ABOUT ME
Welcome to my new and improved blog formerly known as Pampers & Politics. I’ve decided to change the name of my blog for two very good reasons; one, I no longer cover politics on a regular basis and two, my four-year old daughter is no longer in Pampers! One day, she will kill me for writing this.
Real Media is about whatever I want it to be. Real stories. Real People. Real life. I’ve decided to play-off the name of my former public affairs show, The Real Story, which I created, including my signature sign-off , “thanks for keeping it real!”
It’s good to be back on the beat. For nearly 20 years (15 years here in Connecticut) I worked as a professional broadcast journalist at WTIC-TV/FOX CT and television stations in Maryland and West Virginia, covering big stories and some not so big stories. My career highlights include interviewing former Presidents Bill Clinton and George H.W. Bush, former Vice-Presidents Dick Cheney and Al Gore, former First-Lady Laura Bush, Ross Perot (remember him?) Hillary Clinton, and the late Christopher Reeve and his late wife Dana, both of whom continue to inspire me today~talk about true love in life and death.
I’ve also had some difficult assignments, too many to count really, but the one that stands-out in my mind is an obvious one. In 2005, I was one of five reporters picked in Connecticut to witness the execution of serial killer Michael Ross. I watched a man die and then reported back to the press who then wrote about what I saw. It wasn’t pretty and almost surreal but personally, I was more traumatized by the brutal Cheshire Home Invasion in 2007.
Switching gears, I am at a place in my life where the future is bright and good. I have a beautiful four-year old daughter, with whom I get to spend lots of time, a new puppy and a new out-look on life.
Thanks for checking out my “new” blog.
And thank-you for keeping it real!
I absolutely loved the story about Sadie and her attraction for “Cain”. As her liberal Auntie, I will try to do a better job consulting with Sadie on her political choices. Although he is Republican, at least he is a man of integrity.
Looks like things are off to a great start Shelly. Listening to the interview with Cappiello and Murphy, I like the fact that you’re moderating and not just sitting by while the candidates give their talking points. Much more interesting to hear some real substance behind the positions.
THANKS Chris! I am sure I’ll hear from someone that I was too hard on Cappiello but he wasn’t answering my questions. Murphy gave some long answers too. I’ll have to watch it at home when I don’t have a director talking into my ear piece –so, I can hear for myself. Thanks again. I really appreciate it!!!
And Lor–Don’t worry about your niece. It is important that at 22 months old, she comes to her political affiliations on her own.
From one blogger to another ( And I’m a former newspaper reporter ) Good luck. I’ll check in. Learned of your blog fm Colin McEnroe.
Connecticut will never be the same again thanks to your blog Sin!!! You go girl!!!! And you wonder why Sadie always wants to be in your shoes!!!!
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HI, Shelly, love your blog, most of all love your little one and you. What a blessing.
Love keeping in touch.
Hugs, Gerri
Gooooooooood job with the blooooooog.
Great job, Shelly. We can both keep dreaming that our BLOGs will “some day over the rainbow” actually make a difference.
Carl SLicer, blog editor, http://www.VernonGop.com, “Who do you trust ? “
Your decision to ask Richard Blumenthal if he would give up time to view Rob Simmons ties was ridiculous. Of course Mr. Blumenthal would agree, he is a gentleman and very professional.
If Rob Simmons wanted to show his ridiculous ties, he should have done it on his own time!
What Mr. Blumenthal had to say was much more important than having your viewers looking at ties.
As the producer, that was a very bad decision on your part!
we gave Mr. Blumenthal more time. We took it out of the break time. That’s the deal.
Hi Shelly,
Could you have Alison Dolan, of the baby in the beer box story, e-mail us. She can help with our Baby Safe Haven laws.
Jean & Mike Morrisey
babysafehaven@aol.com
Dear Shelly,
It has been an honor and a delight to spend time with you both at Merrick’s announcement and at last evening’s taping. I was impressed to see both a true professional and a caring individual at work.
THANKS Andy! I had a great time as well and thanks for taking the great pictures. I am posting them now!
Hi Shelly, what a gorgeous little girl! You’re so lucky. I’m a newspaper reporter and big “Real Story” fan, and wanted to add my support to your recent efforts. Take care.
Today, the Hartford Courant is offering a number of grossly misogynist images of women and girls, and “cute” depictions of DV against women in a “funny news” photo gallery:
http://www.courant.com/features/ktla-photogallery-weird,0,7358816.photogallery
See espcially photo numbers 1, 13, 16, 18, 26, 32 in the above photo gallery.
These are from mass media advertising from not very long ago, really … these are the media images anyone over the age of 45 saw as a kid. But note how while the Courant refrained from publishing any of the racist images prevalent back in the day, and there isn’t a single image demeaning of men, thankfully of course … so why do this to women and girls, not as a commentary piece or for dialogue, but merely for a laugh?
Who made this editorial decision? Offering these images, particularly the ones of DV, as “funny” are grossly insensitive considering the several recent instances of horrific violence on women right here in Connecticut, and while this paper is simultaneously making its money running pieces on the home invation/ rape/murders of a Cheshire, CT mother and her two daughters, the murder of Yale student Annie Le, the kidnapping of local lawyer Nancy Tyler in her home which was burned to the ground, with her in it until she escaped, by her estranged husband, and the Courant’s month-long coverage of the outrageous problem with DV in this state. If they are going to put these vile inciteful images out there for the public, then they need to do it responsibly, in the context of a dialogue about why and what these images can teach us.
Imagine if these were images of the Holocaust or slavery or lynchings or beatings of men offered up for a laugh? The image of the flight attendant is demeaning on so many level, and the sexual innuendo in the image suggesting “enjoying a flight” “up skirt” of the little girls defies a civil response.
We have had a wildly horrific series of domestic violence (DV) and murders of women in Connecticut over the past year — just the past six months have been bad enough – look it up. As a DV survivor and victim advocate for two decades, I am disgusted that images of it are offered up as “entertainment” by the oldest continuously-operating paper in America. As a citizen, a member of the legal community, and a military officer of a nation AT WAR, I despair that this venerable press institution could not fill their online space with something more meaningful … like they would be hard-pressed to find something, anything, more meaningful at any moment in these challenging times.
The Courant must be called to task for this within its professional community.
Shelly:
Great to see you back at it. You ever thought of going to another market? Just think Hartford is so dead for new ideas, which you always have. I wish you nothing but good luck. Good things do happen to good people.
Cheers,
Ben
Thanks Ben! I’ve thought about moving but my roots are too deep here. This is where I grew up. I want my daughter to grow up here too!
I hope you’re well. You’ve made my day.
Cheers.
Shelly