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…
Tag: TV
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…
German journalist visits East Texas through RIAS exchange, spends week in KLTV newsroom
Only a week after returning from my fellowship in Europe, I had a unique chance to continue my trans-Atlantic learning exchange by hosting a German RIAS fellow in East Texas. Charlotte Potts, a presenter for ZDF and political correspondent for Deutsche Welle, is no stranger to the U.S., having lived in Washington, DC for seven…
WATCH: American singer Anastacia performs on German broadcaster ZDF
Built in 1894, Germany’s Reichstag building now features a glass dome symbolizing transparency in government. Click here to watch a tour.
WATCH: Fire alarm interrupts GMET newscast
Click here to watch what happens when an unexpected fire alarm interrupts Good Morning East Texas!
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…
WATCH: Storm chase leads to tornado-ravaged town
Click here to watch raw video of my storm chase through Hopkins County.
WATCH: Tornado destroys Hopkins Co. homes, businesses
Click here to watch my interview with a Hopkins County, Texas resident who survived a tornado destroying his home and business.
WATCH: Chasing storms during Thursday’s severe weather outbreak
Click here to watch my report on our storm chase during a severe weather outbreak across northeast Texas.
WATCH: Explaining hail fog in Henderson County
Click here to watch my report explaining the hail fog after a storm passed through Henderson County, Texas.
WATCH: Icy conditions reported on Interstate 20
Click here to watch my report on thick slush and ice building up along Interstate 20 in Smith County on March 2, 2014.
WATCH: West Texas storm chase
Click here to watch our storm chase in the Texas panhandle.
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…
WATCH: Truck crushed by tornado-toppled tree
Click here to watch my report on our storm chase that headed into the path of a destructive tornado.
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…
WATCH: East Texans mark 10 years since Shuttle Columbia tragedy
Click here for my coverage of the 10th anniversary of the Space Shuttle Columbia tragedy and recovery effort.
WATCH: My night with blues legend BB King
Click here for my interview with Blues legend BB King.
KLTV Thanksgiving behind-the-scenes & a collection of recipes
Originally posted on In Mama Steph's Kitchen:
November has been a lovely, busy month. Some of the crew along with Grant, Dia, Lane and me. My son Justin is right behind me! He operates a camera on GMET. I was excited to be a part of a special edition of Good Morning East Texas.…
WATCH: CNN’s Candy Crowley joins GMET for Presidential Debate analysis
Click here to watch CNN’s Chief Political Correspondent Candy Crowley join Good Morning East Texas for a preview the October 16, 2012 presidential debate.
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…
KTRE newscast featured in MSNBC coverage of rare East Texas earthquake
MSNBC’s Rachel Maddow featured a clip from KTRE’s newscast in her coverage of the May 2012 earthquake in Shelby County, Texas. Click here to watch.
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.
WATCH: Members of Congress remember Charlie Wilson
Click here to watch my coverage of memorial services for East Texas congressman Charlie Wilson.
WATCH: Aerial tour of Angelina County flooding
Click here to watch my report on widespread flooding across Angelina County.
Opinion: Why do women love ‘The Bachelor?’
Maybe this is one of those “it’s a girl thing,” that as a guy, I will never understand. I was amazed tonight by the number of people in the newsroom gathered around the TV to watch the finale of ABC’s ‘The Bachelor.’ I’m guilty of having my own pseudo-obsession with certain shows in the past, but I…
Caring. Committed. Proud.
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…
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….
More than 50 thousand demonstrators pack tiny Louisiana town
Thousands of marchers gathered in Jena, Louisiana on Thursday to rally support for Mychal Bell, one of six black students initially charged with attempted murder for the beating of a white classmate. Charges were eventually dropped against five of the teens, while Bell still sits behind bars awaiting trial. I traveled to Jena with my crew…
