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>>> MY GUEST TODAY HAS COME INTO YOUR CENTRAL ILLINOIS HOMES HE NEARLY EVERY DAY FOR THE
PAST 20 YEARS. SHE IS A HOME GROWN TALENT.
SHE GRADUATED WITH HONORS FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS.
SHE IS A PIONEER FOR CREATING NEWS PROGRAMS, SUCH AS "KIDS TO KNOW" AND "ANGELS AMONG US,"
COMMUNITY ACTIVIST, AND FUNDRAISER, WELCOME WCIA JENNIFER ROSCOE.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HAVING ME. >>IS IT TRUE WHEN YOU STARTED AS INTERN, CHANNEL
3, THE FIRST DAY, THE FIRST STORY YOU COVERED WAS A CAR ACCIDENT, AND IT WAS YOUR CAR?
>>YOU KNOW WHAT IS FUNNY ABOUT THAT, WE SERIOUSLY TWO WEEKS AGO LOOKED UP THAT TAPE FROM 21
YEARS AGO. >>IT IS STILL --
>>IT IS STILL THERE. IT WAS IN OUR BASEMENT -- IN THE CHANNEL 3
BASEMENT, IN THE ARCHIVES. YES, I WAS INTERN AT THE TIME, AND HERE I
AM IN MY BRAND NEW CAR, MY FIRST CAR I HAVE EVER OWNED.
IT WAS USED, BUT IT WAS NEW TO ME. A WOMAN RAN A RED LIGHT IN FRONT OF CHANNEL
3. I HIT HER.
SHE RUNS THE RED LIGHT. I HIT HER.
SHE FLIPS. SHE HITS ANOTHER CAR.
THAT CAR HITS ANOTHER CAR. IT WAS RIGHT IN FRONT OF CHANNEL 3.
>> RIGHT IN FRONT OF THE STATION. >>OF COURSE, THEY SEND THE CAMERAS OUT.
THIS IS 9, 10:00 THIS THE MORNING. YOU SEE ME IN THE STORY LATER, I AM ON THE
SIDEWALK, AND I AM CRYING GOING "MY NEW CAR. MY NEW CAR."
THEY PUT ME IN AN AMBULANCE. I WASN'T HURT
BUT HIT MY HEAD. CHRISTINE TRUSSEL GOES WITH ME IN THE AMBULANCE.
IN THE ER-- GAY MARTIN WAS THE PRODUCER.
DAVE SHAW, THE NEWS DIRECTOR, THEY WANT TO MAKE SURE I AM OKAY.
I LOOKED AT THE CLOCK, 11:00, WHO IS DOING THE NEWS?
AND IF YOU GO BACK AND GET THE NEWS ON THE AIR,
I WILL BE OKAY. MY BIG DEBUT WAS MY CAR BEING SMASHED TO PEACES.
>>YOU ACTUALLY STARTED AS AN INTERN, AND THEY HIRED YOU AND WORKED AS REPORTER AND YOU HAVE
BEEN ANCHORING IN 2000. >>IT WAS BEFORE THAT.
IT WAS FUZZY. OVER THE YEARS, THINGS GET FUZZY.
I STARTED WHEN SUZANNE REID LEFT, IN '96, '97.
THAT'S WHEN I STARTED THE 10:00 NEWS. I WOULD REPORT FOR THE 5 AND THE 6, AND REPORT
FOR THE 10, AND ANCHOR 10 AND 12. >> TELEVISION NEWS ANCHORS PEOPLE THINK THIS
IS A VERY GLAMOROUS JOB. I AM LOOKING FOR A STORY THAT SAYS JUST HOW
UNGLAMOROUS IT IS. >>IF ANYONE SEES ME, JUST IN MY NORMAL DAY
BEFORE I BECOME THE NEWS ANCHOR, I AM IN A BASEBALL HAT, YOGA PANTS AND RUNNING AROUND
CRAZY BECAUSE THAT'S WHEN I AM BEING A MOM. WHEN YOU GET TO WORK, IT IS NOT--OKAY, I SIT
IN AN OFFICE, AND PEOPLE HAND ME COPY, AND I LEISURELY GO THROUGH IT, AND THEN I AM ON
THE AIR. THERE ARE MEETINGS. THEY ARE PROMOS TO SHOOT, AND THEN THERE IS
A LOT OF TIME SPENT REALLY HACKING THROUGH THE STORIES AND JUST MAKING SURE IT IS THE
KIND OF JOB WHERE YOU ALWAYS WISH YOU HAD FIVE MORE MINUTES.
WE ARE NEVER LOOKING AT THE CLOCK WISHING THE DAY IT WAS OVER.
OH, MY GOSH, IF I ONLY HAD FIVE MORE MINUTES TO MAKE THIS STORY BETTER, MORE CONCISE.
BECAUSE WE HAVE REPORTERS ONLY IN THE BUSINESS A YEAR OR TWO YEARS, YOU ARE MENTORING THEM.
