KBTV

Watercooler Diaries::The Launch

I had been teetering on a dock on the Intracoastal in three-digit-degree heat, being devoured by mosquitoes, sweating through pancake makeup, shouting over leaf blowers and skirmishing with squalls for six months. I was windblown, worn out and beginning to suffer what felt like early onset Alzheimer’s. I was so blown out that each day it was becoming more difficult to conjuring up one, single original thought. In the middle of a sentence — either spoken or in my head — I’d suddenly fire expletives at a chopper whirling overhead, eat a large hunk of my freshly sprayed hair or get splashed by a cigarette boat speeding by.

It was time to move inside.

Luckily for the staff (and in particularly my producer and cameraman, Barry), it seems everyone else thought it was time for us to move inside, too.

OK, Kate, I thought. It’s time to actually listen to feedback. My Webmaster, Jason, had gently mentioned to me at a staff meeting about a month before that he thought I might be a little “stubborn.” After processing the notion that this might indeed be the case, we all decided that I should start wearing a sign around my neck for our weekly staff meetings. It read: “STOP ME IF I’M BEING STUBBORN.”

Hence, our new show “The Watercooler Diaries” was born! And this is what we’re offering up to quench your thirst for content:

Instead of posting every day, we’ll be posting new episodes three times a week — Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday. And on those off days you can get your KBTV fix with new blog posts.

Don’t fret over our new three-times-a-week schedule either. We’ll actually be bringing you more of the content you viewers requested, with on-camera interviews, on-location reports, and, yes, we’ll be hearing from people just like you with man-on-the-street interviews.

And the best part is you don’t have to go anywhere. We’re still at KBTVonline.com! But we’ve made a few improvements. Now when you visit us on the Web you can leave comments and subscribe to our weekly videos. That’s all on KBTVonline.com

We’ll also be launching several new segments. Here’s a sneak peek at a few.

Health Report: This periodic segment will feature new scientific breakthroughs, wacky research on health and the human psyche and news to help you keep a healthy mind and body. In our first episode, next Tuesday, find out why people can’t help but curse. Scientists say we’re hardwired to do it.

Entrepreneur of the Month: This segment is back and even better. Airing the first Tuesday of every month, it will feature new inventions and ideas that are changing lives and the innovative people making headlines for them. Check out our upcoming piece about David Poolay from the Momentum Project airing Nov. 1.

Florida in Focus: This segment 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 is 36-hours in St. Petersburg, the site of the Republican National Debates.

Reality KBTV: It’s reality TV only a whole lot better. Follow me as I go parasailing, skydiving, crocodile wrestling, basically all those things you always wanted to do but never had the nerve. In Thursday’s episode I’ll be heading out of the office and into the boxing ring.

Catch all this and more on “The Watercooler Diaries” on KBTVonline.com. We look forward to reading your comments, and don’t forget to subscribe!

posted by rjoyner @ 6:17 PM