The Recovering Journalist
Ruth Ann is a "recovering journalist."
Starting out as a teen deejay in her native Buffalo, NY, she spent three decades in media work, including Emmy-nominated television reporting and anchoring at the CBS-TV affiliate in Nashville, TN, a daily talk-radio program on WLAC-AM, and 17 years as a columnist for the Nashville Banner. Ruth Ann served on the board of the Sigma Delta Chi Foundation, the nonprofit arm of the Society of Professional Journalists, of which she has been a member for over 30 years.
Ruth Ann also holds membership in the National Association of Television Arts and Sciences, the Radio and Television News Directors Association, American Women in Radio and Television, the Buffalo Broadcasters Association, the TED (Technology, Entertainment, Design) Conference Community, and is a lifetime member of the Broadcasters Foundation.
What’s The Headline?
Day 66
It’s probably possible to avoid all Oscar hoopla, but I haven’t.
So I’ve seen most of the nominees being interviewed, and it’s amazing how many of them refer to their obituaries. They know that if they win tonight, their obituary headline will contain the words “Academy Award Winner.” And many of them also refer to [...]
Busted
Day 61
Some of you think you’ve caught me red-handed – working.
I’ve had a number of messages (thanks for your sarcasm, your curiosity, your concern) referring to evidence that I’m doing things that look like work.
(Pause)
(Reflect)
(Accept intervention message)
Maybe you’re right. I am having more temptation than I expected to dip my toe into…OK, I’ll say it, [...]
Rainbow vs. Work
Day 57
In my electronic mailbox today:
POSITIVE QUOTE OF THE DAY
The work will wait while you show the child the rainbow, but the rainbow won’t wait while you finish the work.
– Pat Clifford
The Positive Quote of the Day is free from John Groom’s Positive Press, and you can subscribe by clicking here.
I tried to find out [...]
Have To, Get To, Want To, Need To
Day 47
Yesterday I wrote that I am resisting the urge to write volumes about my TED experience.
Janet Ginsburg sent a thoughtful comment , which deserves a reply.
First, one of the TED Talks that I predict will be the next talk-heard-’round-the-world is a talk from an audience member at TEDActive in Palm Springs. A young woman talks about having [...]
This Is Not Working
Day 46
The temptation to “work” today is stronger than at any time since the beginning of my sabbatical.
I resisted most compulsions to tweet and blog TED2010 . My output at TEDGlobal2009 was prodigious by comparison.
As expected, I connected with some of our grantees, but also as expected, that was a joyful reward, not workwork.
Today I am powerfully pulled toward [...]
TED Head
Day 44
After the TED Conference, my head is exploding.
I need to sleep for about two days now.
The Battle of Obituaries
Day 28
My former colleagues at the late, lamented Nashville Banner have written beautifully about our recently deceased colleague Bob Battle.
Here’s his official obituary .
Here’s what Beverly Keel wrote.
Here’s what Tim Ghianni wrote.
Here’s what Susan Leathers wrote.
And here’s what I have to say: Bob Battle was nice to me.
When I was 23 years old, just starting my [...]
Take Care
Day 18
There are people in Haiti immersed in experiences beyond our wildest imaginings at this very moment.
We just happen to be focused on Haiti at this pinprick of time, but people are suffering terribly at every moment of every day somewhere in this world. There are people experiencing physical pain, emotional upheaval, inexpressible losses – [...]
Earthquake in Haiti Aftershocks Felt…Here
Day 15
I’m having flashbacks to my old TV news anchor days.
If I were still working in the newsroom, the earthquake in Haiti would have been the center of my world for as long as it was a big story. I’m glad I’m no longer required to immerse myself in tragedy. These days, I get the information I need, take what [...]
The Shoe Drops – Sarah Signs With Fox
OK, it took a lot longer than any of us guessed, but Sarah Palin is joining Fox .
When she quit her job as Governor of Alaska, I wrote that I thought she bailed on her responsibilities because she was about to sign a sweet deal with her media cheerleading squad. I asked you to weigh in. [...]