WE ARE ALWAYS GOING OVER IT, MAKE YOUR SURE IT IS CONCISE, FACTUAL, SOUNDS GOOD.
IT IS AMAZING HOW WHEN YOU READ SOMETHING WITHOUT READING OUT LOUD, IT COMES OUT A LOT
DIFFERENTLY WHEN YOU ACTUALLY GET A CHANCE TO SPEAK, I SIT AT MY DESK, AND PEOPLE THINK
I AM A CRAZY PERSON. I SIT AT MY DESK AND READ EVERYTHING OUT LOUD
ONCE BEFORE WE GO ON AIR TO MAKE SURE IT SOUNDS GOOD.
THIS IS A BUSINESS PARTICULARLY IN COMMERCIAL NEWS, IT IS A BUSINESS WHERE THIS IS THIS
EXPECTATION THAT THERE IS A LADDER, AND TO THE EXTENT YOU CAN, YOU CLIMB IT.
YOU GO ON AND UP. IF YOU CAN, GO TO BIGGER CITY, GO TO A BIGGER
MARK. >>RIGHT.
>>MAKE MORE MONEY. HAVE A HIGHER PROFILE POSITION. >>THAT'S WHAT I THOUGHT WAS GOING TO HAPPEN.
I ENVISIONED THIS. GO TO THE U OF I,
TWO YEARS IN CHAMPAIGN, TWO YEARS I DON'T KNOW, MAYBE IN MEDIUM SIZED MARKET EVENTUALLY
BECAUSE I AM FROM THE CHICAGO SUBURBS, THAT WAS GOING TO BE MY GOAL.
IT IS ONE OF THOSE THINGS I LIKE TO TELL. WHEN I GO BACK SOMETIMES AND TALK TO U OF
I STUDENTS, AND THEY ARE LOOKING AT ME, WHY IS THIS WOMAN STILL IN CHAMPAIGN.
IT HAS BEEN 20 YEARS. SHE MUST NOT BE GOOD AT WHAT SHE IS DOING.
YOU KNOW, WHO KNOWS IF I AM, BUT IT IS ONE OF THOSE THINGS I TELL THEM LIFE GETS IN THE
WAY. AT THE TIME WHEN YOU ARE 19, 20 YEARS OLD,
YOU THINK, OH, MY GOSH, THAT MUST BE THE BEST JOB EVER TO BE AN ANCHOR THIS CHICAGO. YOU
START TO REALIZE WHAT OTHER THINGS MATTER IN LIFE, AND EVERY TIME I THOUGHT I WAS GOING
TO LEAVE CHANNEL 3 AND MAYBE SEE WHAT ELSE IS OUT THERE, A NEW POSITION WOULD OPEN UP,
AND I WOULD GET PROMOTED. THEN IT WAS MARRIAGE, AND THEN I HAD A BABY,
AND THEN ANOTHER BABY, AND YOU REALIZE, MY GOSH, I TRULY KNOW HOW BLESSED I AM AND LUCKY
TO HAVE THE JOB I HAVE. IN WHAT I DO, I HAVE THE BEST JOB IN THIS
MARKET, AND I REALIZE I CAN SEE MY KIDS. I CAN GET HOME FOR DINNER.
WHO KNOWS IF THAT WOULD HAPPEN, IF I WAS IN CHICAGO.
THAT STUFF IS REALLY IMPORTANT TO ME, AND I AM NOT WILLING TO GIVE IT UP JUST SO I DON'T
KNOW HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE WATCHING, MILLIONS MIGHT BE WATCHING, I AM OKAY WITH THOUSANDS,
IF I CAN STILL DO WHAT I LOVE AND STILL BE WITH MY FAMILY.
>>AT THE TIME YOU WEREN'T MARRIED, DIDN'T HAVE KIDS AT THE TIME YOU STARTED WORKING,
SOME POINT AFTER YOU WERE MARRIED, YOU WERE THINKING OF HAVING A FAMILY, WAS THERE A DEFINITELY--
YOU AND YOUR HUSBAND, SAID, WELL, WE THINK THIS IS A GOOD PLACE TO HAVE KIDS.
SO LET'S STAY? >> I DON'T EVEN KNOW WHEN WE FINALLY DECIDED,
OKAY, THIS IS WHERE WE ARE GOING STAY. I THINK I DON'T THINK BEFORE WE HAD KIDS,
I WAS THINKING MAYBE WE WOULD MAKE THE JUMP AND GO, BUT IT WAS KIND OF WE WERE ON THIS
TRADITIONAL COURSE. OKAY, YOU GET MARRIED, TWO YEARS LATER YOU
HAVE A BABY, AND YOU REALIZE YOU HAVE SUCH A STRONG SUPPORT NETWORK, EVEN THOUGH ALL
OF OUR FAMILY IS UP IN CHICAGO, IN THE BURBS, THROUGH CHURCH AND THROUGH SCHOOL, WE REALIZE
WE ARE IN A REALLY GOOD PLACE TO RAISE KIDS. WE DIDN'T FEEL THAT NEED TO LEAVE.
