news philosphies and I listened to what he hoped to accomplish. When I first walked into our studios on Frontage Road, there were no walls,  no set, no electricty NOTHING! There wasn't much to the physical location, but I could see the possibilities! 

Nearly a year after that interview, I am still excited about WMBF News & living along the Grand Strand. My husband and I both work for WMBF. We've settled nicely into our home in Carolina Forest and found a wonderful church. We've truly made Horry County our home.  I'm excited about the next year at WMBF News. We've got huge plans for the future... and I can't wait to share them with you!   

Jennifer | jdale@wmbfnews.com

Wacky weather in South Carolina

When I moved to South Carolina, I prayed I would never see another snowflake anywhere past the North Carolina/South Carolina border.

Guess I have some more praying to do.

We're gearing up for Round 3 of the white stuff coming to the Grand Strand and Pee Dee today, and I must say it feels just like a regular news day with the "normal crew," even though its not.

Our executive producer and news director are busy getting our plan of action together so we can bring you the most comprehensive storm coverage as the winter weather rolls into the Grand Strand and Pee Dee.  They've been busy assigning reports to different regions of our viewing area, getting the closings and delays NewsTicker prepared for the rush of closings and delays, along with pushing the latest weather information to the web.

A lot more goes into preparing for poor weather than you may think.  As I'm writing this, Jamie Arnold and Rob Hatchell are sitting over in the weather center looking at the latest computer models and preparing for "cut ins" to keep you - at home - up to speed on the latest predictions for winter weather.  They're hard workers over there, and we're lucky to be staffed with such a talented weather crew.

So.. as we bring you the latest on the storm system ripping through SC, keep us up to date on what YOU are seeing at home.  Shoot us an e-mail with pictures of the winter weather at pics@wmbfnews.com, or if you're a WMBF News Nation member, upload your videos and pictures to our website!

Happy snow day!

Meghan Miller | Web Producer
meghanmiller@wmbfnews.com

My Grandmother's Dressing

I love Thanksgiving. When I was growing up, Thankgiving always seemed to start the same way. My sister and I would always get up early.  We'd grab one of the afghans my grandmother made, and while we were still in our pajamas, curl up on the couch and watch the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. After the parade, we'd go to my grandmother's house. My grandmother would always make turkey, dressing (not stuffing! In Alabama we eat dressing), green beans, sweet potato pie and chocolate cake. No casseroles for her. My grandparents were farmers!  My sister & I would play outside with my cousins until it was time for dinner. It seemed like family members from all over would show up for dinner.

Tomorrow, my family will gather without me.  My sister and I will still watch the parade, except on separate couches hundreds of miles apart.   My grandmother isn't around anymore, but everyone will gather at my Mom's house just across the street. My mom will make all the goodies (except biscuits, she can't make those) my grandmother was known for. Me? I'll be making Thankgiving for my WMBF family!

Yes, for the first time, I will be hosting Thankgiving in my home. Tim, our internet director, will be cooking the turkey. I am going to attempt to make my grandmother's dressing. However, I am worried about success considering one of the directions is "mix it 'til it looks right" .  Jon & I, along with Tim & his wife, have invited everyone from WMBF News that cares to come. WMBF has become my home away from home... its only fitting that the people in the newsroom have become like family.

Happy Thanksgiving!!

Jennifer | jdale@wmbfnews.com

Election Day is winding down

As our Executive Producer, Jennifer Dale, told Kyle Grainger and I today that this is the closest we will get to a "political hurricane," and my oh my, was she right.  This was one of those experiences - as someone in the news and as a US citizen - that I will remember for a LONG time to come.  I can't wait to go home and put pictures and printed out news coverage of tonight in my "broadcasting scrapbook."

Everyone here at the station is exhausted, tired, yet happy and hopeful because we produced and delivered live, local and late-breaking election coverage.  I think that everyone here at the station did a phenomenal job - seeing as how this is literally only our 3rd month on air. 

