A local family in the market for a new home decided to call on a reality television series for assistance.

Jordan and Allie Darr had been renting a home in Sylvania before deciding it was time to buy. Facing some difficulties in finding the right house, they turned to the Home and Garden Television (HGTV) network’s “House Hunters” to guide them through the process.

“We signed up online to be on the show, then we did a phone interview and a video interview, and then they picked us,” Allie said. “They asked about what we were each looking for in a house.”

Finding a home suitable for all of the couple’s needs was indeed a challenge. The Darrs are parents to three boys, all under the age of 3. Additionally, both Allie and Jordan do a significant amount of their work at home — Jordan is in sales and Allie is a photographer.

Darr Family

“Jordan and I disagreed on the size of the house, and it was very hard to find a house that fit our needs for a home office for Jordan, a photography studio for me and then also room for our three boys to homeschool,” Allie said.

Kathy Willis, a Realtor with the Danberry Company, was hired by the Darrs as a buyer’s agent. Willis was eager to assist them in their effort to be accepted on the show, despite some initial anxiety.

“When Allie first asked me to be on ‘House Hunters,’ I was in shock and so excited,” Willis said. “Then panic set in as we had to do an audition tape.”

Willis realized that appearing on the show with the Darrs would be a valuable experience.

“Being a real estate agent and being asked to be on the No. 1 real estate show is pretty exciting. It was fun to see how they put a show together,” she said.

After the Darrs were accepted, filming began. The entire process of auditioning, house hunting and filming took about two or three months, Allie said.

The couple, originally from Columbus, focused on the Perrysburg area during their search.

“We like the atmosphere there,” Allie, one of the WNWO Moms on the Go, said. “We like how cute the downtown area is.”

During the process, the couple focused on a few houses that would potentially suit their needs.

“Our Realtor worked within our budget to meet our criteria,” Allie said. “I like old and vintage, and my husband likes something more functional. He likes smaller; I like bigger. He likes simple; I am looking for something more unique and unusual.”

Willis added that the filming of the show did not distract them too much from the task at hand.

“The camera wasn’t ever in the way,” she said. “Sometimes we would have to do things over a couple times, just to get the right shot of things as we went through the houses.”

The end result of the Darrs’ search cannot be revealed until after the show’s airing, sometime toward the end of March, but Allie hinted that they may be back for another appearance on HGTV.

“They do a ‘where are they now’ episode. They come back and see where the house hunters are, because sometimes [the show] leaves the viewers hanging. Right now, we’re in the process of getting on that show.”

For more information, visit the Web site www.hgtv.com/house-hunters/show/index.html.

Tags: Allie Darr, HGTV, House Hunters, Jordan Darr, Moms on the Go, WNWO

This entry was posted on Thursday, March 7th, 2013 at 2:22 pm and is filed under Arts and Life, Television.
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This week, my family celebrated my grandfather’s 86th birthday. He is a soft-spoken, kindhearted man who has been blessed with 40-plus grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

I watched as he received a few cards, but not much in the way of presents. It warmed my heart that, of all the children, my 2-year-old daughter sat on his lap and helped open the present from us and then blow out candles.

While I thought our gift was quite unique (a silver “Peace” dollar from the year he was born, 1927), and admittedly, he wants or needs nothing, I started to think about what he would really want if we really knew everything about him.

Delcamp

One thought led to another, and I thought about how very little I know about him, and for that matter, how very little I know about my own mother and father.

I feel, as I think many of my friends do, especially those with children, that I am ill-equipped for many of life’s difficulties. I come from a generation whose parents, as I see it, are greatly detached from the lives of their children. And in turn, my generation has a relative detachment from the lives of its children.

Our grandparents didn’t understand our baby boomer, hippie parents. And we don’t understand the knee socks and poor fashion sense of our parents.

The baby boomer generation was raised by blue-collar, hardworking folk who didn’t share their feelings and went to work on their worst sick day. A time when emotional support to children took a backseat to getting the lawn mowed so the neighbors wouldn’t think you were a slob. Simple lack of communication seemed to create an irreparable gap between parent and child. Now that may sound like a cliché, but it seemed very evident in my upbringing.

I love my parents, of course, but I am sure I’m not alone when I say that I don’t know them very well. My father has never spoken with me about exploits or adventures he has had, or places he’s lived. My mother never told me much about her upbringing, or what her childhood dreams were.

I decided to write about this because I think we are losing a wealth of information as our parents and grandparents age; many of my friends have already lost theirs.

