I could interview the most incredible person...like this man.
I could be assigned to cover a tragedy that forever changes a family, neighborhood, city, state, or even the nation...like the horrific Virginia Tech Massacre.
I love that every day is an adventure.
Such was the case a few days ago. I get into work and am assigned to cover the opening of the state fair. Awesome! I love racing pigs, fried Oreos, and rickety rides.
As we're getting ready to leave, I get a call from the assignment desk.
Desk: "Nate, we have breaking news for you to cover!"
Nate: "Let me guess. A shooting, fire, gas leak, police stand-off, or car crash."
Desk: "No, but close. Chris Brown's pitbulls are loose in Montpelier (where he lives) and kids are afraid to get off the school bus. You and your photographer need to leave now!"
Nate: "[Pause] What? Are you serious?"
Corey: "Yes! Go!"
Now, let me explain some things.
1. For those who don't know, Chris Brown is a well-known R&B singer who's kind of a big deal in Richmond.
He was born and raised here, he's been compared to Michael Jackson, and he served his community service here after beating Rihanna. In fact, last year TMZ offered $10,000 for the first picture of him doing service - so all the news stations were scrambling to find him.
2. My station goes crazy about two types of stories: anything involving an animal and anything involving a school bus (especially with kids on board). Combine the two and it's the biggest thing of the year.
3. Montpelier is 45 minutes away. By the time we get there, it's likely the dogs will have been caught, the kids will be off the bus, and the neighborhood will be quiet.
Keeping these things in mind, my photographer and I leave the station in two separate cars (Why two? Long story...). We hit rush hour traffic, get separated twice, and the GPS stops working.
Finally we arrive in the neighborhood and see a big "Private Community. No Trespassing" sign.
So what do we do? We drive in.
We begin searching everywhere for any sign of dogs. The homes are extremely big and it's eerily quiet in this neighborhood - nobody is outside and we're in the middle of nowhere.
After five minutes, we come to Chris Brown's home. It's gated and has cameras outside. We stop and, from the car, look to see if there's dogs in the yard.
Imagine seeing two marked news cars stopped outside your property. You'd probably be concerned and apparently Chris Brown is too. A very large man comes outside and begins walking toward us...so we immediately drive away.
I call the newsroom and tell them we see no dogs, no school buses, no animal control...nothing. They ask if I'm sure. I say yes. They tell us to go ahead and go to the fair.
As we drive away, I laugh because I've just spent almost two hours of my life trying to find some celebrity's dogs in the middle of nowhere.
Was this weird? Kind of.
Was this newsworthy? Who knows.
Was this random? Yes.
Was this an adventure? Without a doubt.
Now, let me explain some things.
1. For those who don't know, Chris Brown is a well-known R&B singer who's kind of a big deal in Richmond.
2. My station goes crazy about two types of stories: anything involving an animal and anything involving a school bus (especially with kids on board). Combine the two and it's the biggest thing of the year.
3. Montpelier is 45 minutes away. By the time we get there, it's likely the dogs will have been caught, the kids will be off the bus, and the neighborhood will be quiet.
Keeping these things in mind, my photographer and I leave the station in two separate cars (Why two? Long story...). We hit rush hour traffic, get separated twice, and the GPS stops working.
Finally we arrive in the neighborhood and see a big "Private Community. No Trespassing" sign.
So what do we do? We drive in.
We begin searching everywhere for any sign of dogs. The homes are extremely big and it's eerily quiet in this neighborhood - nobody is outside and we're in the middle of nowhere.
After five minutes, we come to Chris Brown's home. It's gated and has cameras outside. We stop and, from the car, look to see if there's dogs in the yard.
Imagine seeing two marked news cars stopped outside your property. You'd probably be concerned and apparently Chris Brown is too. A very large man comes outside and begins walking toward us...so we immediately drive away.
I call the newsroom and tell them we see no dogs, no school buses, no animal control...nothing. They ask if I'm sure. I say yes. They tell us to go ahead and go to the fair.
As we drive away, I laugh because I've just spent almost two hours of my life trying to find some celebrity's dogs in the middle of nowhere.
Was this weird? Kind of.
Was this newsworthy? Who knows.
Was this random? Yes.
Was this an adventure? Without a doubt.
And that's why I love my job.
