The newsroom

First Day at Work: Jitters, Girl Power, and Cookies

I'll admit it. I had some first day of work jitters today. I'm a new producer here at WMBF. No matter how prepared, qualified, or confident you are, I feel like it's normal to be just a bit nervous as you walk into a new job.

The first day of work can be full of awkward moments. Awkward silences. Awkward laughs. Awkward jokes to cover up the awkward silences and then followed by awkward laughs. Luckily, today was not that type of day.

I have to say, fitting into WMBF has been easy. It helps to have my two friends/roommates be at the same station. It's nice carpooling into the morning meeting and having people that will "watch your back" per sé. So far, everyone seems friendly and laid back. Even though we're all crammed in together,  everyone jokes about our sardine can-sized offices and looks forward to our spacious cubicles. Who ever thought they'd be excited about cubicles?

Plus, I have an amazing team of Producers surrounding me. You know how women jokingly say, "everything would be so much better if women ruled the world"? Here at WMBF, we're about to find out if that's true. All the producers (that includes Executive Producer and our Associate Producers) are women. If there is any doubt about how great a group of women can work together in a newsroom, I just have one question to ask you. Would a male Executive Producer bring in chocolate chip cookies to the morning meeting? I think not.

So whether it was having my friends as a support system, the chocolate chip cookies, or the smiling faces during the morning meeting, those first day of work jitters quickly dissappeared. I can't wait until our launch.

Starting to Sound Like a Southerner

It was another big day in the WMBF newsroom.  I haven't even been here two weeks, and already I am starting to sound like a southerner.  I actually used "ya'll" as I was talking to some of my co-workers this afternoon.  Now this may not seem like a big deal to those of you who have grown up in the south or who have lived here for some time, but back at home in Pittsburgh, it is a word you do not hear very often.  I guess it's a sign I'm on the fast track to becoming a true southerner.

This morning, our final two producers joined the crew.  Now that the four of us (along with our fabulous associate producers) are together we can really get down to work and make some big decisions about our upcoming newscasts.  Everyone seems to have great ideas and it will be really exciting to see how they all come together.

I'd love to hear your story ideas, too!  Feel free to email me with anything you'd like to see during our newscasts, along with any comments!

Catherine Franklin | cfranklin@wmbfnews.com

Moving Day

My family has arrived in Myrtle Beach!  I drove up to Southern Illinois over the weekend to pack up our 3 bedroom house, load it into a truck, and drive it 800 miles south.  The move went well overall except for my car breaking down in Knoxville, TN on the way up.  Thankfully I was able to get the car to a local dealer and rent a car to get the rest of the way home.  I rented a car trailer to go with our moving truck to pick up the tired car on the way back south.  Things could have been much worse.  Now my family is here and nothing could be better.  Each day we'll get more and more unpacked, making Myrtle Beach feel more and more like home.  

WMBF invades Chesterfield county

On Friday, Michael Maely and yours truly made the two hour drive to Chesterfield county to do a little promotion for the station.  It was a place neither one of us had actually ever visited, but as we later discovered, certainly worth the drive.  I'm not kidding you when I say this, but I think I found the state's very own version of Andy Griffith's "Mayberry."  (Seriously!)

We ran into some of the nicest people you'll ever meet both in Chesterfield and Cheraw.  Just from my observation, everyone appears to know one another.  And stepping foot onto the downtown areas of both places is like a step back in time. 

There's a lot of history in Chesterfield county, and the locals there are quite proud of that history.  Every local we bumped into felt compelled to give us a brief course on that rich history.  For example, did you know that the folks of Cheraw played a major role in South Carolina’s Secession from the Union in the 1860's?   In fact, the first call for secession came during a public meeting held at the Chesterfield County Courthouse.  And it was actually that same courthouse that General William Sherman and his Union troops burned down not long after.

When Michael and I weren't getting our history lesson for that day, we were busy meeting with police chiefs, fire chiefs, public officials in both towns, and the sheriff of Chesterfield county.  To my surprise, law enforcement there is unbelievably nice. So I just want to especially send out a big "thanks" to Cheraw police chief Jay Brooks and Chesterfield County sheriff Sam Parker.  Michael and I really look forward to working with them in the future.  Without EVEN asking, they both gave us their cell numbers and encouraged us to call them in case we ever needed anything.  Let me tell you, as a journalist, all I could think was 'WOW!'  Honestly, I don't know who's nicer: the law enforcement in Chesterfield Co. or Andy Griffith himself :o)

After making the long haul back to Myrtle Beach, I checked my e-mail and already I had received e-mails from the Chesterfield administrator, David Huntley, and a local fire fighter thanking WMBF for visiting their community and how they're looking forward to us coving the news happening in their neck of the woods.

The county's history and everyone's kindness left a lasting impression on me, and I definitely look forward to my next trip to the area!

Nikki Gaskins | ngaskins@wmbfnews.com

Tourist No More

I always wanted to live at the beach, but I never thought it would really happen. So, when WMBF called and offered me a job, I jumped at the chance to not only be part of an amazing new station but the opportunity to make one of my favorite places my home. I’ve now been living in the Grand Strand area for nearly a month and a half. The only problem is, I still feel more like a tourist than a resident. So, this weekend I decided to do something about it.

I decided to do something I have not done in years…go to the library. I love reading, but following the move and getting started with a new job, I haven’t had the money to go crazy at the bookstore. So, I went to the Socastee Public Library on Saturday. It was a great experience. The librarians were very helpful, and I had an armful of books ready to check out in no time at all. I am very proud to say that I now own an Horry County Memorial Library card, which definitely makes me feel a little less like a tourist and more on my way to being a full fledged resident.