But times have changed. Many children think of their parents as friends, as people they can confide in. The openness has given everyone in my generation the opportunity to break a cycle that created the rift to begin with.

However, I see many people (via Facebook) I grew up with perpetuating that cycle. I watch as they make many of the mistakes that my own parents made, and wonder why they cannot realize it. And while I understand that everyone has his or her own way of parenting, clearly there are choices being made that do not lend themselves to positive influences in a child’s growing and learning process.

An excuse you and I have always heard is, “I was raised that way, and I turned out just fine.” But in my opinion, “fine” is just not good enough for me, or my own children.

I’m not saying at all that they did a bad job, but there should be a level of protection, along with information passed down to us.

Sitting down and having a heart-to-heart with my parents about their feelings on life is a far-fetched, but it doesn’t mean I wouldn’t like to know things. Who knows if your parents or grandparents had dreams similar to yours, if they had the same fears or quirky habits, things that they never did but still long for to this day?

I am interested in so many things about my parents, as you should be about yours. The males particularly interest me because I think as a man, I retain much of their influence. The same as a daughter would feel toward her mother.

I am lucky enough to still have the opportunity to get that information, and might yet find the fortitude to go get it, but it’s not something I see in my near future.

I would, however, recommend that you get all the information from your parents and grandparents before you regret not doing so. Or, if you are a baby boomer, a grandparent or great-grandparent; don’t let your information be lost. Talk about it, write about it, but make it known, or it will be lost.

Chris Delcamp is a reporter and videojournalist for WNWO-TV. Email him at cdelcamp@wnwo.com.

Tags: Chris Delcamp, grandparents, heritage, legacy, The Correct Perception, WNWO

This entry was posted on Thursday, February 28th, 2013 at 2:27 pm and is filed under Opinion, The Correct Perception.
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The former bachelor from ABC’s “The Bachelor” and “The Bachelorette” shows, host of HGTV’s “Showhouse Showdown,” contributor to “Today,” radio show host and musician, Bob Guiney is set to perform at Forrester’s on the River, March 23 at 7 p.m.

Known as “Bachelor Bob,” Guiney stole the hearts of women across the country when he was rejected by Trista Rehn (Sutter) on “The Bachelorette” in 2003.

Scott Grimes and Bob Guiney will play a Toledo concert on March 23.

He has enjoyed a crazy ride since being propelled into Hollywood nearly 10 years ago, but Guiney is headed to Toledo to perform music, which is his first love.

“Before I was on “The Bachelor” or anything, I signed a record deal. I was a musician and I played Toledo several times,” Guiney said.

Since starting his TV career, Detroit native Guiney has begun performing again. His longtime friend, Scott Grimes known from appearances on “ER” and as the voice of Steve Smith on FOX’s show “American Dad,” will be in concert with Guiney.

“I love playing where I am from and I can’t get home enough, so when they put together the event I was excited to be a part of it,” Guiney said.

The concert will benefit local nonprofit Food For Thought, a social justice organization dedicated to feeding the hungry with a mobile food program. The event is part of  “Free from Hunger 2013,” a yearlong initiative spearheaded by Columbia Gas of Ohio, Toledo Free Press, WNWO and WNWO Moms on the Go.

Charity is important to the TV host and musician. One of the bands he is involved with, Band from TV, is made up of actors from popular TV shows and makes it a mission to give back.

“It’s been the most rewarding thing I have done because we do it all for charity. We have raised $3 million for charity during the past seven years,” Guiney said.

Guiney and Grimes have branched off from Band from TV and now tour together.

“What we do is really fun. We don’t take ourselves too seriously; we are gonna have a great time.  We want people to really enjoy themselves and dance and have fun,” Guiney said.  “We are a couple guys with acoustic guitars and bang out a bunch of fun songs.”

Tags: Bob Guiney, Columbia Gas of Ohio, Scott Grimes, The Bachelor, The Bachelorette, Toledo Free Press, WNWO, WNWO Moms On The Go

This entry was posted on Thursday, February 14th, 2013 at 5:26 pm and is filed under Arts and Life, Community, Free From Hunger 2013, In Concert.
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I am the proud father of two beautiful little girls. One is a vibrant 2-year-old, and the other is a smiling, love-filled 7-month-old.

I’ve seen numerous styles of child rearing when it comes to young infanst sleep and toddler discipline. While I won’t make the mistake of telling a friend that I think what they’re doing is inappropriate, I will express my common-sense view.

The main issue I have with parents, both new and experienced, is the old “cry it out” method. This is where, when it’s time for sleep, the parents put their child into a room, shut the door and go away. If the child should cry, they will not come to his or her aid. They won’t interfere with the child even if he or she is in full-blown screaming hysterics.

