On the News Desk

I’ve been on the news desk for almost 10 years at CBS4 News.  By now it’s routine and instinctive on how to cover big breaking news events.   First it’s the adrenaline and the rush of semi-controlled chaos as I work to confirm information, move news crews, keep the newsroom informed of every development, etc.  Eventually my silent thoughts of “is this really happening?” creep in and are later followed up by the emotions and thoughts everyone at home watching the event unfold have ha...
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A few minutes before the 10pm newscast started on a night in January I answered the phone and found myself talking to a woman threatening suicide.

The call didn’t start out that way. The caller wanted to leave a tip about a story we had tried to work in November. I could tell she was very upset and her story sounded…well, honestly, crazy. I have taken many conspiracy theory calls, calls from people claiming to have been implanted with a microchip by the government, and yes, even calls fr...
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It seems though I may have programmed the producers too well.  I’ve written how I proudly wear the Dream Killer Tiara as I often have to tell producers they can’t have desired live shots because logistically they’re just not possible. Everyone knows though that I, and the others on the news desk, work hard to make all the requests come true.  

So I was quite surprised yesterday when a producer cancelled a live shot without even talking to me about a way to make it happen. "You’ve go...

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“I’m in Longmont. Have you received any calls on lights in the sky?  My wife and I and two or three others saw this light that looked like a shooting start until it split into two and then crisscrossed each other until the lights faded out!” 

The caller went on to explain more about the lights.  He said Longmont Police had said the lights were from pyrotechnic skydivers but that he didn’t believe it.  I told him that I couldn’t confirm that but there was a group of pyrotechnic sky...

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“CBS4 News this is Misty.”

“I don’t understand why you media won’t ask Obama the hard questions on why we’re still in Afghanistan.  No one wants to be there.  I want you to ask…” The caller went on with question after question.  I tried to interrupt a couple of times, but wasn’t heard. 

Finally he took a breath.  “Sir, I can’t ask these questions for you.  I…”

He cut me off, “Don’t sass me young lady.  I was talking.  I know what you can do.  You’re the med...

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I found myself explaining to a woman over the phone how to share a link on her facebook page tonight.  Then I found myself kicking myself for the internal sigh I had when the woman asked me to her.  The conversation ended with her crying and with me holding back my own tears.

The woman called to ask if there was a way to get a copy of a story that the station aired.  She was watching it on her computer and wanted a copy for her and her mom.  I started to explain that the newsroom administrat...

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“Misty, I blame you!” exclaimed the producer half in jest half in frustration.  “All these weird truck problems are all you!” 

“Yep, that’s me.  I caused the tire to go flat,” I responded with a laugh.

Sometimes when it seems all is going wrong, all you can do is make a joke out of it as you work to make sure the viewer would never know what obstacles with which you’re dealing.  Tonight it was a flat tire on a live truck.  The truck was already in position for the 5pm newsc...

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Monday night (Nov. 2) after 6 p.m. I heard a call to respond to a stabbing in Jefferson County. Several agencies were called to send crews, including K-9, set up a perimeter to search for suspects. Immediately my new antennas went up and I was on alert. I had few crews – let me rephrase – NO crews, available to send to just check out the scene. I needed information and I needed logistic plans A – D.

I waited a few minutes to give dispatchers enough time to do their jobs before I bothered...

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I noticed last night as I was leaving that there was a bowl with a stick of butter in it on the desk behind the assignment desk. I don’t remember the exact phrase I said, but as I grabbed my coat and saw it I exclaimed something like, “seriously? Is that butter on the desk?” Then I walked away.

I figured the owner of the butter would take care of it in the morning, so I didn’t touch it. The bowl the butter is in is a nice bowl. I have lost many-a-bowl to the underbelly of the break roo...

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