>>DIFFERENT -- I AM SURE THAT AT DIFFERENT LEVELS OF TELEVISION BROADCAST, TELEVISION
NEWS, YOU ARE DOING SOMETHING DIFFERENT. IT IS DIFFERENT.
THERE IS A NATIONAL LEVEL, AND REGIONAL LEVEL AND BIG CITY LEVEL.
WHAT DO YOU THINK FOR A STATION THAT SERVING SORT OF SMALL TO MEDIUM SIZED COMMUNITIES
LIKE WCIA, AND OTHER STATIONS IN OUR REGION, WHAT DO YOU THINK THE ROLE OF THE SMALLER
TELEVISION STATION IS? >> I THINK WHAT WE OFFER PEOPLE, AND THIS
IS WHY WHEN PEOPLE ARE TALKING ABOUT THE DEATH OF NEWSPAPERS AND THE DEATH OF JUST NEWS IN
GENERAL, BROADCAST NEWS, I CAN GET IT ON TWITTER AND WHATNOT.
WE WILL NOT DIE BECAUSE IF THERE IS A FIRE IN ONARGA, WHERE ELSE ARE YOU GOING TO SEE
THAT FIRE OR WHERE ELSE ARE YOU GOING TO FIND OUT, YOU WILL BE TUNING INTO YOUR LOCAL NEWS
STATION, HOPEFULLY CHANNEL 3. THAT'S WHAT WE PRIDE OURSELVES ON AND WE CONTINUE
TO TRY TO DO A GOOD JOB. WE GIVE THEM THE INFORMATION THEY WILL NOT
GET ON CNN. IT IS NOT THE BIG FIRE.
IF THERE IS A WATER LEAK ISSUE, THEY ARE NOT GOING TO HEAR ABOUT THAT ANYWHERE ELSE EXCEPT
IN YOUR NEWSPAPER OR ON TELEVISION. NOW WE HAVE THE CHALLENGE BEING THE MARKET
THAT WE ARE, IT IS A TRI-CITY MARKET. SOMETIMES PEOPLE DON'T REALIZE THAT, WHICH
MEANS WE HAVE TO COVER DECATUR, SPRINGFIELD. WE GO AS FAR NORTH AS KANKAKEE.
WE GO INTO INDIANA. WE ARE DOWN IN EFFINGHAM.
WE GO WAY WEST OF SPRINGFIELD. OUR MARKET THAT WE COVER IS SO LARGE.
WHERE CHICAGO, RARELY ARE THEY DOING NEWS OUTSIDE OF THE CITY.
THERE IS A CLOSE SPACE THERE. BUT WE ARE HAVING TO BE EVERYTHING TO EVERYONE.
THERE ARE TIMES WHEN PEOPLE SAY WHY AREN'T YOU OVER IN SPRINGFIELD DOING MORE?
SAY WE TRY TO DO MORE IN SPRINGFIELD. THEN IT IS WHY ARE YOU OVER THERE?
YOU ARE SUPPOSED TO BE OUR STATION. WE DEFINITELY TRY TO DO WHAT WE CAN.
WE CAN'T COVER EVERY LOCAL ISSUE. BUT WE TRY TO HIT AS MANY AS WE CAN.
AND THEN, ALSO, WHAT I THINK YOU GET FROM A STATION OUR SIZE, WHEN YOU MENTIONED KIDS
TO KNOW AND ANGELS, IN A BIGGER MARKETING, YOU WILL NOT GET STORIES LIKE THAT.
I LOVE WE ARE ABLE TO TELL THESE PEOPLE STORIES, PEOPLE WHO IF YOU ARE IN CHICAGO, YOU MIGHT
NOT MAKE IT ON TV UNLESS YOU HAVE SHOT SOMEONE. BUT, US, THE FACT I CAN DO THESE STORIES ABOUT
KIDS WHO DESERVE THE SPOTLIGHT FOR MORE THAN JUST THROWING A FOOTBALL, MAYBE THEY ARE AMAZING
CELLIST OR STARTED A FUNDRAISER. PEOPLE NEED TO HEAR THOSE STORIES.
>>HAVE YOU TALKED ABOUT THESE TWO SERIES YOU HAVE CREATED AND THE ABOUT KIDS, YOU HAVE
ESSENTIALLY GIVEN THE THUMBNAIL SKETCH OF WHAT IT IS ABOUT.
>>RIGHT. >>ABOUT SHINING THE LIGHT ON KIDS WHO --
>>BECAUSE SO OFTEN PEOPLE WATCH THE NEWS, AND ONLY TIME THEY SEE A KID IS WHEN THEY
HAVE DONE SOMETHING WRONG, OR MAYBE THEY ARE IN AN ORANGE JUMP SUIT.
MAYBE EIGHT YEARS AGO WE THOUGHT THERE ARE KIDS DOING REALLY GREAT THINGS.
MY FAVORITE KID TO KNOW STORY. I HAD A MOM CALL ME AND SHE SAID "MY SON WROTE
A BOOK, WOULD THAT BE WORTHY OF KID TO KNOW?" >>OF COURSE, I WOULD LOVE TO.
