By WOAI Intern Maureen Johnson
When asked to blog for WOAI, a news station in one of the top 40 markets, I jumped on the opportunity. News has always been a passion of mine. Growing up, permission to stay up late to catch the 10 p.m. newscast was better than ice cream.
In college, I eagerly entered a journalism program with dreams of one day becoming a broadcast news woman. My journey in news has been quite an adventure. I think the thing that keeps bringing me back is the fact that I learn something new and meet someone new everyday.
As you may already know, Cleto Rodriguez is out early Monday-Friday connecting with our community and adding local flavor to the News 4 WOAI Today show. The other day he asked me to tag along with the morning crew and help him out on a show. Live. I was definitely nervous and boy, was it a challenge to be up at 3 a.m. I'm a morning person, but that's pushing it! Regardless, how could I say no?
So on a very early Friday morning I managed to get myself up, dressed, and to the station by 3:15 a.m. The show was to be shot at a local film studio and my part was to “act” with Cleto on live television. It's not like I've never acted before; I've done my share of school plays and have a passion for theater, but felt like a fish out of water the first few live shots. The good thing is there was a script!
We mirrored real actors with the exact same script, but with a twist! Instead of embracing Cleto's womanizing character "Diego" I fed him to the wolves. Before our final scene I psyched myself with a mental chant of encouragement. "Just do it. Who cares!" And I ended up embracing "Gloria" like there was no tomorrow and had a blast doing it.
Check out the show to see all the crazy stuff Cleto is up to in the mornings!
One of the most valuable and key lessons I've learned in life is if you don't put yourself out there, you'll never know. Sure it takes courage, and it's definitely not always easy, but if you don't try your hardest or allow yourself to be vulnerable, you'll pass up the best opportunities you are presented with in life. Kind of like love.
- Maureen