If you do this, you are probably thinking that you already know what I am going to say. But you may not know why I am going to say it. I believe this method to be totally and completely ineffective, and potentially damaging to the bond that should be established between you and your child.

Let me preface this by saying that I am no expert, other than being a father of two girls, one of whom was extremely colicky and allergy-ridden.

Back to the topic, I’ve watched it being discussed both verbally and via Facebook.

My view is that leaving small babies to cry until they have exhausted themselves to the point where they pass out is done mostly by the lazy. I watch as people ask what they should do about their baby’s lack of sleep and the fact that they aren’t sleeping. At least one response will always include, “Let them cry until they fall asleep. If you go to them now, they will be taking advantage of you for the rest of your life. Let them know your’e in charge.” Or something to that effect, but you get the point.

To this, I say, get your head on straight and pull your common sense out of the proverbial gutter.

I cannot imagine how any sane person would think that a 3-, 6-, or 9-month-old child would know, conceptually, how to take advantage of a person. They are simply in a state that requires attention, and so they cry. The crying pattern, one can assume, is always associated with symptoms of pain, hunger, or a dirty diaper.

I don’t believe that infants cry just to cry at that age. They are calling out for your help. By ignoring them, you are essentially telling them that you aren’t going to help. While people tell you that it will help them self-soothe, the fact is that you are telling them that they cannot count on you for the help they are looking for. When they finally stop crying, they have given up on the help that should have come. They may be asleep, but it is from expending all of their energy.

As for my family, we have gone to our daughters every time they cry. Not the very moment, mind you. We give them the opportunity to go to sleep, or back to sleep if already in bed, but never let them continue crying for any extended period. We certainly never let them get to a hysterical state.

I think going to them shows them they can rely on the people they should be able to rely on.

I grew up, like many, being told who is boss and being given orders with no logic behind them, only control. Subsequently, the first chance I got, I left. I made many mistakes because of my need to question everything that didn’t make logical sense, which got me in trouble more times than one.

As for my kids, they will not grow up having me as their boss. I will be their foundation on which they can build their own mansions. I will always be there to soothe them if I can, and hope they will have the confidence to know their parents will always give their support.

They may fall, and they may get hurt and they may cry; I think they should know that is a part of life, but that there are people who support them and will always help guide them, and if needed, dry their tears and rock them to sleep.

Chris Delcamp is a reporter and videojournalist for WNWO-TV. Email him at cdelcamp@wnwo.com.

Tags: Chris Delcamp, crying babies, WNWO

This entry was posted on Thursday, February 14th, 2013 at 2:51 pm and is filed under Opinion, The Correct Perception.
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By Jay Hathaway, Toledo Free Press Staff Writer

A local model and producer are bringing together two staples of American culture — beer and swimsuits — in an effort to spotlight Toledo for a possible national advertising campaign.

Cory Rist recently coordinated and posed for a photo shoot that was sponsored by the brewers of Pabst Blue Ribbon (PBR) beer. The session took place entirely on location at the Bartley Lofts in Downtown Toledo.

A Pabst Blue Ribbon photo shoot, featuring Toledo model Cory Rist and other Toledo vendors, was recently shot in Toledo. Photo by David Spott.

Rist, who also runs her own interior decorating company called Simply Put Life, said the catalyst of the photo shoot was a celebrity birthday party.

“Back in October, one of the owners of PBR contacted me and invited me to an event they were doing at the Playboy mansion for Snoop Dogg’s birthday,” Rist said. “They also own Colt 45, which is partnered with Snoop. They were basically throwing him a birthday party with PBR. I flew out there for the weekend.”

While she was there, she met the PBR owners’ girlfriends, one of whom owns Éclairée in New York City. During the meeting, Rist was asked if she would like to do a photo shoot modeling one of Eclairee’s swimsuits.

“I mentioned that I had a photo shoot coming up with a local photographer and it wouldn’t be a problem. I already had a shoot scheduled for pictures of my son and I. So, then my friend from PBR asked if I would shoot some of their product, as well. He offered to sponsor the shoot, if I was willing to do that,” Rist said.

Rist agreed, believing that Toledo is more representative of the Pabst brand than other larger cities. Pabst then sent a variety of items to be used for the photo shoot.

“I actually have a skateboard they sent me. It’s so cool. It’s a longboard, and it actually has a beer bottle opener on the bottom,” Rist said.

Rist then began putting her production skills to work, and sought out local businesses to take part in the shoot.

