Field Reporting
As a multimedia journalist at WWNYTV, I've been responsible for the creation of at least one news package every work shift. That's a roughly one to three minute story. Throughout my time at 7 News I've become very familiar with how to use a camera, putting together pieces on just about every topic regardless of the weather. Here's a few of the stories I've put together in that time. I hope you enjoy.
Mennonites Rebuild Home
Reporter/Editor
This is the kind of story that shows off that small-town spirit the North Country is known for. Back in May of 2024, a man's home burnt to the ground. It wasn't long before the area's Mennonite community sprang into action and worked to rebuild that home from the ground up. As of today, that man has moved back. I'm happy to have captured how the community rallied around him.
Car Crash Unleashes Bees
Reporter/Photographer/Editor
This is the piece that netted me a New York State Broadcasters Association award. While driving back to the station after filming an entirely different story, I stumbled upon a car crash. Unlike your run-of-the-mill car crash, however, the wreck was coated in bees. The plot thickened with the arrival of a stranger sporting rather niche equipment.
Summit Strike on Fort Drum
Reporter/Photographer/Editor
In November of 2024, I had the chance to cover Fort Drum's (a local military base) "largest-ever multi-domain training operation." There was way too much for me to cover on my own, so the story I put together focused on artillery exercises. I got to get up close and personal with howitzers and a HIMARS (High Mobility Artillery Rocket System). Since the exercises happened so fast, I decided to bust out my phone to get another angle on them in addition to what I shot on my camera. I also got to play around with slow motion.
Theft at the Transfer Station
Reporter/Photographer/Editor
During the fall, Lewis County officials contacted the station explaining troubles they'd been having with trash. At the county's transfer station, where folks drop off their garbage for a fee, staff had noticed an influx of people leaving without paying, and they wanted to get the word out there. Since we put out the piece, those troubles seem to have subsided.
Sewage in the Black River
Writer/Editor//Researcher
This was an investigative piece that I received a "Syracuse Press Club" award for back in early 2023. By combing through documents, I learned that the city of Watertown regularly pumped millions of gallons of sewage and rainwater into a nearby river. It was done to prevent the city's wastewater treatment plant from being overwhelmed during extreme weather events. At this time, the city is working on a revised storm drainage system to alleviate the issue.
Slugs Terrorize Gardens
Reporter/Photographer/Editor
Here's an example of a pretty run-of-the-mill package. Cornell Cooperative Extension reached out to the station, aiming to warn folks about the risks slugs posed to their gardens. We'd seen an influx in the malicious mollusks thanks to a rainy season. The people I spoke to shared a somewhat unorthodox approach to subduing the slugs, and it made for a rather entertaining piece.
Murder in the Building
Reporter/Photographer/Editor
This is by far the most serious piece on here. Homicides are relatively rare in Watertown, so when they happen, they're a big deal. This particular homicide just so happened to take place in my apartment complex at the time. Since I had key access, the station sent me to speak to neighbors and state police on the scene.
Inside an Organ
Reporter/Photographer/Editor
Here's an example of a human-interest story. It tells the tale of a team of organists, one young, one old. This piece was a ton of fun to put together. I got to play around with a lot of natural sound and even climb into a massive church organ myself while the pair worked to tune it. Thankfully I didn't end up with tinnitus.
Veteran Aids Hurricane Victims
Reporter/Photographer/Editor
This piece took me to the local Sam's Club, where a retired veteran was gathering water for Hurricane Helene victims. Whenever I can, I try to find a way to incorporate national news into our show through a local lens. This was a really heartwarming way to do it. After this piece aired, the veteran made a trip down to North Carolina. I did a follow-up story with him afterwards.