When it comes to In Person, one thing we’re never short on is talk. The very point of In Person is to find a comfortable place to sit and then talk until you stop. Quite literally.

   The format of the series is standard. Air a two-to-three minute story during the 5 or 6 PM news, and embed the entire sit-down interview on our website. But if you watch WQOW News 18, you probably already know that.

   You’re probably aware that we’ve had some great conversations with some of the area’s most fascinating people.

   You’re also aware that In Person has a double meaning. “In”as in hip, and as in “up close and personal”. You’re probably savvy that I recorded each In Person without edit breaks at a leisurely pace in a quiet room, football bleacher, or prairie yard-garden, with umbrella lights glowing and a professional news camera that costs almost as much as your new car humming away beside my ear. What a professional thrill.

   But here’s what you don’t know about In Person.

   If you haven’t actually taken the time to listen to the interviews in completion, then you’re missing out. You’ve missed Lisa Aspenson’s take on fine dining. You’ve missed Tom Barland talking crime and punishment. You’ve missed Jake Leinenkugel making fun of “fruited beer” — before the birth of Berry Weiss. You’ve missed The Bean Queen and the Queen of Pies.   

   Honestly, you’ve missed what is some of the most pertinent and in-depth journalism that the Chippewa Valley has to offer.

   Quick now: Who was the first Hmong school principal in the United States?

   Who are “Gut Girl” and “Data Dude”? Why will soluble dietary fiber change your life? What local Amerasian is helping stitch back together through wealth of spirit and sheer personal tenacity what a nightmarish war ripped asunder? When does the sequel to Legacy hit the shelves? And why is Mickey Rizzi a hero?

   The next installment of featured interviews is set to air beginning September 20^th. They’ll be a regular Monday night fixture well into November.

   Once again, there’ll be nine individuals featured. Unless I get laryngitis, decide to sit down with an entire sports team, or get the urge to converse with a tenth person.

      Every In Person interview has four rules:

1. Each In Person is selected because of her or his remarkable and unique contributions to the advancement of culture in the Chippewa Valley.
2. The guest dictates the discussion. I just get her or him started.
3. There are no written questions. Ever. I see it as my professional challenge to ask intelligent questions inspired by the immediate conversation.
4. Though you hear my voice humming in your ear, you’ll never see me in front of the camera or find the conversation disrupted by a post-recorded reporter voice track (I guess that makes me the Behind-the-Scenes Person. Or the Invisible Camera Dude). Our goal is to squeeze in as much of the guest as we possibly can into the time allotted.

5. The only time I edit the raw footage is if I sneeze, stutter, or my cell phone rings, or the conversation exceeds 35 minutes and my Interbet Director says I have to trim or the system will overload and crash under its own weight.

   And BTW, In Person has a triple meaning. Each of our “In Persons” has opened up, revealed her or himself to a news camera, microphone, and shown the courage to field personal questions about who she or he is and how it all came to be that way.

   I promise you, you will want to catch this next round of intriguing interviewees – they’re diverse, they’re smart, they’re good on camera, and they have something important to say.

   When we in the newsroom dreamed up In Person we knew it would be an exciting venue. We’ve debated the names of dozens of worthy individuals, and though we can only include a few each season, we in journalism are aware that every person has a unique story to tell. About roots and origins. Involving poignant or entertaining stories. Highlighting truths and perspectives.

   Listen in on the conversation, You’ll see you don’t have to be Sherry Yukel, Mike Perry, Nick Meyer, or Kaying Xiong Vue to be in the loop.

Posted under Artist? Scientist? Philosopher? Camera Guy?

   As of November 2010, I’ll have been working in Eau Claire TV for 23 years.   

   That might sound like a long time, but really…you have no idea…

   When I started in news, The Cosby Show was the number one TV program, women wore “big hair” and men wore mullets,  ”Faith” (performed by George Michael) was atop the pop charts, and Amie Winters was three years old.

   Man time sure does fly! Kind of like a C-130…

   I swear I’m no more obsessive-compulsive than the next artist-scientist-philosopher-camera guy. Or the next artist-scientist-philosopher-camera guy. Or the next artist-scientist-philosopher-camera guy after him. Or the artist-scientist-philosopher-camera guy after that. Or…(sorry! Got to get that fixed!…) but one day I wondered just how many reporters I’d worked with over the years.