WHAT DID HE WRITE ABOUT? >> WHAT IT IS LIKE TO HAVE AS BURGER'S, FORM
OF AUTISM. YOU KNOW, HE HAS NEVER BEEN INVITED TO A BIRTHDAY
PARTY. HE DOESN'T REALLY HAVE ANY FRIENDS, BUT HE
WROTE THIS BOOK P HE WANTS PEOPLE TO KNOW WHAT IT IS LIKE.
MY GOSH, YES, EVEN MORE SO, THIS A GREAT STORY. SHE DID THE STORY AND SHE CALLED ME AFTER
IT AIRED, SHE SAID YOU WILL NEVER GUESS WHAT HAPPENED.
THE PRINCIPAL PLAYED THE STORY THROUGHOUT THE CLOSED CIRCUIT TV IN THE SHOW, AND SHE
SAID HE IS A ROCK STAR. PEOPLE ARE COMING UP TO HIM ASKING FOR HIS
AUTOGRAPH. HE GOT ASKED TO COME OVER AND PLAY AT SOMEONE'S
HOUSE. SHE IS CRYING.
I AM CRYING, AND NOW THIS KID HAS GONE ON TO BE A SPOKESPERSON FOR AS BURGER'S.
HE HAS MET TEMPLE BRANDON. HE IS ON PANEL TO TALK ABOUT WHAT IT IS LIKE.
HE WROTE THE NEXT BOOK THAT HE WROTE, HE DEDICATED TO ME WHICH, AH, AND I THINK, OKAY, THIS IS
WHY U OF I STUDENTS THAT I STAYED HERE BECAUSE I DON'T THINK I WOULD HAVE THOSE EXPERIENCES
IN A BIGGER MARKET. THAT'S WHY I LOVE MY JOB.
IT SOUNDS SO CORNY, BUT I REALLY DO. >>TELL US ABOUT ANGELS AMONG US.
THE GROWN UP E QUITE A FEW LINT. >>WE CAME UP WITH THAT IDEA, GROWN UPS TO
KNOW, INSTEAD OF KIDS TO KNOW. IT WAS THE SAME CONCEPT.
LET'S TELL GREAT STORIES ABOUT GROWN UPS. EACH ONE, I HAVE NEVER FELT SO LAZY IN ALL
OF MY LIFE WHEN YOU INTERVIEW THESE PEOPLE WHO ARE GIVING SO MUCH OF THEMSELVES AND WHO
ARE DOING AMAZING THINGS. IT IS NOT JUST SOMEBODY THAT EVERYBODY ALWAYS
KNOWS, ONE OF MY FAVORITE CLASSIC EXAMPLES, I INTERVIEWED LITERALLY A DITCH DIGGER, HE
GAVE UP HIS ORGAN. HE SAW THE SHOW, AND SAID "I AM GOING TO HELP
SOMEONE." AND WILLINGLY WENT IN AND GAVE UP HIS KIDNEY.
HE CREATED THIS CHAIN OF EVENTS BECAUSE HE WAS WILLING TO DONATE, IT WAS SOMETHING -- AND
I DON'T REMEMBER HOW IT WENT THE SERIES, BUT FOUR OTHER PEOPLE WERE ABLE TO GET KIDNEY
DONATIONS BECAUSE HE STARTED THIS CHAIN REACTION. THIS GUY WHO DIGS DITCHES.
>>I WANT TO HAVE YOU TALK ABOUT ONE PARTICULAR EPISODE.
>>UH-OH. THIS SOUNDS GOOD.
>>THAT IS VERY PERSONAL FOR YOU. AN ASPECT OF YOUR LIFE THAT I THINK IS TRULY
REMARKABLE STORY. YOU WERE ADOPTED.
>>OH, YEAH. >>A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO, AS I UNDERSTAND IT,
THE STATE OF ILLINOIS MADE IT POSSIBLE FOR PEOPLE WHO ADOPTED TO GET A COPY OF THEIR
BIRTH CERTIFICATE WHICH WOULD HAVE HAD YOUR BIRTH MOM'S NAME ON IT.
>>YEAH. IT REALLY -- IT WAS -- I ALWAYS KNEW I WAS
ADOPTED. GROWING UP, I HAD A BIRTHDAY, AND I HAD ADOPTION
DAY. WE CELEBRATED WITH PRESENTS AND CAKE AND I
THOUGHT I WAS SO COOL BECAUSE I HAD TWO BIRTHDAYS, YOU KNOW!
AND I HAD THESE AMAZING PARENTS, AND IT WAS NEVER AN ISSUE WHERE I WAS DESPERATE TO FIND
THESE ANSWERS OR WHATEVER. BUT I DID ALWAYS WANT TO SEE A PICTURE, AND,
TWO, TELL MY BIRTH MOM THANK YOU, AND TO LET HER KNOW I WAS OKAY.
