Kathryn Brown: Reporting from home a sign of the times

After 20 years in journalism, I assumed I had done pretty much everything. I've witnessed firsthand wars and inaugurations and natural disasters and economic meltdowns. Throughout it all, journalism has changed a great deal. The advent of social media and camera phones has changed how we get and transmit information. But never in a million years would I have dreamed what we are seeing now.

As grave concerns over coronavirus continue to spread around the globe and across the country, businesses are suddenly shifting their models to "work from home." As a journalist, that's not an option for us. We have studios and crews and expensive equipment designed for the sole purpose of "anchoring" a newscast from a central studio – a place where there is stability.

At least, I never thought working from home would be an option. But these are strange days, indeed.

I got the news this week from my news director that WRAL would like to set up a mini-studio in my home and explore having me anchor from home, as WRAL continues to exercise and expand social distancing measures. I'd be lying if I said I didn't jump at the chance. A zero-minute commute, the chance to see my kids whenever I want AND to do something really different and creative – what could be better?

After two days, I can tell you working from home is FAR from what I expected. The challenges have been unexpected but interesting. ​Last night, I propped my iPhone up between a Minnie Mouse stuffed animal and prayed it wouldn't fall over while I did live shots at 10 and 11 p.m. from my playroom. During the story that aired, I raced into my living room to prop my phone up on some coasters, jumped in front of the camera and crossed my fingers it wasn't pointing at the ceiling. Editing video on my iPhone is a tedious process. I worked constantly from noon until 11 p.m., stopping for a quick moment to shovel in some dinner and peck my kids goodnight before retreating behind closed doors again to continue figuring out the new normal.

Today, WRAL Technical Project Coordinator Tony Gupton showed up at my house with a truckload of equipment, effectively turning my guest room into a mini-studio. We hung an enormous banner designed by Visual Design Director Shan Zhong, connected routers to cameras to lights to cellphones to more routers. We are working to figure out a way to make this as seamless as possible for viewers – to continue providing the same steady, consistent, accurate product that our audience expects. There will be bumps along the way. I hope that doesn't come in the form of one of my children bursting in with a skinned knee ... but these are different days.

I am hardly the only one experiencing the hiccup of a new work environment. I can tell you I am trying to embrace the change as an opportunity to learn new things, to exercise new creativity, and to find compelling new ways to tell the stories that are important to our communities.

Look forward to being back in the studio with all my buds, but for now, I'll settle for a pretty darn impressive setup in my house that I never expected would have been possible, and pray for the day when this coronavirus nightmare is in the rearview mirror. Stay safe and healthy, friends! ​​​​​​