They always say it's hard to teach an old dog new tricks. I never thought I'd see the day when I became that old dog. I started in this business 14 years ago at the young age of 16. I was a teen news reporter in my hometown of New Orleans. Every station I've worked for, I've walked in, not just being the new reporter but the young one wanting to do liveshots all the time, and embracing all the newest trends in our business.

Well, Sometime, in the past four years I became a more veteran member of the 13 News team. Today I sat in my office talking to our executive producers Doug Wieder and Dawn Stovall. We talked about "the olden days" of how we covered stories "back then" a mere four years ago when Doug and I first started as newbies. News is constantly evolving and constantly changing. We are always trying new ways to bring you the story and new techniques to ultimately provide you with more information and provide it to you faster. Of course we strive to make sure it's accurate and it's news you can trust.

One of the greatest "gets" in our business is having a really interesting story, that people will certainly be talking about, and being the only one with it. You'll often hear us talk about exclusive stories, details, stories you will see only on 13 News.

I always work to bring exclusive stories to the table. I always get a tinge of excitement as the words exclusive would hit air, knowing that my competitors would be watching wondering what we had scooped them on this time.

Well, theres something else we've noticed. More people are getting their news in places other than on the air. Infact, you're online right now reading this, and likely you often get your news online. More people I meet in the grocery store are telling me "I don't have time to watch the news, I'm sorry." rather then the usual "We watch you every night!" So, we are adapting with the times and pledging to bring you breaking news online on wvec.com. We want to be your source for news, wherever you prefer to receive it.
We'll send e-mails to your work or blackberry the minute we confirm a story, it's our way of staying with the times.

Now, you'll get it, as we get it, but so will our competitors. It means I won't get that tinge of excitement as much when I hear that word "exclusive" on the air. This old dog doesn't like not hearing it as much. But as someone who does carry their blackberry around all day -- and loves surfing the net. I embrace it.

As my grandfather used to say, "Times are a'changin" and this old dog is changing with them.

I broke my story today on wvec.com, only to hear the competition read my story online and were scrambling to catch up. Of course when the clock strikes 6pm we'll both have it. But that's ok --- hopefully you saw it here first!

P.S. Notice I'm blogging more these days --- see, I can adopt to the technology changes. Now if only someone can explain to me this ipod craze???

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