“I put a team together to help, because I know there’s a lot of talent here in Toledo,” Rist said.

She asked Natalie Pohorecki if she was interested in doing the makeup. Pohorecki is an award-winning makeup artist who hosts the “Makeup Monday” and “Trendy Toledo” fashion segment on WNWO. She agreed to get involved with the PBR shoot, and explained a bit about how she was able to contribute to the project.

“I was the makeup artist and clothing stylist on location for the day. I did airbrush makeup to give Cori a perfect glow,” Pohorecki said. “We kept her makeup modern and classy. I pulled clothes from a few local boutiques, as well as from Cori’s own wardrobe, to add to what PBR sent us.”

A Pabst Blue Ribbon photo shoot, featuring Toledo model Cory Rist and other Toledo vendors, was recently shot in Toledo. Photo by Phillip Kaplan.

Local photographer David Sprott took charge of shooting the pictures while Omar Khan recorded and produced a video of the process, which can be viewed on Facebook. Additionally, Phillip Kaplan shot behind-the-scenes photos and Ali Gallaro from Salon 180 styled Cori’s hair.

Rist said she is unsure how the photos will be used by PBR once they receive them, but is hopeful they will gain a lot of exposure. Rist also noted that PBR tends to have a strong social media presence and suggested that the photos could possibly be used for that, as well.

Following the photo shoot, Rist and the crew decided to hold a contest to help PBR get some local exposure.

“We thought it would be fun for Toledo to see one of their favorite beers being shot in their hometown,” Rist said.

The contest is currently being hosted on Facebook (“PBR Toledo Swag — Contest Page”), and challenges locals to post their best pictures of themselves enjoying PBR. The contest will run through Feb. 10, with two winners — one male, one female — to be announced. The winners will receive “swag packs” from PBR. Entrants must be at least 21 years old to be eligible to win.

Rist added that the PBR skateboard will not be up for grabs, and that no actual beer will be given away, “because it’s illegal, or something silly like that.”

Tags: Ali Gallaro, Bartley Lofts, Cory Rist, David Sprott, Natalie Pohorecki, Omar Khan, Pabst Blue Ribbon, PBR, Phillip Kaplan, Salon 180, WNWO

This entry was posted on Thursday, January 31st, 2013 at 8:11 pm and is filed under Arts and Life, Contests, Photography.
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The Second Amendment was written into the Constitution on Dec. 15, 1791.

This amendment seems to be interpreted differently by everyone, much like the writings of the Bible. Each person has his or her own idea of right and wrong, true meaning or hidden subtleties.

It seems to me that a group of people who left their native country to settle in a “New World,” where there was less oppression, would write something ensuring that they had the right to stand up to the people who oppressed them.

In the case of the original 13 colonies, where each one acted as a sovereign entity, they needed the Constitution to help unite them better. But the powers that be thought it wise to make sure that the type of leaders who had oppressed them prior to this time should not have the ability to do so in the future by means of their own greed and selfish agendas.

I think the right to keep and bear arms came about so that, should those in power use their influence to put the free people under their boot heel, the free people would have the legal right to defend themselves from the corruption that influence may take on.

And so it is that we all have the right to own firearms as we deem necessary to protect ourselves and our families.

I work in a business whose players  spout political rhetoric as if they had researched the facts for themselves instead of simply reading a regurgitated script from the wires. What’s worse, they do it on a national level. But I digress, as that is a story for another day.

My interpretation of what I see and hear directly from the mouths of politicians is meant only for politics. It’s become an art form where looks and charisma takes center stage, while meaning and content take the backseat. So long as you yell the loudest, or add a strong curse word at the end of an expressive sentence, the crowd will cheer.

But it’s time we think for ourselves.

The people who were in charge of gun bans in the past are quick to jump back on the horse, using the tragedy in Newtown, Conn., as a reason to ride it once more.

Let’s think about all the murders on your local news. What type of weapon was used in most of those? If you don’t recall, I’ll remind you: a handgun. I know because I report on many of the stories. I see the file come through our feeds and watch the word “handgun” repeat over and over.

So why is there such a focus on these “assault weapons”?

I can only surmise that they are targeted because they look rather menacing. They look similar to what you would see in a shoot-em-up film. Quite simply, these guns are being vilified on a level for which we haven’t a name.

I would like to help debunk a myth.

There is a common term I hear emphasized quite inappropriately, so pay attention: “Semi-automatic.” Many people, including those with 10-plus years of television reporting, have no idea what this term means.