AND I THOUGHT, GOSH, DOES SHE THINK ABOUT ME ON APRIL THIRD, MY BIRTHDAY.
BUT, YES, THE LAW CHANGED LAST YEAR. I SENT IN MY APPLICATIONS LIKE THOUSANDS OF
OTHER PEOPLE IN ILLINOIS. REALLY FOR MEDICAL INFORMATION, I THINK IT
WAS THE RIGHT MOVE FOR THE STATE TO MAKE. SO I GET THE BIRTH CERTIFICATE, AND I AM LOOKING
AT IT, AND, OF COURSE, MY FRIEND, A BUNCH OF REPORTERS, WE WERE ALL GOOGLING.
WE WERE ALL GOOGLING IMMEDIATELY. I GOT THE BIRTH CERTIFICATE AT -- OPENED UP
AT 6:30, WHEN I GOT HOME. GET BACK TO WORK AND MY FRIEND REPORTERS HANDS
ME A PIECE OF PAPER AND SAID "HERE IS A PHONE NUMBER WITH A NAME," IT IS OF A GUY WHO HAS
THE SAME LAST NAME IN THE CHICAGO SUBURBS, MAYBE THEY ARE RELATED.
SO I CALL, AND I SAID "HI. MY NAME IS SOPHIA."
I LIED. "ARE YOU RELATED TO LESLIE HARROW?"
>>HE SAID, "OH, THAT'S MY SISTER." >> THAT WAS YOUR UNCLE?
>> IS SHE STILL ALIVE? YES.
OKAY, DOES SHE HAVE KIDS? YES, A SON AND A DAUGHTER.
>>NOW I KNOW I HAVE A HALF BROTHER AND SISTER AT THAT VERY MOMENT.
I SAID "DID SHE GO INTO EDUCATION?" I HAD SKETCHY INFORMATION. I KNOW SHE WAS
GOING TO SCHOOL WHEN SHE GOT PREGNANT. HE SAID, "YES, SHE IS A RETIRED PRINCIPAL."
SHE HAS HER OWN MEANS. SHE IS EDUCATED. IT MADE ME FEEL BETTER.
HE SAID, "HOLD ON, LET ME GET HER PHONE NUMBER." WHO DOES THAT? I AM TALKING TO THIS PERSON
FOR FIVE SECONDS. NOW I HAVE HER PHONE NUMBER.
I AM AT WORK, IT IS 9:10, EVERYBODY SAID, "WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO?"
I SAID, "I AM NOT GOING TO CALL HER." AND DAVE, MY CO ANCHOR SAID, "WHAT DOES YOUR
GUT TELL YOU?" GO CALL.
HE SAID, "GO DO IT." I WENT INTO THE CONFERENCE ROOM -- THIS IS
A LONG STORY, IS THAT OKAY? >> IT IS GREAT.
>>IT IS 9:10, AND I HAVE TO DO THE 10:00 NEWS. THE PHONE RINGS AND SOMEONE PICKS UP BE AND
THE PERSON SAID HELLO. I SAID, "IS THIS LESLIE PARROW?" AND SHE SAID
YES. I SAID, "MY NAME IS JENNIFER, I THINK WE ARE
RELATED." GRANTED, I HAVE HAD NO TIME TO THINK ABOUT
ANYTHING. I SAID DID YOU HAVE A BABY ON APRIL 3, 1971.
AND SHE SAID YES. AND I SAID, "I AM PRETTY SURE YOU ARE MY MOM."
AND THERE WAS -- SHE DIDN'T SAY ANYTHING. I THOUGHT EITHER SHE HAD A HEART ATTACK, AND
SHE WILL HANG UP ON ME. AND SHE JUST STARTS CRYING.
I START CRYING. AND IT WAS THIS MOMENT THAT I HAD THOUGHT
ABOUT FOR, YOU KNOW, HOW MANY YEARS, 40-SOME YEARS.
SHE SAID "ARE YOU OKAY?" I SAID, "YES.
BEFORE WE GO ANY FURTHER. I JUST WANT TO TELL YOU THANK YOU.
THANK YOU FOR MAKING THAT DECISION. IT COULDN'T HAVE BEEN EASY.
BUT I HAVE HAD A GREAT LIFE. I HAD GREAT PARENTS, AND I AM DOING OKAY."
AND SO THERE WAS JUST THIS SOB-FEST ON THE PHONE.
WE KIND OF WENT BACK AND FORTH WITH QUESTIONS, FOUND OUT THAT SHE ACTUALLY WAS A PRINCIPAL
IN THE SUBURB THAT I GREW UP IN. MY MOM AND HER LIVE TEN MILES APART.
THE CONNECTIONS ARE REALLY EERIE. IT WAS AS IF WE PROBABLY PASSED EACH OTHER
IN A GROCERY STORE AND NEVER KNEW. AFTER ABOUT 15 MINUTES, I GO, "OH, I HAVE
TO DO THE NEWS." SHE GOES, "HOW ARE YOU GOING TO BE ABLE TO
DO THAT?" I SAID, "YOU DON'T KNOW ME, BUT YOU GAVE BIRTH TO VERY TYPE "A" GIRL SO I
CAN HANDLE THIS." WE HUNG UP.