For those of you who are wondering, I will be reading a few books in the Calamity Jayne series by Kathleen Bacus. I’ve read one in the series, and loved it. I’m hoping the others I picked up will be just as good. It’s a mystery novel with a little bit of romance and a sprinkle of humor mixed in as well. Once I finish these, I’m not sure what I’ll read next. So, if any of you have some suggestions on some really good books that I should check out, make sure to post your suggestions or email me.

I'll see you at the library!

Jennifer Robinson | jenniferrobinson@wmbfnews.com

Fun & Frolic On Friday Night

If you were at Market Commons last night, you probably spotted our merry band as we had a night out in Myrtle Beach.

We got started with a fine, fine meal at Gordon Biersch Brewery Restaurant, who deserve highest praise for their hospitality and service for a table of -- no kidding -- FIFTEEN.  I must highly recommend both the crab & artichoke dip and the blackened mahi-mahi sandwich.

Afterwards, our group visited the Regal cinema for a showing of WANTED (be sure to check out my review here).  I have to say this is the first time I've ever been to a theater with leather bucket seats that rock back.  AWESOME.

Afterward, the crowd dispersed, but the night was not over for some, as Greg, Meghan, Justin and I headed to Surfside for a frame at the local lanes.

How'd we do?

Well...

I think we're ready for the league, don't you?

Kenny Hitt | khitt@wmbfnews.com

   

Bearing Good Fruit

There’s nothing like local grown fruit and veggies! I shot some video at Myrtle’s Market today and found out the vendors are not just bearing fresh fruit anymore.

I’m talking plants and flowers, jewelry, cheese, organic meat, and even cedar wood furniture. That's when I found out I have to broaden my horizons a bit when I’m assigned to shoot video of the market. I can shoot the fruits and veggies but I can’t miss the other things that attract people too…Though the free samples are a great perk!

Now I can enjoy my fresh peaches while sitting on my hand-crafted porch swing, and looking out at my flowers in my lawn-all of which are from Myrtle’s Market.

I’ll probably visit again because I love supporting the locals here. It’s just another local asset I love about Myrtle Beach. 

Tayleigh Davis I Tayleighdavis@wmbfnews.com

Greetings from South of the Macon-Dixon Line

I'm Kenny Hitt, photographer and live truck operator for WMBF News in Myrtle Beach.  Today marks the end of my first week on the job and it's been educational, stressful, and most of all FUN.

I'm from the coastal plain of Georgia, specifically a small town you've likely never heard of called Sylvester.  It's the self-proclaimed peanut capital of the world and most famously known as the location of the ConAgra Peter Pan peanut butter factory that caused a nationwide salmonella outbreak.  On a more positive note, it's home to PGA Tour pro Sonny Skinner, and the hometown of former LSU runningback Robert Toomer, who amassed nearly 8,000 rushing yards at Worth County High, from which I graduated in 1999.

I have to say that moving here to the Grand Strand has been a largely pleasant experience...save for the 10 hour drive here.  And I have been overwhelmed by the positivity and supportiveness I've encountered here at WMBF and throughout the community.  I look forward to bringing you the best overnight and morning news coverage alongside Nikki Gaskins, for whom I served as photographer while we were on the news staff at our sister station, WALB in Albany, Georgia.  In between video assignments, I'll be sharing my opinions and observations on entertainment, technology, and -- my favorite category -- news of the weird from across the World Wide Web.

Hang on folks...it's gonna be one wild ride.

And now, for your edification and amusement, Broadway At The Beach's famous singing fish.

Kenny Hitt | khitt@wmbfnews.com

The Countdown

Like a lot of you, I'm having to keep up with the daily progress at WMBF via the website.  I think I mentioned a couple weeks ago that I will not be moving down until the end of July.  I thought this day would never come!  My co-anchor and new best friend, Michael Maely, told me the other day that he thinks I'm just pulling everyone's leg about actually moving down to Myrtle Beach.  As I look at the calender today, June 27th, the moving date seems a whole lot closer.  FINALLY!

I suppose it has to do with July knocking on the door (I hear you knocking July, COME ON IN!).   I've been giving the daily "one month until the big day" countdown to everyone I know since June 21th.  I start at WMBF on July 24th, so we are well into the final month.  Okay, not really "well" into the month. I tend to embelish when I'm excited.  However, when it's down to a matter of weeks it seems so close.  I've watched the last year fly by, so I figure if I blink I'll miss the next fews weeks.  I have to tell you, it is a great feeling to be this excited about going to work. 

So for those of you counting...T-minus 26 days!

Danner Evans | dannerevans@wmbfnews.com

The New Karate Kid in Town

"Wax on, Wax Off" said Mr. Miyagi as he was teaching his young trainer in the ways of martial arts.  These words circled in my head yesterday as I traveled to visit a young group of Tae Kwon Do athletes who are traveling to the Junior Olympics to compete in July.  The dedication on these young kids' faces was so inspiring.  While most kids are sitting on the beach during the summer, these kids are training about three hours a week.

The most impressive skill these kids have learned is how to break a board.  I thought to myself, how hard could it be?  I decided to try my luck at board breaking.  I bowed, cleared my mind, and with only a few practice kicks, I finally broke the board in half!  I felt so empowered and I now understand a little bit more about the love of martial arts.  The board now sits on my living room table.

The best part of the story is that the experience is all on camera.  Look for the story when we launch in August!

Laura  "YOUNG GRASSHOPPER"  Thomas | lthomas@wmbfnews.com