Dispatches from a Reporter's Notebook

Giving thanks

Tue, 20 Nov 2012 19:15:12 -0500

When we help people, that help needs to be tangible – not just for the people we are helping but for our own understanding of what we get from giving of ourselves to others.

Giving back

Tue, 20 Nov 2012 11:27:22 -0500

Editor's note: WRAL's Amanda Lamb offers a behind-the-scenes look at what TV news reporters do, the people they meet and how their jobs affect them.

Patriotic wasteland

Thu, 15 Nov 2012 19:07:44 -0500

Editor's note: WRAL's Amanda Lamb offers a behind-the-scenes look at what TV news reporters do, the people they meet and how their jobs affect them.

Glimmers of hope

Wed, 14 Nov 2012 15:20:03 -0500

Editors note: Amanda Lamb is in the northeast United States this week reporting on clean-up and recovery efforts after Hurricane Sandy tore through the region two weeks ago.

Separate realities

Tue, 13 Nov 2012 23:33:51 -0500

Editors note: Amanda Lamb is in the northeast United States this week reporting on clean-up and recovery efforts after Hurricane Sandy tore through the region two weeks ago.

Once Again

Wed, 27 Jul 2011 17:32:53 -0400

My heart is heavy this week as I report on yet another senseless murder of another young mother. Those who knew 27-year-old Laura Ackerson have described her as a beautiful, charismatic woman who worked hard at everything she did, including being a mother to two young boys. She was growing her small marketing business in Kinston, and at the same time, fighting with the father of her two young sons over their custody. Yet, despite the obvious stress in her life, loved ones say Ackerson maintained a positive attitude. She felt like things were going to be okay. Now, Laura Ackerson is dead. Her two little boys have lost their mother, and nothing is "okay" anymore.

Uncivil Discourse

Thu, 26 May 2011 16:08:51 -0400

The court system has a new challenge to contend with – social media.

Hug your children

Wed, 02 Mar 2011 16:13:31 -0500

In every murder case there is a grieving mother.

Actions speak louder than words

Tue, 14 Dec 2010 12:04:21 -0500

When people plead guilty to serious crimes, they often stand up and apologize to the victim and the judge in the courtroom. It is often hard to assess whether or not someone's apology is genuine, or aimed at getting mercy from the court.

A mother first

Tue, 07 Dec 2010 10:23:44 -0500

While Elizabeth Edwards' legacy is inextricably tied to John Edwards' demise, she is more than that. She is a mother, a writer, a sister, a daughter. I would say that out of all these she is first, and foremost, a mother.

What were they thinking?

Tue, 16 Nov 2010 13:48:06 -0500

The question everyone had yesterday when three teenagers were sentenced for killing Apex High School student Matthew Silliman was "Why?" And maybe even more importantly, "How can we keep it from happening again?" These are the questions that people have asked me over and over again as I covered this case throughout the past two years.

Ahead of us

Wed, 03 Nov 2010 15:13:11 -0400

Talking to the parent of a child who has died is without a doubt the most gut-wrenching thing I ever have to do in my job. As a parent myself, it's impossible for me to separate the emotions that I have imagining losing a child with the story. It never gets easier, knocking on that door. One look from the grieving mother tells me she knows who I am and why I am there. Sometimes I get doors slammed in my face. I get yelled at. I get lots of "no comments," but more often than not, I find people who want to talk. Oftentimes, they have no interest on going on camera, but they still want to talk.

When love goes down the drain

Wed, 15 Sep 2010 12:07:08 -0400

There are few things that surprise me anymore. In 20 years, I have sat through dozens of murder trials – each with a unique set of characters and stories to go along with them. But today was the first day I heard about a jailhouse love affair that started in a sink drain.

Dancing with the stars

Mon, 16 Aug 2010 12:36:37 -0400

It is always a gamble. Anytime we decide to do a live shot in a public place, there's a chance something could happen on live television that we had not anticipated. It is the chance we take. Luckily, most of the "backgrounding" by people during our live shots is benign and draws little attention.