The truth: “Semi-automatic” means that every time one bullet leaves the chamber, the trigger has to be pulled to ready another. To exhaust a magazine of 15 rounds, the trigger must be pulled 15 times. This is true with any weapon that is available to the public.

“Fully automatic” refers to a gun that can be fired continuously by holding the trigger down. These type of guns have been banned in all facets of sale or transfer since 1986. Frankly, they are all but impossible for a member of the general public to attain. And completely impossible for someone to do so legally.

I have never actually seen any assault-style weapon used in any killings that have come across my news desk.

So the big question is, why are the politicians for gun control trying to ban something that, in statistical terms, is only responsible for less than 1 percent of all crime-related shootings?

My summation would be that they have to appease the people who pay for their campaigns. Because a handgun ban is a complete impossibility.

Rest assured, a gun ban will do absolutely nothing! It will stop no crimes, and give people more of a reason to feel held under the heel of a boot.

In case you were unaware, the Columbine massacre happened during the last assault weapon ban.

Chris Delcamp is a reporter and videojournalist for WNWO-TV. Email him at cdelcamp@wnwo.com.

Tags: Chris Delcamp, Gun control, Second Amendment, WNWO

This entry was posted on Thursday, January 31st, 2013 at 1:55 pm and is filed under Opinion, The Correct Perception.
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It’s been a busy week for new WNWO News Director Jim Blue.

The 60-year-old veteran newsman, who was an evening news anchor at the station from 2002-08, anchored his final 10 p.m. newscast at WFFT in Fort Wayne, Ind., on Jan. 18, moved back to Toledo that weekend and started work at WNWO on Jan. 21.

A day and a half into his new job, Blue said he has not only been re-acclimating to the Toledo newsroom he left four years ago, but also meeting staff, interviewing candidates for open positions and brainstorming ways to boost the station’s viewership. On Jan. 23, he debuted as co-anchor with Angi Gonzalez on the 6 p.m. weekday news.

“It’s just been very busy,” Blue said. “I knew we had a lot to do.”

On Jan. 22, Blue recounted how he had walked out of the restroom earlier that day and caught himself heading toward his old desk.

“It was like I had never left,” Blue said.

Blue left Toledo after WNWO didn’t renew his contract in 2008, but he said he holds no ill will toward the station.

“There’s no point to that,” Blue said. “At that time, all of broadcasting was in quite a recession and this station was no exception. Although I can’t speak for the management, I’m quite sure it was a cost-cutting move. It was just a very, very difficult financial time for all broadcasting stations and in a lot of ways stations were cutting off limbs in order to save the patient.

“It didn’t come as a surprise, although I would have preferred that it had not happened,” Blue added. “We all had to make difficult choices.”

Blue soon landed a job as news director and 10 p.m. news anchor at WFFT, but said moving to Fort Wayne while his wife, Kay, an English professor at Owens Community College, stayed behind in Toledo was hard. He commuted home on weekends.

“A lot of folks sacrificed (during the recession) and so did Kay and I, but it allowed both of us to continue in our respective careers and a two-hour commute is, while not a pleasant price to pay, certainly less difficult than what some other folks were forced to do,” Blue said. “Now that things are looking quite a lot better for Toledo and the economy in general, this is just a really great time to be back here.”

Jim Blue on the set at WNWO.

Planning to move

Blue said he had been planning to move back to Toledo even before he heard about the opening at WNWO.

“After four years of really very satisfying and enjoyable professional work there in Fort Wayne, it was still taxing personally to be separated from Kay for the majority of the week,” Blue said. “I realized I was going to have to make a decision to come back and I was fully intending to make that move not knowing what kind of job might await me here, if anything. And then, just serendipitously, this position opened up.

“I feel very, very grateful and humble about being able to continue doing this business in the community where I want to live,” Blue said. “We’ve maintained our home here. Our kids grew to adulthood here. Most of our friends are here or in the region. So we have really solid roots in this community. It’s home and it feels very much like home.”

WNWO President and CEO Chris Topf, who has been with the station since 2011, called Blue a “pivotal addition” to the news team.

“In Jim you’re getting an on-air talent that people want to watch and you’re also getting someone who knows how to develop and groom a news organization,” Topf said. “He was very successful with that in Fort Wayne and I expect that with the group we’ve put together here, Jim will be instrumental in making them better journalists and making us a better news organization.

“Jim being paired with Angi at 6 o’clock is going to be a great duo,” Topf said. “We’ve spent a lot of time over the past year and a half trying to get the right people in place at this station. We’ve got a lot of very solid pieces in place and we want to build on that. I think Jim’s going to help bring together all those pieces we’ve brought together and make them one big fighting force.”