In those three months, we have launched a state-of-the-art digital/HD station on the opening of one of the most historic Olympic Games in history, have tackled a major tropical storm and have delivered election coverage during one of the largest in national history.

WOW.

Go WMBF News.

When You Know You're Home

I woke up this morning after a good 12 hour rest (that's what happens when you go to bed at 8pm).  I took the dog out, brewed the coffee and sat down to my computer to catch up on some email after a three day weekend.  I opened my inbox to a slew of "Happy Birthday" postings.  Oh no.  I forgot, it's my birthday.  I had to be reminded by a social networking site that yet another year has passed.

I'm kind of taking this one hard.  I'm new to an area, our family is scattered all over and I decided that this was just going to be one of those birthdays I ignored.  I got to work today and it became clear that was not going to happen.  My little extended family here at WMBF remembered -- when I didn't (and I wasn't even here recently to remind them).  I walked into "happy birthdays, "my husband sent flowers to my desk, my co-anchor, Michael, brought cookies and cupcakes, Laura Thomson gave me cholesterol/fat free cotten candy (we are both a little weird about what we eat) and Jennifer Faust (6 and 11 pm director) gave me a WMBF ruler (which I'm pretty sure came from the supply room, but it's the thought that counts). 

In any case, I smiled a huge smile on this birthday that I thought I'd just sweep under the rug.  We have a pretty great support group around here at WMBF News -- one that certainly will not let you forget your scripts, a story, will lend a hand when you are in over your head -- or won't let you forget you are another year older.  I think that is when you finally start to feel like this is home.

A Look 'Backstage'

Most people will probably never get a chance to see a newscast from the studio... all you'll see is the broadcasts we put out over the air, when you're sitting in front of your television.  But I think what goes on behind the scenes could almost make for better ratings for us!

One of the best feelings is going to work, knowing you get along with your co-workers.  On WMBF News Today, we have a great crew and everyone gets along.  It makes for some fun mornings.  Like the other day, after I was fixing my hair in the bathroom, I walked out into the studio to see my co-anchor, Matt Nordin, whispering "10 SECONDS!!!" across the studio to me.  I immediately ran out, put on my mic and was on-air within like 1/2 a second.  Of course, if I did this everyday, it would not be funny; but almost missing the beginning of the show made for a good laugh for us.

Later in the same show, Matt was anchoring from a different set in our studio, when he had to make it back to the desk for the beginning of our 6am hour... he made it, but was a little winded through his intro!

Aside from the near-misses, we are always talking off camera... either about the stories we're covering, what we're planning coming up, or just sharing a laugh.  It makes the mornings so much more bearable, dare I say "enjoyable?!?"  ok,  I enjoy my job!  Hooray!

Now if only there was a way to show all you at home our "backstage" time...

Paula Caruso | pcaruso@wmbfnews.com

House Hunters: Myrtle Beach

Tonight's one of those rare nights I find myself home alone. Between being very busy with WMBF News  & spending the rest of the time with my husband- I don't have a lot of down time. Tonight, however, he's off watching Auburn pound LSU. At least that's what was happening when he left our apartment & I flipped the tv to HGTV.  Appropriately, House Hunters is on.  The show holds particular intrigue for me because we are looking for a house!  We've owned 2 homes since we have been married. The first was a condo, the second a house. I adored our house.  However, from the moment I stepped off the plane for my interview in March, I knew Myrtle Beach was the place for me. So my cute little cottage that we worked so hard to fix up now belongs to someone else.   Jon (that's my husband's name) and I are trying to find a house to truly make the Grand Strand our home. 

Starting today, we are participating in the great compromise.  Jon and I have very different tastes in houses. About the only thing we really agree on is that we want a fenced in yard for our dog. Jon wants a huge garage, I want a formal dining room.  He wants a single story house, I prefer a master bedroom that's upstairs.  So goes the hunt!   If you have any suggestions- send them on!

Jennifer | jdale@wmbfnews.com