by A.man.I

If you asked me what I’d be doing now a year ago, there’s no way I would have predicted this venture into the world of “new media.”  I was just your average (though I like to think I was above average) TV news reporter on the hunt for my next story.

Then last July, I moved to Atlanta from Tampa Florida, where I worked for 8 years.  I started reporting in that market, and grew from a lowly inexperienced reporter trainee, to a veteran go-to general assignment reporter.  From hurricanes, to Terri Schiavo, and Jessica Lunsford, I’ve been there, and done that.

Though I moved to the “A” to work on a citizen journalism show for Black Family Channel, the cable network has “merged” with another network, so now I find myself  independent, without a mainstream outlet to call home.  So what’s next for this traditional news man, who’s found a new voice via the blogosphere?

My latest experience leads me to believe that I may be on the right path.  On Thursday night at the Atlanta Press Club, new media heads, and the traditional, collided in what proved to be a very insightful and progressive conversation on the future of journalism.

A fellow blogger and friend, Grayson Daughters of the SpaceyGraceyReview moderated the panel discussion which included Mark Bauer (wsbtv.com), Lea Donosky (The Atlanta Journal Constitution), Lila King (CNN I-Report), and John Patton (The Port Network). 

It was a very interactive discussion to say the least.  Instead of the audience just listening to the panelists, we were encouraged to join in the conversation.  We talked about the social nature of “new media,” citizen journalism, as well as the challenges, and benefits of blogs, along with issues related to credibility, and public relations. 

Though I was slightly intimidated at first, the bloggers were representin’ (GriftDrift, BeingAmberRhea, & RadicalGeorgiaModerate).  Some of the traditional folks questioned what motivated us to blog.  I explained that journalism is my passion, and I’m making use of this platform to share some  information.  Some didn’t seem to get it.   Susanna Capelouto (Georgia Public Broadcasting) asked, ”So you’re doing it for entertainment?”

I had to bite my tongue.  If you’ve seen my Cali episodes, you’d understand that I grew up watching reporters tell the tale of my community from one side of the lens.  The only time cameras showed up in East Palo Alto was if there was a violent crime.  In the early 90’s EPA was the murder capitol of the nation, and the news did a good job reminding everyone in the S.F. Bay Area of that.   Sure “P.A.” was a stark contrast to the city just on the other side of the ”ramp,” Palo Alto, but we weren’t criminals. 

So, I watched the TV news reports, recorded them, and sneered at the reporters who painted a tainted image of my ‘hood.  From my perspective the stories were sensationalized, and only told one side of the story.  You see both of my parents were college educated.  My father is a lawyer, and my mother attended Stanford University.  The stories of triumph were rarely, if ever told.

I found it slightly ironic that I would fall in love with broadcasting. I traveled south to study video production at the University of Florida, and after graduation, got a job in DC, at WJLA-TV.  I worked on the assignment desk, and then got a job in Tampa where I learned how to do what I watched other reporters do so many times in my city. 

So now, I’m doing it my way.  I started out on blogger last August, but had no idea what I was doing.  Then Leonard Witt (PJNet) showed me the way, and I haven’t looked back.  If you see me with a camara, and I ask you for an interview, don’t be surprized. 

For those of you who recently found My Urban Report, below is the video that started it all.