I’m proud to be a Washington State University alumni! But. When you’re having students call about making donations to the alumni organization please empower them to leave the script when appropriate. As I told the sweet sophomore woman studying communications who called me last night, I am between jobs right now, and no, I can’t donate $200 to the school. Maybe next time. She offered consolations about my job situation. Then she continued to sell… Continue reading
Author Archives: Allan Townsend
Late night sweeps piece fills next day’s news hole
I was watching the Five O’clock News with my teenaged son and in the middle of a commercial break a super-nifty pre-produced promo runs proclaiming a “must watch story” new tonight at 11pm. I was shocked to hear from my son’s mouth, “Cool story, but we can just wait and watch it tomorrow at 5.” Either he’s clearly tainted by my influence, or the jig is up news managers, the audience KNOWS! Either way it’s scary!
Where are all the Christmas trees?
There have been more than a few times that I’ve felt like I was living in a foreign country. One of the more recent was when it was time to find a Christmas tree for my family. The past two years in Manhattan a Christmas tree lot appeared literally at our apartment’s door step. Years prior to that in Seattle, the Christmas tree lots were found on nearly every street corner. This year I kept expecting to see one in the parking lot of the local grocer. Inside, you could find wreaths, poinsettias and garlands. But week after week nothing. Perhaps down the road at the hardware store? Or the gas station? Nope. Continue reading
10 things I learned my second year in New York City
I’ve survived another year in New York City. It wasn’t easy or pretty, but we’re still breathing. If you read the first installment of this series (read it or reread it now), you’ll notice this list is a little less positive. Please New Yorkers, I’m not picking on you, this is my experience of being a transplanted Seattleite in some extraordinary conditions. This is not a Big Apple bash. With that caveat, here we go! Continue reading
Justice is not always easy
One of the toughest things I have ever had to do was be a juror on a murder trial. It was hours and hours of often gruesome testimony and evidence. Your gut (heart and soul) is telling you this guy in the hot seat is a slime ball. He had a gun when he shouldn’t. He put himself into a dangerous situation. He could have turned around and gone home at any time. Things got out of control and the gun is fired. A young man died. BUT Continue reading
Behind the scenes of television news (2005)
Lights, camera, action! Pretty exciting, right? You bet! It seemed like the perfect career for me. The performer in me always loved the “Let’s put on a show” part of broadcast news. I wanted to capture that when I was Communications Director for my sons’ elementary school in Edmonds, WA. I brought my camcorder to work at KIRO-TV back in 2005 and got the help of my pal, Steve Raible, who played talent. Continue reading
Living ‘poor’ and loving it
Donna Freedman is spending less to have more. See how she is living within her financial boundaries and staying happy at the same time. Donna is a freelance writer for MSN Money. Continue reading
10 things I learned my first year in New York City
It’s my one year anniversary of being a New Yorker. Here are a couple of observations:
- 1) Love the MTA! This city rocks with its amazing mass transit system. I do not miss the terrible Seattle-area traffic. On the flip side – waiting for a train in the summer you sweat through a shirt in a matter of seconds.
Actress Natalie Dormer calls me “rude”
I was waiting for my bag at JFK and saw this crowd around a girl signing autographs. I take a picture and she looks at me with evil eyes and says, ” I just spent 6 hours on a plane. How rude.” Well I just got off that same flight. wahhh! Continue reading
I’m nowhere near where I need to be, but I’m closer than I was before. #NeverGiveUp
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