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In this age of modern miracles, reporting the news across the world is an amazing thing. With the touch of a button, we can be in touch with what's happening anywhere, anytime. The invention of the Internet and websites -- something so foreign to me in my early years in the newsroom -- became a vital part of my career and daily life.
While a reporter's notebook and a selection of fine tip ballpoint pens were once my trusty tools, they too, have become nearly extinct. (Personally I still like to write out my notes on a lined notebook.) Recording news events on digital cameras and hand held tape recorders also began to disappear with new technology every day.
The remarkable workings of cell phones has upped the ante on being "first with a story." In seconds, a photo or recorded story can be before your eyes. Up to the minute changes to a story can be made minutes before the presses begin to roll. No more "Stop the presses." A touch of the button keeps them rolling as the ink disperses the latest story.
There is something good and scary, too, about seeing news live as it happens. More than ever, I'm talking about the weather. Let's face it, the local weather and those weather events happening around the country have us wondering what's next.
I have family members living in the Dallas, Texas area where life-threatening wind and rain have plagued residents there nearly daily. They have become accustomed to warning sirens screaming day and night, setting everyone's nerves on edge. Calls are made to check that everyone is safe -- thankfully for now.
As I write this, I am seeing the devastation in Dallas as reported by The Weather Channel reporters. Trees are down everywhere. Roofs are gone from many buildings. Water is rising quickly with no place to go in that flat topography. And more bad weather is forecast there for the next 10 days.
Cameras pan out to other states and locations as the storms work eastward. I know that eventually what is happening in Texas will reach our mountainous Ohio Valley area. Hopefully the storms will lose some of their punch before they reach our hills and valleys.
In all my nearly seven decades on Earth, I have not recalled having been through as many tornado watches and WARNINGS as we have been lately. The folks in Marshall County are getting pretty good at recognizing the tornado warning sirens as storms appear to target that region.
I liked it better when all we did was talk about the weather, not report it.
Heather Ziegler can be reached via email at hziegler@theintelligencer.