AS I AM SITTING -- OH, SO I WALK OUT OF THE ROOM.
EVERYBODY IN THE NEWSROOM REALIZES I HAVE BEEN IN THERE AWHILE, AND I HAVE PROBABLY
BEEN ON THE PHONE WITH SOMEONE. AND THEY ARE STARING AT ME.
I SAID I AM JUST TALKING TO MY MOM. DERICK IS CRYING, AND ALL THESE MEN ARE CRYING.
I FINALLY GOT HER NAME. AARON BENNETT WAS THE FIRST ONE TO FIND HER
ON FACEBOOK. THAT'S WHAT IS SO WONDERFUL ABOUT THE EXPERIENCE THAT I SHARED IT WITH BASICALLY
MY SECOND FAMILY, WORK FAMILY AND EVERYBODY GATHERED AROUND THE COMPUTER AND STARED AT
A PICTURE OF MY MOM FOR A FIRST TIME, AND THAT'S SOMETHING I WANTED MY ENTIRE LIFE.
>>WHAT PEOPLE HAVE TO REALIZE, THE KICKER ON ALL THIS, AFTER ALL THIS, THEN YOU WENT
ON AND DID THE 10:00 NEWS BECAUSE HERE IT WAS LIKE 20 MINUTES OR 15 MINUTES.
>>OH, YEAH. >>I AM SURE EVERYONE MUST HAVE SAID, BY THE
WAY, DON'T WE HAVE A NEWSCAST WE GOT IT DO? >> LIKE WHEN I CRASHED MY CAR, I SAID DON'T
YOU ALL HAVE TO GET BACK TO DO THE NEWS. THAT'S THE THING ABOUT NEWS PEOPLE, AS A PROFESSIONAL,
AND YOU KNOW YOU HAVE TO SHOULD HAVE ALL THAT OTHER STUFF DOWN AND DO IT.
TRULY I DON'T REMEMBER ANYTHING, WORDS WERE COMING OUT OF MY MOUTH, AND THERE WAS NOTHING
BEHIND THE WORDS. IT WAS -- I COULDN'T THINK OF ANYTHING ELSE.
>>AND SO WELL, THEN, WHAT YOU WENT ONTO DO AFTER THAT, I KNOW YOU WENT AND MET ON MOTHER'S
DAY. >>YOU KNOW I LOVE THE DRAMA.
>>AND YOU TOOK THE CAMERA, AND YOU TURNED THAT INTO A FEATURE.
>>I DON'T WANT PEOPLE TO THINK WE BROUGHT A NEWS CAMERA BECAUSE IT WOULD BE --
>>BUT YOU -- >>I HANDED MY HUSBAND MY PHONE.
I SAID WANT TO REMEMBER THIS MOMENT. IT WAS HIM WITH HIS PHONE, AND WE RECORDED
IT AND TURNED IT INTO A STORY. I DON'T WANT TO MAKE IT SOUND LIKE THAT WAS
A PROBLEM, BUT I WONDER HOW YOU THOUGHT ABOUT THIS WAS A VERY PERSONAL, VERY INTENSE PERSONAL
MOMENT OF YOUR LIFE, AND HOW YOU THOUGHT ABOUT WHETHER, IN FACT, YOU WANTED TO PUT THAT ON
TELEVISION. >>TO ME, FIRST OF ALL, I THINK YOU CAN TELL
I AM PRETTY MUCH AN OPEN BOOK. ANYBODY CAN ASK ME ANYTHING.
I WILL BE HONEST AND TELL THEM HOW I FEEL AND THAT'S JUST WHO I AM.
BUT ALSO, AS A JOURNALIST, LIKE I SAID, IT IS IN MY BLOOD.
I KNEW THERE WAS IN AMAZING STORY HAPPENING, AND WHO KNOWS IF IT WAS GOING TO TURNOUT OKAY,
AND MAYBE I WASN'T EVER GOING TO TELL PEOPLE ABOUT IT.
BUT IF I COULD, AND HERE IS THIS GIRL WHO CALLED UP THIS WOMAN, MAYBE SOMEBODY ELSE
WILL DO THE SAME THING, AND MAYBE MY STORY CAN ENCOURAGE SOMEBODY ELSE.
WHAT IS AMAZING AFTER THE STORIES AIRED, YOU WOULD THINK EVERYONE IS ADOPTED BECAUSE I
GOT SO MANY MESSAGES ON FACEBOOK AND CALLS AND E-MAILS JUST SAYING "I KNOW SOMEBODY"
OR "I AM THINKING OF DOING IT." THERE WERE A COUPLE OF PEOPLE WHO SAID BECAUSE
OF IT, I AM GOING TO TAKE THE PLUNGE, TAKE THE LEAP. THAT'S A HUGE LEAP OF FAITH.
