BeadforLife on The Newshour

Many thanks to PBS producer Patti Parson, Associate Producer Rebecca Jacobson and the folks at The Newshour with Jim Lehrer for the wonderful story they did on BeadforLife (http://beadforlife.org) on Thursday’s program.  Every time the NGO gets national exposure of this kind the phones ring off the hook and more and more people join the fight against global poverty.  Together we are making a difference and … Continue reading BeadforLife on The Newshour

Trend Setting Iowa

My husband is from Iowa.  His parents live in a town of about 10,000 called Storm Lake in the Northwest corner of the state.  I’ve been going back and forth for many years.  The Iowa I used to see was a conservative, set in its ways kind of place that didn’t really welcome change.  But my view is shifting dramatically.  Iowa voters were prescient with their … Continue reading Trend Setting Iowa

Do The Right Thing

My friend, sportscaster Len Berman, got the news this past week that he was being let go from WNBC.  Len is one of the most talented personalities I know.  He’s been a fixture in New York sports for decades.  He is witty and well respected.  I actually stop what I’m doing when his “Spanning the World” segment comes on during the Today Show.  Len is another casualty in broadcasting’s … Continue reading Do The Right Thing

30 Minute Seder

I love Passover.  The Jewish holiday is meaningful, joyous and delicious.  I look forward all year long to the celebration around the table with friends and family.  What’s not to love about a dinner that lasts all evening and ends with the poignant words “next year in Jerusalem.”  It is always a memorable night.  So imagine my surprise when I saw the advertisement in the … Continue reading 30 Minute Seder

Columbine Revisited

Has it been 10 years already?  The anniversary of the deadly shooting at Columbine High School is less than a month away and as I dive back in to the story I’m flooded with memories of that Tuesday.  I haven’t really thought about Columbine much over the last few years, except on the painful occasions when another disturbed youth goes ballistic and takes it out on … Continue reading Columbine Revisited

Points from Poynter

As a young television producer working at KRON TV in San Francisco I had the opportunity to attend a weeklong seminar at the Poynter Institute in St. Petersburg, Florida.  It was one of the first times I was able to explore my craft with other like minded professionals and learn from some of the best in the business.  Among them was Rod Prince, one of … Continue reading Points from Poynter

Grateful Traveler

I recently got to know a fabulous freelance writer named Jamie Simons who writes the Grateful Traveler article for Peter Greenberg’s blog. Peter Greenberg is the travel expert who is a frequent guest on NBC’s Today Show. I met him a couple years ago when I was producing for him at the Aspen Food and Wine Classic. If you haven’t read his blog you should … Continue reading Grateful Traveler

Rocky Mountain News Blues

I’m not the best headline writer. Mine always seem a bit trite and cute but I know a good one when I see one and today’s headline on the final edition of the Rocky Mountain News tugged at my heart. It said simply “Goodbye, Colorado.” Nothing fancy. Just poignant as hell. Today was the swan song for the 149 year old newspaper and I must … Continue reading Rocky Mountain News Blues

Bob Sevey

As a kid growing up in Hawaii, perhaps the most influential person on the island was KGMB anchor Bob Sevey.  He was our Walter Cronkite.  Our TV set was always tuned to his newscasts in the evening and he and his protegee, Linda Coble, were the reason I went into television in the first place.  Bob Sevey died on Friday but his excellence and legacy … Continue reading Bob Sevey

Twitter to the Chief

President Obama came to Denver today to sign the economic stimulus bill.  He chose the Mile High City because it is on the cutting edge of green technologies he believes will take America into the future.  I attended because I am producing a story on the impact of the economy on public hospitals.  Stimulus dollars are going to provide relief for health care too.  The story is … Continue reading Twitter to the Chief