   So I made up a list.

   To the best of my recollection, that total is currently 127.

   I like to relate (whether it’s accurate or not) that I was the videographer when Judy Clark produced her first TV news package. I knew Rob Kreibich and Pat Kreitlow– before they were politicians, Craig Cushon before he reported for the Milwaukee Brewers, and Diana Alvear before she owned Chicago.

    I have witnessed the passage of almost 60 news, sports, and weather anchors during that time, and the deaths of Cindy Schott, Jim Riggs, and John Hoffland, all of whom I’ve worked with “in the field.”

  I have enjoyed working with many of the people on my list, but not all. The best of them were good company, gifted journalists, and lasting friends — the worst of them treated me like a taxi driver…or a Sherpa.

   It seems that every few years there’s a complete turnover in the newsroom staff. After a few years, reporters gain the requisite experience to move on to bigger, better, and  greener ($$$) markets, or they change professions.

   The current staff at WQOW is a young (as always) and hard-working (as ever) bunch. The women are mostly blonde, the men often accidentally don the same color ties or shirts. You’d think after this many years I’d have seen it all, grown tired of the routine, be burnt out on this news scene…but you’d be mistaken.

   Biggest Reasons That I Am Still in Love with My Job After 23 Years:

1. I’m too simple to know better.
2. I’m a hopeless romantic at heart.
3. I’m faithful as a beagle.
4. 17 pound cameras are lighter now than they were 23 years ago.
5. They now make viewfinders in color!
6. No more “White Out”
7. Sawdust City Days is never the same twice.
8. Videography is art, and art is life.
9. Creative license
10. Amie and Doug.

   You see, I am responsible for, among other things, helping to produce two series: Grillin’ With Doug (which just wrapped up for the summer) and Amie About Town (which kicks off its “second season” on Thursday, September 9^th).   

   Faithful viewers are aware that Doug and Amie each figure prominently into one of these two projects while casual viewers will eventually deduce the same from the presence of their respective names lodged in the titles. (Oh! That Doug! …That Amie!)

   What’s great about Doug and Amie is that they are like Gumby or performers in a Chinese acrobat troupe: they pose whichever way you bend them. If you ask Doug to dance or sing or reel in a license plate in front of a rolling camera he does it! If you ask Amie to glue a donut to a box, drive down the street and “wave at herself”, or pretend to devour a breakfast that would daunt a pro football lineman she does it! These guys are such great sports! They’re real troopers, and they make my job so easy!

   Seriously – know how I judge a good young journalist?

   Seriously How Steve Judges a Good Young Journalist

1. Doesn’t take herself too seriously. Saves it for when she’s the 6 PM anchor (Sorry Jerry! Couldn’t resist!).
2. Doesn’t take herself too lightly. She’s a professional after all, and the 6 AM anchor!
3. Has a resilient sense of humor/Laughs at all Steve’s jokes.
4. Doesn’t argue with the photojournalist of 23 years.
5. Is a quick study.
6. Knows that “sound” sets the stage, video is king, and that you write to both.
7. Lets the subject and the “nats” do the talking.
8. Isn’t too good to take advice or to learn from her mistakes.
9. Isn’t afraid to take professional risks/ is willing to challenge expectations.
10. Brings Bavarian crème donuts to work.

   Honestly, it’s that simple. The fact that Amie and Doug trust me with their professional careers never ceases to humble me…or scare me. But if you’ve seen the product, you’d agree with me that both of them are courageous, fun-loving, real, genuine, charming, talented and getting better all the time. As they hit their professional stride they’ll come into their glory, and I can say I was there to see it all happen! That and they’ll land a job in Minneapolis. (Sigh)

   …Their gain, my loss…  

   Meanwhile here I am, still making news – just like way back in 1987, when Doug Michaels was little more than a sun dog in his Daddy’s eye. The difference between then and now?

   Back then wasn’t nearly as much fun…

Posted under Artist? Scientist? Philosopher? Camera Guy?