International exchange program brings German journalist to KLTV newsroom

A correspondent for a German TV network is learning about local journalism from the largest news organization in East Texas. Tom Garus of Rundfunk Berlin-Brandenburg (RBB), an affiliate of the internationally respected ARD network, just completed a week embedded in the KLTV newsroom in Tyler. Based in Berlin, he serves as reporter and moderator for…

International broadcaster exchange brings German journalist to KLTV/KTRE newsroom

An international exchange program is bringing another journalist from Germany to work side-by-side with the largest news organization in East Texas, KLTV and KTRE. Andreas Mitzkus will spend the next week shadowing and learning from producers, anchors, reporters, photographers, digital content producers, and news managers in the KLTV and KTRE newsroom. Mitzkus is a producer…

How to make the most out of a journalism fellowship

For journalists, a fellowship can provide unmatched mid-career professional development and opportunities for meaningful personal growth. Having completed fellowships with the RIAS Berlin Commission and the East-West Center, I was recently invited to share my own experiences in a panel discussion at RTDNA/SPJ’s annual ‘Excellence in Journalism’ conference. These international reporting experiences required a significant…

German journalist embedded in KLTV newsroom as part of international exchange

As the main anchor of Germany’s international broadcaster, Sarah Kelly is the face of Deutsche Welle’s coverage of the world’s biggest stories. Over the last decade, her personal and professional travels have taken her from the World Economic Forum to the G-20 summit, though, a three-week whirlwind tour of the U.S., including a week in…

A legend among giants: Remembering Kenny Boles

It’s now been a year since KLTV & KTRE lost our longtime news director, Kenny Boles, who was called home unexpectedly in 2018 after a short battle with cancer. His impact in the lives and careers of so many of my colleagues keeps Kenny in the forefront of what we do each day. A plaque…

KLTV newsroom hosts German journalist in Trans-Atlantic exchange

As so-called ‘cord cutting’ and mobile technology trends drive the ways consumers connect with news and information, journalists are constantly adapting to the needs of their audiences. For more than two decades, an exchange program for American and German broadcasters has been building bridges of understanding — both personally and professionally. More than 1,200 American…

Jimmy Kimmel Live returns to Texas for South By Southwest

Austin’s iconic South by Southwest festival has gone from an eclectic festival featuring arts and entertainment to a showcase of innovation and ideas. Techies, foodies, and celebrities have also found a home at SXSW, including late-night TV comedian Jimmy Kimmel. This year, the funnyman brought Jimmy Kimmel Live back to Austin for a week of shows,…

Inspirational ‘Chef Jeff’ taping national TV show in E. Texas

A celebrity chef is visiting kitchens across East Texas this week, tasting the comfort foods that stir-up smiles. Chef Jeff Henderson is taping a new syndicated TV show, ‘Flip My Food,’ which promises to take favorite family recipes and make them better, with fewer calories. Henderson’s rise to the top took a different path than…

Up close: West Texas storm chase intercepts tornado

Chasing funnel clouds through the rolling hills of Rusk County to being pummeled with hail on the interstate in Harrison County, the KLTV Mobile StormTracker vehicle has already been put through the gauntlet. Wanting to test some modifications to the camera system on the chase vehicle, Meteorologist Grant Dade and I set out to track…

Tonight Show ties to East Texas

This weekend I had the great pleasure of attending a performance by Doc Severinsen, the longtime bandleader of NBC’s Tonight Show with Johnny Carson. The East Texas Symphony Orchestra brought him to Caldwell Auditorium for a concert with his band, The San Miguel Five. They were phenomenal! As a fellow trumpeter, hearing his high notes…

GMET’s Shrimp & Grits Showdown

Each Friday our GMET Meteorologist Grant Dade shares his favorite recipes during our ‘Cooking Up a Storm’ segment. This week, Dia and I decided to settle our claims of serving superior Shrimp & Grits. In a head-to-head competition we donned aprons and headed into the kitchen, fists flying. Ultimately, my version of shrimp & grits swept…

Time to rise & shine with Good Morning East Texas

Tonight was my final East Texas News at Six broadcast on KTRE. Starting next week, I’ll be embarking on a new adventure, anchoring the Emmy Award-winning Good Morning East Texas on KLTV and KTRE. This is an opportunity I’m excited about and I hope you will be too! Moving to Tyler is bittersweet, especially with all the friendships and connections…

Storm watch: Inside the National Weather Service

While the robotic voice announcing emergency alerts over your NOAA weather radio sounds like it couldn’t be further from life, there are actually dozens of real people behind the message who are working to save lives. I recently got a behind the scenes look at the National Weather Service (NWS) Forecast Office in Shreveport, Louisiana. Local…

WATCH: Power line wildfire spreads through Jasper County

Click the video below to watch my report on the ‘Power line’ wildfire spreading through Jasper County. The views expressed in this blog do not necessarily reflect the views of KTRE/KLTV-TV or Raycom Media.  They are solely the opinion of the author. All content © Copyright 2011 Lane Luckie

Caring. Committed. Proud of East Texas.

Caring. Committed. Proud… not your usual “Action News” or “On Your Side” marketing slogan. I’ve recently made a move to KTRE-TV in Lufkin/Nacogdoches, Texas to be the 6 and 10 p.m. anchor and executive producer. The slogan, which represents this station’s commitment to meaningful news coverage is known throughout the region. Over the years I’ve had the fortune of…

Standing eye-to-eye with Hurricane Ike

Gusts of wind topping 100 miles per hour, 20 foot storm surge, hazardous airborne debris; you couldn’t ask for a more hazardous work environment.  Who would be crazy enough to voluntarily brave the elements? I’ve always thought it irresponsible and somewhat sensationalist for TV journalists to stand out in the middle of a hurricane, all for a…

NBC News’ Tim Russert dead at 58

I just learned of the death of Tim Russert, long-time moderator of NBC’s Meet the Press. As we approach Father’s Day on Sunday, I can’t help but think of the many stories I remember hearing in interviews about his close relationship with his father. This is certainly very sad news for journalists, young and old….

DFWReporting.com is news without the blues

A new website aims to prove a different angle of news coverage for the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex. DFWReporting.com will tell stories that might sometimes fall through the cracks amid the wall-to-wall coverage of car chases and murders. It was founded by Chris Ghanbari, a young professional who I worked with at WFAA in Dallas last summer….

Lane anchors the WFAA intern newscast

You can now check out the WFAA intern newscast online. I was selected to co-anchor our intern-produced newscast on Sunday, July 29, 2007. Each of the readers and packages were produced by the interns. This video was a highlight reel of my segments that was edited down for my NSU coursework.