I never had a captivating answer for the question, “What do you want to be when you grow up?” because “Storyteller” wasn’t exactly a profession. Or, so I thought. My 8-year-old self would be proud of the stories I’ve told over the last decade, though. Through words or images, off the cuff or premeditated, in front of the camera or behind it, I tell stories for a living. And it’s the best job in the world.
Over the last 12+ years, I've covered high school, college, professional, and Olympic sports as a member of a television and digital production crews in roles ranging from replay operator, to technical director, to director/producer, to on-air talent. Every live event is a story writing itself in real-time, and my job -- whatever the medium -- is to communicate that story as effectively as possible.
I've told stories on a more comprehensive level, too, in written feature stories for birdsontheblack.com, or in documentary-style television features for a regional cable show I helped create called "Inside Sports."
I had the pleasure of joining the NBC Olympics team for two consecutive Winter Games, with a recurring role as Graphics Producer for portions of NBCOlympics.com's digital coverage (coverage that won a 2014 Sports Emmy for Outstanding New Approaches – Sports Event Coverage in 2015).
My coverage of Olympic-level figure skating continues to fill up the fall and winter, acting as technical producer and lead streaming producer on site for regional and sectional qualifying competitions, as well as content producer for US Figure Skating's live pre/post game show -- "Ice Desk -- at major, elite competitions in the States.
That 8-year-old me who would be proud of my profession? She'd also be in absolute awe of the digital series I produced with Olympic legend Scott Hamilton. (The 33-year-old version of me is pretty in awe of that, too, if I'm being honest.)
More than ever before, there is a platform and an outlet for everyone who has a voice. Standing out in a digital-content-rich world is a constant challenge, and one I continue to explore at great depth. Be it my own digital series -- Bird Seeds, covering the St. Louis Cardinals -- or via podcasts for the auditory audience, there's never an end to the creative and compelling ways stories can be told.
On air or off, in print or in video, the goal has always been the same: identify compelling stories, communicate them to an audience, and utilize the platform to give a voice to a story that deserves to be heard.
Over the last 12+ years, I've covered high school, college, professional, and Olympic sports as a member of a television and digital production crews in roles ranging from replay operator, to technical director, to director/producer, to on-air talent. Every live event is a story writing itself in real-time, and my job -- whatever the medium -- is to communicate that story as effectively as possible.
I've told stories on a more comprehensive level, too, in written feature stories for birdsontheblack.com, or in documentary-style television features for a regional cable show I helped create called "Inside Sports."
I had the pleasure of joining the NBC Olympics team for two consecutive Winter Games, with a recurring role as Graphics Producer for portions of NBCOlympics.com's digital coverage (coverage that won a 2014 Sports Emmy for Outstanding New Approaches – Sports Event Coverage in 2015).
My coverage of Olympic-level figure skating continues to fill up the fall and winter, acting as technical producer and lead streaming producer on site for regional and sectional qualifying competitions, as well as content producer for US Figure Skating's live pre/post game show -- "Ice Desk -- at major, elite competitions in the States.
That 8-year-old me who would be proud of my profession? She'd also be in absolute awe of the digital series I produced with Olympic legend Scott Hamilton. (The 33-year-old version of me is pretty in awe of that, too, if I'm being honest.)
More than ever before, there is a platform and an outlet for everyone who has a voice. Standing out in a digital-content-rich world is a constant challenge, and one I continue to explore at great depth. Be it my own digital series -- Bird Seeds, covering the St. Louis Cardinals -- or via podcasts for the auditory audience, there's never an end to the creative and compelling ways stories can be told.
On air or off, in print or in video, the goal has always been the same: identify compelling stories, communicate them to an audience, and utilize the platform to give a voice to a story that deserves to be heard.