Election Day in the Newsroom

There's always an electricity in the air as election day draws near. I can tell everyone in the newsrom is buzzing; this is what being a journalist is all about. We're planning the schedule, waiting to see the programming clock. I want to know which rally I'll cover. Democrat or Republican? Governor's race or legislative? Maybe a Presidential watch party?

This is the first election in my career where I'll be out and about in the field. I covered a watch party during the primary, and I loved mingling with people, seeing their excitement, asking them how they're feeling, describing the scene live to my audience on the other side of the speakers.

In 2004, I remember solo anchoring the primary election results. It was a mess. I would run frantically from the editor's computer in the newsroom, to the studio to give results live. Id' have to check in with our single reporter in the field. No editor was helping. I just about blew a gasket, but I was having the time of my life. During the 2004 general election, I helped gather numbers in the newsroom, and that is one of my favorite duties. I love refreshing the page on the secretary of state's website obsessively, and hear the excitment in the anchors voices as they read from the sheet I put together.

This time, I will be out and about on my own. I'll have to recognize dignitaries and get their take (always tough since I work in radio, and hardly ever watch TV). I'll have to put together concise, balanced reports, no matter which party I'm covering. I won't be able to jump for joy or comment if MY CANDIDATE gets elected.

I can't WAIT for election day, and I think I speak for most of my colleagues as well. Let's kick some radio butt!