Hindsight is 20/20

Please note: This is not an "ego" post. Those who know me know I try to be humble about what I do for a job. Believe me, there are a lot of better reporters out there. Keep reading. You'll see the point very soon.

As noted in a previous post, I received the 2003 Alabama Associated Press Best TV Reporter award for some work I did in Tuscaloosa (I tried out for student AP awards, too. I was later told I'd been chosen for the pro award, so they passed me over). I was in my first year of television, and this honor was noticed by a couple of gentlemen in Huntsville, AL.

I was approached at the AP banquet by Kevin Osgood and... ummmm... I can't remember his name. Osgood is the news director at WHNT-19. The other guy is... ummmm... all I can remember is he interviewed me after Osgood did. It's neither here nor there.

Anyhoooo... I was invited to Huntsville. I was two months from graduation at Bama, so naturally I was testing the waters. The interview went very well. Osgood finished his interview with me, took me around the station, introduced me to the GM and even let me give input at a meeting. After all this, the other guy sat me down and grilled me. I must have made a good impression because Osgood took me back into his office and said, "I have the perfect spot for you. I have two tapes on my desk. You are one of my two finalists."

I was to be assigned to the Shoals bureau in Florence, AL. The plan was laid out from Osgood, the GM and everyone else. Everyone that met me that day said, "We'll see you in a couple of months! Welcome to 19!"

Those two months passed. Phone call after phone call, e-mail after e-mail... It was horrible. I was closing in on graduation and Osgood still hadn't given me a straight answer since my trip to Huntsville. I had two more job offers come in, so I pressured him. Still... no straight answer. Finally, the week before my interview at WTVM, Osgood calls: "We have an applicant from a sister station. I have to give him first shot."

Like that, my first chance at Huntsville was gone. No problem. Four other job offers came, and I decided WTVM was the best fit for Amy and I. I've not been disappointed since.

Why this long post on Huntsville? Read this article: WHNT report on WAFF makes interesting subject.

As I mentioned in the title... hindsight is 20/20. I'm glad I didn't go to WHNT. In my opinion, that's pretty low. It's a childish jab. There are ways to do business, and that's not one of them.

The fact WAFF is WTVM's sister station is beside the point. I have friends I worked with (both in Columbus and Tuscaloosa) at that station. They're very good people. It's just like here. I like everyone I've met from WRBL and WSFA (I used to work in production at WRBL many moons ago, too).

They try to make a living just like I do. Yeah, we compete. Doesn't every company? But, keep a good relationship with people. You never know who you'll work with down the road, or who you'll need. Most importantly, you never know who you'll call "friend."