>>PEOPLE WHO HAVE DONE THIS ASKED WOMAN WHO WORK AS REPORTERS AND ANCHORS IN TELEVISION,
WHAT ARE THE BIG OBSTACLES THEY FACE IN THEIR CAREER.
I THINK PRETTY CONSISTENTLY THEY SAY THE BIG THING IS THE HUGE EMPHASIS ON MY APPEARANCE.
>>UH-HUH. >>AND IT ONLY GETS MORE AS MORE STATIONS GO
HIGH DEF BECAUSE THAT'S LIKE LOOK AT SOMEBODY LIKE I AM LOOKING AT YOU RIGHT NOW.
HOW DO YOU THINK ABOUT THAT, IN THE FACT THAT CLEARLY WE ALSO HAVE TWO DIFFERENT SETS OF
STANDARDS. >>OH, ABSOLUTELY.
THERE IS ONE FOR THE GUY, AND ONE FOR THE GIRL.
>>I TELL DAVE THAT ALL THE TIME. HE HAS IT SO EASY.
HE DOES HIS MAKE UP, HE DOES DO MAKE UP. IT IS A THREE MINUTE JOB AND IT IS DONE.
I AM THERE A HALF HOUR AND SLAP THIS STUFF ON MY FACE.
IT IS ONE OF THOSE THAT NEVER SURPRISED ME THAT'S AN IMPORTANT PART OF MY JOB.
I KNEW THAT GOING INTO IT. YOU WOULD HAVE TO BE AN IDIOT TO REALIZE THIS
IS A VISUAL MEDIUM, YOU HAVE TO LOOK YOUR BEST AT ALL TIMES WHEN YOU ARE ON TV.
I DEFINITELY THINK AS TIMES HAVE GONE ON AND CHANGED, THAT IT HAS GOTTEN EVEN MORE IMPORTANT.
PEOPLE TALK ABOUT THE WOMAN OF FOX, AND FOX KIND OF STARTED THAT WHOLE FOXIFIED THING,
WITH SLEEVELESS DRESSES, AND LOT OF MAKE UP, AND TAN, AND AMAZINGLY BEAUTIFUL WOMEN.
OKAY, WE ALL NEED TO START TRYING TO BE LIKE THAT.
WELL, YOU KNOW, I AM NOT GOING TO ACHIEVE THAT.
BUT IT REALLY -- YOU KNOW PEOPLE ARE WATCHING YOU.
YOU KNOW WHEN PEOPLE TURN US ON THEY ARE FIRST SEEING WHAT I AM WEARING, AND WHAT I LOOK
LIKE, AND THEY ARE LISTENING. I HAVE ACCEPTED THAT.
THAT'S PART OF THE JOB WITH ANYONE IN FRONT OF THE CAMERA.
>>AS YOU TALK WITH YOUNG PEOPLE, PARTICULARLY YOUNG WOMEN, BUT ALSO YOUNG MEN TO THINK THEY
WOULD LIKE TO GO INTO THAT FIELD, WHAT WOULD YOU TELL THEM?
>> YOU HAVE TO BE ABLE TO TAKE CRITICISM. I REMEMBER BACK STARTING OUT, IT WASN'T AS
EASY NOW, WHATEVER. YOU CAN SAY ANYTHING, IT DOESN'T BOTHER ME.
ARE YOU WATCHING? I AM GLAD YOU ARE WATCHING.
I GET A LOT OF THE "OH, YOU LOOK A LOT --" PEOPLE SAY "YOU LOOK A LOT YOUNGER IN PERSON, OR
YOU LOOK THINNER IN PERSON." ONE TIME A WOMAN CAME UP TO ME AND SAID, "YOU
LOOK A LOT THINNER IN PERSON." I SAID, "THE CAMERA ADDS TEN POUNDS.
ON YOU." SHE SAID, "IT LOOKS LIKE 50." HER HUSBAND IS MORTIFIED.
I BURST OUT LAUGHING. I THINK IT IS HILARIOUS.
BACK WHEN I FIRST STARRED, ANONYMOUS POST CARD.
FIRST OF ALL, THE PERSON TOOK TIME TO GET A POST CARD, WHO HAS POST CARD, AND SAID YOUR
EYES LOOK LIKE A WITCH. WHEN I FIRST STARTED OUT, I THOUGHT ABOUT
THAT FOREVER. NOW, IT WOULD ROLL OFF MY BACK BECAUSE PEOPLE
FEEL THEY ARE VERY COMFORTABLE WITH YOU, AND THAT PERSON PROBABLY THOUGHT SHE WAS HELPING.
SO THAT STUFF DOESN'T BOTHER ME. >>I DON'T KNOW HOW YOU COULD THINK THAT WAS
HELPFUL. >>THAT'S WHAT I WOULD TELL PEOPLE.
YOU HAVE TO BE ABLE TO ROLL WITH IT AND TAKE THE CRITICISM BECAUSE THE PROBLEM WITH THE
PEOPLE LIKE US ON TV, YOU CAN GET TEN NICE COMMENTS AND ONE BAD ONE, AND ALL YOU THINK
ABOUT IS THE BAD ONE. >>THAT'S ABSOLUTELY RIGHT.