Tough market

WNWO, Toledo’s NBC affiliate, consistently draws the fewest viewers among the city’s major news outlets, according to data gathered by the Nielsen Media Research Co.

According to the most recent numbers, released in November, WNWO drew an average of 2,000 viewers to its 5 a.m. newscast compared to 13,500 for WTVG and 8,000 for WTOL. WTVG also has the most viewers at 6 a.m. with 30,000. WTOL was next with 21,000, while not enough people watched WNWO to measure.

WNWO’s evening newscasts also lagged behind WTOL and WTVG, drawing an average of 5,000 at 6 p.m. and 4,000 at 11 p.m., compared to WTOL’s 68,000 at 6 p.m. and 48,000 at 11 p.m. and WTVG’s 64,000 at 6 p.m. and 42,000 at 11 p.m.

Staff turnover likely plays a role in WNWO’s lower ratings, Topf said.

“There has been so much change at this station,” Topf said. “It’s gone through so many different ownerships and each time there’s been a completely different philosophy and a full change of personnel to go along with it, so it becomes tough for people to come to know and love the people you’ve got on air and want to watch them on a regular basis.

“Midsize markets like Toledo are very tough markets to keep good talent. [WTOL and WTVG] are lucky to have people like Chrys [Peterson] and Diane [Larson] and Lee [Conklin], who have made Toledo a home for themselves. A lot of times people will quickly move up in market size and you become the station that’s a stepping stone to other things. I’d love to have somebody who is going to be here for a long time.”

Both Blue and Topf feel the Nielsen rating system, based on a small sample of regional viewers self-reporting viewing habits in hand-written diaries, is antiquated.

“We utilize another rating service called Rentrak and we have seen that our audience has grown a little bit over the past year, year and a half,” Topf said. “It’s not tremendous growth, but it is growth nonetheless. We think that having somebody with Jim’s experience and expertise can only help us grow and probably at a quicker rate than we have been.”

Blue said ratings are important, but he doesn’t like to dwell on them.

“If expectation is simply based on the past, you’re never going to go anywhere,” Blue said. “You’ve got to be willing to defy expectations. The past is not necessarily a prologue when it comes to the ratings and we proved that in Fort Wayne.”

‘A great leader’

Blue helped build and launch the news operation at WFFT, formerly a FOX affiliate and now an independent station.

“We started it up from scratch in seven weeks,” Blue said. “It was fascinating. It was very challenging. It was a lot of fun. It was quite an opportunity to start something up and create something really out of nothing. Hire a staff, build a set, have all the equipment installed. It was very gratifying.”

The show, which debuted in 2009 as a 35-minute weeknight show, is now an hour-long nightly newscast and has risen to the No. 2 slot for late local news in the Fort Wayne market, Blue said.

WNWO Regional News Director Kathy Reynolds said Blue is “a great leader.”

“He’s got sharp news judgment, great instincts and a strong moral compass,” Reynolds said in a news release. “On top of that, he knows this market and as an anchor can put stories in context and explain their impact on our viewers.”

Blue said balancing duties as news director and anchor is not difficult.

“I’m glad to see there seems to be a trend to going back to somebody with overall responsibility for the news product also appearing as the face of the news product,” Blue said. “There’s a public perception that if people see someone on the air they expect that person has a good deal to do with  the creation of that product, that they aren’t simply a talking head, and in our case it’s truly a reality. I think people can respect the integrity of that.”

Blue said he hopes to provide a fresh, independent voice.

“A lot of it is simply the basics,” Blue said. “Do good journalism, report accurately and fairly and tell the stories well. People relate to narratives. Whether they are doing news, weather or sports, I want us to be good storytellers, meaning tell people’s stories well and accurately and fairly.”

Social media

Blue will also continue to make social media a focus.

“Providing news over multiple platforms is a very important part of what we do,” Blue said. “It’s the way people get their information these days. They use what’s most convenient for them and they will use multiple platforms during the day.”

Blue was an engineering major at the University of Illinois, but changed his major to communications after spending a summer working for WBBM Newsradio in Chicago.

“It exposed me to a lot of very interesting things and places,” Blue said. “We covered the first Mayor [Richard J.] Daley, the Black Panther Party. We covered a lot of things in Chicago that were fascinating of that era. It was an exciting time to be in Chicago and an exciting time to cover news in Chicago.”

Having worked in television since 1974, Blue said he can use his decades of experience to mentor younger journalists and draw more viewers to WNWO.