Danger at work

Wed, 05 May 2010 16:47:15 -0400

When we think of violence in the workplace, most of us think of a disgruntled former employees or angry clients taking their ire out on an entity they feel has wronged them. But in reality, statistics show that most acts of workplace violence are domestic in nature.

'Evil Next Door'

Tue, 06 Apr 2010 11:20:12 -0400

Publishing a book is a lot like having a baby. You spend months preparing for the big day. Along the way there are many painful moments – from research, to writing at 2:00 in the morning, to a seemingly never-ending cycle of editing.

Oiling the wheels of justice

Thu, 25 Mar 2010 05:56:20 -0400

Not a day goes by that someone doesn't ask me why it takes so long to arrest someone on murder charges, why it takes so long for a murder case to come to trial, and why it takes so long to try a person for murder.

The life of a writer

Mon, 01 Mar 2010 18:21:57 -0500

When I signed on to be a television news reporter twenty years ago I never realized just how fortunate I was to have an opportunity to write for a living. Not unlike other creative endeavors-art, music, dance-it is a lucky soul who is given an opportunity to do what he or she loves for money. It took me years, however, to realize that writing two minutes of copy a day was actually honing my writing skills. I always fashioned myself as a television reporter first and a writer second. At this point in my career I have now had the additional opportunity of being able to publish several books. In my mind, this now gives credibility to the moniker, "writer." But in truth, no matter what you write, every time you put your fingers to the keyboard you are swinging that tennis racket again and again.

What's news got to do with it?

Tue, 16 Feb 2010 16:41:19 -0500

Probably one of the most media-saturated stories in recent weeks has been that of John Edwards and his failed cover-up of an extramarital affair and the subsequent birth of his out-of-wedlock child.

A child's loss

Tue, 15 Dec 2009 17:57:40 -0500

Michelle Young was just 29 years old when she was beaten to death in her own home just outside of Raleigh. At the time, her 2-year-old daughter, Cassidy, was in the house with her.

Raleigh plus Kate make some irate

Wed, 09 Dec 2009 06:39:49 -0500

When we got the tip that reality show star Kate Gosselin, of TLC's "Jon & Kate Plus 8" fame, was in town at a local diner, there was no question that we were going. Frankly, it was a big deal simply because celebrities don't usually hang out at greasy spoons in Raleigh.

On the Run

Fri, 13 Nov 2009 10:09:52 -0500

How many years does it take to right a wrong? What would you do if you thought your life was in danger?

Opting Out

Tue, 06 Oct 2009 12:35:52 -0400

It happens to all of us. We sit down at our computer and log-on to our e-mail account and are bombarded with junk mail. Not unlike going to the mailbox and retrieving a pile of colorful advertisements, it's annoying and time-consuming.

The Ripple Effect

Sun, 23 Aug 2009 10:53:55 -0400

When I first heard the news that a little girl had been hit and killed by a car while getting off of the school bus Wednesday, I felt sick to my stomach. I have a daughter the same age, and my heart immediately went out to the grieving mother and her family. I had little time to ponder the gut-wrenching heartache, however, because I had to be on the air with the story in just about twenty-five minutes.

Giving Voice

Mon, 20 Jul 2009 18:22:49 -0400

Hundreds of people turned out for a vigil in Rocky Mount last night to honor five murdered women and three others who are missing. The remains of a sixth person have been found, but not identified. It appears the cases which date back to October of 2005 may be connected--most of the bodies were found in Edgecombe County near Seven Bridges Road.

No immunity from grief

Tue, 02 Jun 2009 06:42:28 -0400

When the prosecutor's voice cracked as he read a letter from the mother of a 10-year-old boy killed by a drunk driver, I knew that something unusual was happening in the courtroom.

Staying clean

Wed, 27 May 2009 18:30:38 -0400

This week a twenty year old man who admitted to killing someone in a drunk driving crash in 2007 butted heads with the law again.

