KBTV

Watercooler Diaries::Taking the Show on the Road!

About a month ago, I contacted YouTube to inquire if my Managing Editor, Rachael Joyner, and I could attend the Republican Presidential Debates — co-sponsored by CNN and YouTube — set to take place on Nov. 28 at Mahaffey Theater in St. Petersburg, Fla. I subsequently e-chatted with an energetic, intelligent and witty YouTube exec, who shifted me to a lovely gal with a sunny nature. Next thing you know — bingo! — we were offered press credentials! (We’re huge YouTube fans here at KBTV!)

It was three days before launching our new show “Watercooler Diaries,” and I was beginning to walk into walls. No sleep — too much to do. No food — I was shooting a two-parter on boxing. (Rather, I was/would be seen boxing on camera.) I had decided I didn’t want to look like Miss Piggy in my pink boxing gloves ;-(

Ping! It was an e-mail from Rachael. She needed a quick fill-in-the-blank, which involved me deciding on a city in Florida to visit so we could tease our new periodic “Florida in Focus” segment. Rache had already written the descriptor: “‘Florida in Focus’ is a segment that looks at things you’d see only in Florida — whether it’s wacky laws, a midnight sea turtle hatchling hunt or a guide to 36-hours in Miami. Coming soon: 36-hours in [Kate please decide on city … I’m closing this section.] It was very Rachael, I thought, stern but in a gentle, suggesting kind of a way. I think she loathes management, but sadly for her she’s good at it. Well, at least managing me.

I slumped down at my computer, put my head in my hands and willed myself to stop thinking about the raw cookie dough. I was hungry! Didn’t anyone care! Then I thought about Miss Piggy and breathed deeply, picked up the phone and called her. She begrudgingly answered. She had to! We were on deadline … :). (She and I both detest talking on the telephone, which I guess is why we became reporters. Just kidding! :))

“St. Petersburg,” I said. “And no, not the one in Russia. The one on the West Coast! We’ll turn a 36-hours-in-St. Petersburg piece, a la The New York Times travel section!”

“Sounds great!” Rachael said. (Maybe she was just happy I’d finally filled the blank.) She added, “Why St. Pete?”

“We just got approved for press passes for the debates!” I continued to explain that we could do an “advance”-type piece on the debates and run it as a two-part series on Oct. 27 and 29, exactly one month prior to the debates! That way people would know where to stay, where to eat, places to go, and places to see.

We set off for St. Pete on Friday, Oct. 5 for our 36 hours of reportage. Soooo, don’t forget to check in with us in three weeks for the “Florida in Focus: St. Petersburg” two-part series and, OF COURSE, to read the behind-the-scenes story of the two of us spending 36-hours working at warp speed after having spent no more than two to three hours on a clip before. I’ve added some pictures to whet your appetite!

posted by rjoyner @ 7:23 AM