“I can provide coaching and feedback in terms of creating, writing, shooting and editing their stories. I also can provide some context for what news is important because I’ve experienced this market over a decade and I have a fairly good sense of what Toledoans consider important,” Blue said. “I feel confident we can shape this into a very, very valuable and worthwhile experience for the people who watch us.”

Tags: Chris Topf, Jim Blue, WNWO

This entry was posted on Thursday, January 24th, 2013 at 6:00 pm and is filed under Community, Featured, Media.
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To get, or not to get is the question on many minds when it comes to the flu vaccine.

Doctors and pharmaceutical companies say the vaccine in shot form contains the top strains of the virus, allowing your antibodies to become active to fight off future exposure. They say there are a few effects when receiving the shot however, the mist vaccine does contain a live virus, which means to me that you are just asking to get the flu.

The conspiracy theorists say that the flu shot is a way for the government to inject the masses with tiny microchips so we can be tracked, and an accurate census can be taken. This could explain why they give out the vaccine for free in the lower-income areas.

While usually against vaccination, I have received my 2013 flu shot. It was my first vaccine in 10 years. I decided to get the shot because my wife’s mother has Stage 4 cancer, and can’t be exposed to any germs like the flu because her body cannot fight them off.

I wrestled with it because I don’t condone putting any foreign substance inside my body if I am unsure of its origin and ingredients. More so when I see that the flu shot contains things like cow bone marrow and mercury.

Delcamp

I wait for flu season and anticipate one television news station after another doing their best renditions of “what local and government officials tell us” about the ever-dangerous flu and how people die from it every year.

I watch every year as the lines form around city blocks as people wait with their families to get inoculated, as if it were a lottery giveaway. When asked (and I have asked), people are borderline terrified of not getting this “miracle” vaccine. They realistically think death is a possibility should they abstain.

What news usually fails to mention, perhaps because the idea is less “juicy,” is that those death cases are extremely rare. And they usually involve either an infant with a still-developing immune system or someone whose health is much more at risk, like the elderly or cancer patients.

I also encounter folks who claim to have the flu, and end up missing days of work because of it. While I do believe that most people who claim this are in fact sick, I don’t think they can determine that they have the flu just by taking their own temperature, and talking about the terrible emissions that have been leaving their body.

That being said, I ended up getting sick right when the flu craze began this season. I was down and out for a total of five days, which was a bit longer than I would expect. I went to the doctor, to be told that there is an aggressive, long-lasting virus going around, but they could not pinpoint a certain strain or determine if I was indeed infected with the flu. So I did what anyone would have done. I went home, sat on the couch, and watched “Game of Thrones” and “The Walking Dead” on my DVR to refresh my memory for the upcoming seasons.

Lo and behold, that, combined with grilled cheese and soup three times a day, and I recovered. I had not died, nor even become violently ill. I just felt gross for a few days. Then I got better.

I should note that I got the vaccine upon my visit to the doctor after I was already sick. I’m told it’ll take two weeks to take effect, so I must stay healthy until my cure-all kicks in.

I am a firm believer that when you get sick, your body’s ability to fight off that sickness will make it that much more powerful, like working out a muscle. And if I must endure a few days of being a baby while my better half takes care of me, then so be it.

Don’t buy into the media frenzy about getting sick, but recognize that the information the media sends out to the public is not “media hype,” but rather information they receive from outlets that claim to hand out fact. “Claim” being the operative word.

Conspiracy theorists … conspire away.

Chris Delcamp is a reporter and videojournalist for WNWO-TV. Email him at cdelcamp@wnwo.com.

Tags: Chris Delcamp, flu shots, WNWO

This entry was posted on Thursday, January 17th, 2013 at 2:25 pm and is filed under Opinion, The Correct Perception.
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Television news anchor Jim Blue is returning to Toledo to serve as news director and co-news anchor of WNWO’s 6 p.m. weeknight newscast.

Jim Blue. Toledo Free Press File Photo

Blue has been working as news director and 10 p.m.  news anchor at WFFT, an independent television station and former FOX affiliate in Fort Wayne, Ind., since April 2009.

Prior to working in Fort Wayne, Blue was a news anchor at WNWO for six years. He moved to Fort Wayne after WNWO did not renew his contract in 2008. Blue is also a former columnist for Toledo Free Press.

Blue said the job at WNWO was an opportunity to return to Toledo, where his wife has continued to live while he commuted on weekends from Fort Wayne.

“This is an opportunity for me to accomplish two things. It allows me to be back in Toledo and it also allows me to work in Toledo, which has been, in many respects, my home since 2002,” Blue said. “I felt the time was right and it was certainly an attractive opportunity to come back to WNWO and a great opportunity to return to Toledo.”