And justice for all

Wed, 06 May 2009 18:12:43 -0400

We've gotten a tremendous amount of feedback on our story about the Patriot Act that aired on WRAL April 29. It has consistently been one of our most highly viewed stories on WRAL.com. In addition, we have gotten inquiries from media outlets in Indiana where the teenager is in custody, and from national media as well. One of the newest platforms that we monitor is the prevalence of our stories on social networking sites and on blogs. Again this story is getting unprecedented attention in those areas

The power of one

Mon, 20 Apr 2009 16:48:08 -0400

Soon after Nancy Cooper was found murdered near her Cary home her friends and family started noticing butterflies in their neighborhoods.

Putting a price tag on life

Thu, 19 Mar 2009 08:49:32 -0400

Tuesday, the family of a murdered Wake County woman, Michelle Young, was awarded $15.5 million in damages for her loss. The money is slated to go to the couple's 4-year-old daughter, Cassidy. The compensatory and punitive damages are to be paid by the victim's husband, Jason Young.

"Big Brother"

Wed, 04 Mar 2009 17:16:39 -0500

When I first read George Orwell's science fiction novel entitled 1984 in high school, I didn't really get it. First and foremost, I wasn't a science fiction fan, so I read it with an innate skepticism. Secondly, I couldn't imagine a world where your every move could be monitored and documented.

A boy called "Murder"

Sat, 21 Feb 2009 12:16:20 -0500

A boy nicknamed "Murder" by his fellow gang members was acquitted by a Wake County jury yesterday of yes, you guessed it, first degree murder. When the verdict was read, 17-year-old Latrell Latham appeared to laugh at the outcome of the trial that could have sent him to prison for life.

Paying it forward

Tue, 10 Feb 2009 16:39:38 -0500

With our economy continuing to spiral downward, it is clear that many people are in need. WRAL is doing what it can to help steer people in the right direction, as well as help them get back on their feet.

Desperate Times

Thu, 05 Feb 2009 09:48:13 -0500

One of the dismal side effects of a floundering economy is more crime – and not just your run-of-the mill crime, but desperate crime. I define this as something people wouldn't normally do unless they were backed into a corner. As more people lose homes, lose jobs and lose their ability to pay their bills, I think we will unfortunately see more of this type of crime.

God Bless the Snow (and the President)

Tue, 20 Jan 2009 12:52:23 -0500

All my kids could think about this morning as I headed out the door for work was of course, the snow. They ran in and out of my room asking me to help them wriggle into waterproof snow pants, tie their little boots and wrap woolly scarves around their tiny necks. Living in North Carolina is a blessing if you love a mild climate, but a curse to children who wish winter after winter for white fluffy snow beneath their unused sleds. My oldest daughter has rarely seen snow; my smallest has never seen snow that she can remember.

Happy News

Fri, 16 Jan 2009 17:38:51 -0500

Not a day goes by when people don't ask me why we don't do more "happy news." I try to explain to them news is what is different and unique, and most of the time that means something negative like a murder, a fire, an accident, a scandal...you get the picture.

New Year's Wish

Sat, 03 Jan 2009 09:25:11 -0500

Friday I was taking my children to a museum in Durham when I passed a church where a funeral was getting ready to take place. Absentmindedly, I blurted out to no one in particular, "I bet it's another murder victim." When I picked up the newspaper this morning it turned out I was right.

News is not for kids

Tue, 09 Dec 2008 15:11:47 -0500

One of the most frequent criticisms we get in the television news business is that people don't feel comfortable watching it with their children in the room. And here's the thing –I agree. News is not suitable for children, it's not supposed to be.

Relief

Tue, 04 Nov 2008 05:14:00 -0500

The beautiful weather we enjoyed this past weekend always reminds me of why I love North Carolina. A warm fall day bathed in sunlight along with the orange and yellow hues of the changing leaves is always something to be thankful for. Somehow the longer I live here the easier it is to forget just how lucky we are.

A Day at the Beach

Wed, 22 Oct 2008 17:53:40 -0400

For as long as I've known Phyllis Rhodes, a CCBI employee, we've talked about the fact that she had never been to the beach.