By Lydia Reeves Timmins, Temple University



So apparently, you can take the girl out of the news, but not the news out of the girl.

We had a BIG hailstorm Friday night. B-I-G. My husband was racing to get our cars in the garage as quarter-sized and bigger hail slammed onto our home. My reaction? Grab a camera, of course. The video was broken, so I had to settle for still. As I stood snapping pictures, my husband yelled “What are you DOING??” Umm, taking pictures?

I then called my old station and sent them. They appeared on the 11 p.m. news.  My husband said, “I thought you quit that job?” Yeah. Well. Not so much. Apparently. I have to admit—I was ready for a cut-in, if needed.

On the academic front, the term I’m teaching is about to end—just three classes left and w e are taking a field trip to my old station. You know the routine because you’ve seen it—students filing through the newsroom, manager leading the tour and all the journalists looking at the students and thinking “Poor kids—you have no idea what you are getting into!” Except I like to think I have prepared my students a bit more. It’s a fine line to walk—telling the truth without making every one of them switch majors.

It will be fun to see my colleagues—it’s been five months since I last set foot in the place. I’m looking forward to hearing some of the gossip! I also am anxious to find out if my perception of the job and the people has changed with this new point-of-view that I have.

I’ll keep you posted…

Lydia Reeves Timmins is a long-time news professional who is has made the transition into the academic world. She writes about her experiences for RTDNA.org.


 

 

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Newsroom to classroom

I agree with ya..some days, I want to call my former radio colleagues with some "breaking news" I spot on the way to and from Benedictine College, but 1. I avoid calling and driving, 2. I have moved into the next phase of my life as an instructor in Journalism and Mass Media. Broadcasting was great, preparing the next generation to be part of its evolution, priceless.

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I had been Anchor/Reporting full-time and teaching on the college level in the Upstate of SC as an Adjunct for the last 3 years. Looking forward to this fall as I begin full time as an Associate Professor at Lander University. Very much looking forward to preparing students for the industry and honestly telling them what to expect... no sugar coating! I\'ll also host a tv show on our local station, LGTV. (Lander Greenwood TV) So, I guess I still have the news bug. :-)

Sharon Johnson, rather Professor Sharon Johnson