Blue’s first day at WNWO will be Jan. 21, with his first day on the air coming later that week.

Blue’s last day at WFFT, where he helped helped launch and build the station’s news operation, will be Jan. 18.

“We’re grateful for Jim’s efforts in launching the news operation and for his dedication in growing WFFT Local,” said Bill Ritchhart, vice president and general manager of WFFT-T, in a news release. “He is a fantastic journalist and was a real asset to our station.”

“I have nothing but good memories of my time in Fort Wayne, and I wish everyone at WFFT the very best and continued success,” Blue said in the release.

Blue has also worked in Dayton and Columbia, S.C., since starting his television career in 1974.

Tags: Jim Blue, WNWO

This entry was posted on Wednesday, January 16th, 2013 at 4:00 pm and is filed under Breaking News, Community, Media.
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Newlyweds Abby Powell Turpin, anchor/writer/producer for WNWO’s morning show, and her husband Travis Turpin didn’t waste time recording “The Christmas Song” for “Holiday Wishes 2,” a CD project benefiting Make-A-Wish Foundation. In fact, the two were in the studio the day after they returned from their honeymoon. The pair got married Oct. 6 in Nebraska, where Travis is from, before traveling to an all-inclusive resort in Playa del Carmen, Mexico. They received an email asking them to do a track while vacationing and quickly agreed, Abby said. “[Recording the track] was great. We have a great time singing together and it’s always nice with Christmas music. It’s all about family and love,” she said. After working her shift at WNWO (Abby gets to work at 12:30 a.m. and then anchors from 4:30-7 a.m.), she and Travis cut the track together earlier this fall.

Abby Powell Turpin

Singing was what brought Abby and Travis together. In 2008, the two met while performing a country music revue in Nashville, Tenn. “[Travis] is actually still a headliner on cruise ships so he travels usually about two weeks out of the month,” Abby said. During the interview, Travis was headlining on a cruise by Saint Martin in the Caribbean.

Abby left the full-time entertainment business to become a broadcast journalist. She joined WNWO this summer after working in Texas. She said her husband’s career allows her to be flexible with her own. “He can live anywhere as long as it’s near an airport,” Abby said. Abby grew up near Columbus before receiving a musical theater degree from Belmont University in Nashville.

After college, she spent time working in New York City and at Toyko Disney, where she was lead singer in a Big Band show and played Ariel from “The Little Mermaid” at special events. “This is my first time living in Ohio in a long time,” she said. “It’s nice to be back in the Midwest. It’s what I grew up around; it’s what I know so well.” Although Abby still sings at WNWO events, she said she’s happy to be in her new field. “I kind of knew [singing] wasn’t the ultimate career for me … I’ve always really loved writing so that’s kind of what got me in to the broadcasting world,” she said. “I’m 32 now and I think that every experience that I had in my 20s in the performing business when I was living in New York City and living in Japan, that really helped make me the person that I am today in order to be an effective communicator in the broadcast business,” Abby added.

Abby said she enjoys lending her voice to good causes like Make-A-Wish. “Singing is always a lot of fun, but when it can be put to use to help a really important cause, that’s when it really means something. Singing’s always very special. It makes you feel a lot of emotions when you perform,” she said. “‘The Christmas Song’ is actually my favorite Christmas song. I love the Nat King Cole version and that’s what made that song famous,” Abby added of the silky, smooth track she chose for “Holiday Wishes 2.” “The Christmas Song,” with its well-known lyrics, “Chestnuts roasting on an open fire,” was written by Mel Tormé  and Bob Wells in 1944. The Nat King Cole Trio later recorded the song in 1946.

Abby’s own unique style and her husband’s are evident on the track they contributed. “Travis, what he does out on ships as a headliner, is he does a lot of Rat Pack, Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin and so he just sang in his style and I sang it in my style. [With] my style, I have a lot of opera training. We did our own styles and kind of bent toward each other’s as well,” she said. But will Abby ever return to showbiz? She doesn’t think so. “Music has always been something that I loved … but I really don’t miss doing it full time. I really feel very fulfilled doing the broadcasting business,” she said. “I really love the broadcast business. I want to be in the broadcast business the rest of my life.”

Tags: Abby Powell Turpin, Holiday Wishes 2, Make-A-Wish, WNWO

This entry was posted on Tuesday, November 27th, 2012 at 11:29 am and is filed under Featured, Holidays, Make-A-Wish, Star.
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