What you didn't get to see tonite
So, tonite we just flat ran out of time and had to drop a story at the last minute (about :30 before I went on the air). I'll drop in the story for you to check out below. Ignore the CAPS as that's how we type it into the program where we write our stories.
Little insider tidbit, first.. anytime you see me reading a series of shorter health stories (as opposed to doing one longer one) you should know that I most likely didn't write them. Those are days I work on special reports, but I still need to have a presence in the show. So, the producers have me "front" the health segment, to use the lingo. I usually try and go over the scripts and double check the facts before we hit air.
Okay, here is the story we dropped because of time issues.
HEALTHY TEETH AND GUMS CAN HELP REDUCE THE CHANCE A PREGNANT WOMAN WILL DELIVER HER BABY EARLY.
A STUDY FOUND THAT GINGIVITIS -- THE EARLIEST FORM OF PERIODONTAL DISEASE -- IS A RISK FACTOR FOR NOT ONLY PRE-TERM LABOR, BUT FOR LOW BIRTH WEIGHT.
BUT PERIODONTAL THERAPY REDUCED PRE-TERM BIRTH AND LOW BIRTH WEIGHT RATES BY 68-PERCENT.
RESEARCHERS THINK IT'S BECAUSE BACTERIA FROM THE MOUTH CAN ENTER THE BLOODSTREAM AND ULTIMATELY TRAVEL TO THE BABY.
And this picture is for Michael who wrote me after reading my blog. Sorry for the lousy picture quality, Michael.. it's a camera phone.
What you're seeing is my desk with Joe Donlon sitting in the newsroom in front of "Cam 4" getting ready to do a "cut in" as we call them. Basically anytime you see someone in the newsroom doing a story, just know it's right by my desk.
Got a story idea? Have a thought about what you'd like to see in the health blog? Email me: sstricklen@kgw.com