>>I DEAL WITH IT. >>YOU HAVE BEEN WORKING THERE AT CHANNEL 3
FOR 20 YEARS. >>YES.
>>YOU HAVE BEEN ANCHORING IN THE TEENS? >> I STARTED IN -- I WENT ON THE AIR IN '93.
IT IS SUCH A BLUR. >>IT HAS BEEN A LONG TIME.
>>IT HAS BEEN A LONG TIME. >>COULD YOU SEE YOURSELF IN THAT CHAIR IN
20 YEARS? >>WILL MY FACE HOLD UP?
>> I WAS GOING TO SAY DO YOU WORRY THAT SOMEDAY THEY ARE GOING -- THE MANAGEMENT OR SOME CONSULTANT
WILL AND SAY -- >>I LOOK TOO OLD?
>> YES. >>DO I WORRY ABOUT IT? NO.
DO I THINK IT COULD HAPPEN? YES.
I UNDERSTAND THAT YOU WANT SOMEONE THAT PEOPLE ARE GOING TO WATCH.
THIS STARTS TO GO, AND PEOPLE, EWWW! CLICK, I WILL WATCH SOMEBODY ELSE.
I HOPING I HAVE MADE A CONNECTION WITH THE AUDIENCE THAT THEY CAN LOOK BEYOND MY AGE
AND STILL WANT TO WATCH. BUT THAT'S WHY I STAY OUT OF THE SUN.
I YELL AT ALL OF MY FRIENDS, AND ALL OF THE PEOPLE I WORK WITH, THE NEW REPORTERS WHO
ARE TANNING AND WHATNOT, AND YOU KNOW WHO YOU ARE THAT YOU HAVE TO THINK ABOUT THOSE
THINGS. SO I TRY TO TAKE CARE OF MYSELF AS MUCH AS
I CAN TO MAKE SURE I HAVE AS LONG OF A CAREER AS I WANT.
>>MANY MORE THINGS WE CAN TALK ABOUT. WE ARE AT THE POINT WE HAVE TO FINISH.
>>WE ARE DONE? >> YES.
OH, MY GOSH. >>WE CAN GO FOR COFFEE LATER.
>>I KNOW, REALLY! >>WE KNOW THE BUSINESS IS CHANGING, AND THAT
PARTICULARLY FOR YOUNGER PEOPLE, THEY ARE NOT GOING TO THE PRINT AND THE BROADCAST SOURCES
FOR THEIR NEWS, THAT WE. >>THEY ARE GOING TO THE DAILY SHOW.
>>OR USING. >>TWITTER.
>>OR TWITTER OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT. ASSUMING THERE ARE STILL NEWSCASTS IN 20 YEARS
FROM NOW. >>AND THERE WILL BE!
>>LET'S SAY YOU ARE STILL ANCHORING AND THERE AT CHANNEL 3, HOW DO YOU THINK THAT NEWSCAST
WILL BE DIFFERENT? >> IF I COULD LOOK IN MY CRYSTAL BALL!
I DON'T KNOW. I THINK WE ARE ALWAYS STRIVING TO TELL PEOPLE
STORIES. I DON'T SEE THAT CHANGING.
I DON'T SEE OUR ROLE -- WHEN SOMETHING BIG IS HAPPENING SOMEWHERE, WE ARE GOING TO COVER
IT. THAT'S THE WAY IT HAS BEEN SINCE THE -- WE
ARE JUST CELEBRATING 60 YEARS AT CHANNEL 3. THAT'S THE WAY IT ALWAYS HAS BEEN.
THE BOTTOM LINE, YOU ARE GIVING PEOPLE INFORMATION. PEOPLE ARE STILL GOING TO TUNE IN TO GET THAT
INFORMATION IF THEY WANT TO KNOW WHAT IS GOING ON IN THEIR COMMUNITY, IN THEIR STATE, IN
THE WORLD. SO I THINK THAT BASIC PRINCIPLE WHAT WE ARE
DOING IS NOT GOING TO CHANGE. WILL WE HAVE BETTER TECHNOLOGY?
WE JUST WENT H-D. PERHAPS THE CAMERAS MIGHT GET EVEN BETTER
THAN THEY ARE NOW. PERHAPS WE MIGHT BE MORE MOBILE, BE ABLE TO
GO LIVE IN MORE PLACES. WE HAVE A SAT TRUCK.
WE CAN GO LIVE PRETTY MUCH WHEREVER WE WANT I DON'T SEE THE BASIC PRINCIPLE CHANGING,
GIVING PEOPLE INFORMATION. >>WE HAVE TO STOP.
THANKS SO MUCH FOR TALKING. >>IT WAS SO FUN.
JENNIFER ROSCOE, TO ALL THOSE FOLKS WATCHING, THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.
WE HOPE YOU WILL WATCH ANOTHER EDITION OF "ILLINOIS PIONEERS."