Guest Blog- New Jennifer On The Job

Hello to all you blog readers out there. Q2's Richie Melby here with your guest blog on this Monday night. Hope everyone had a good weekend, maybe laying around watching the NCAA Tournament. Speaking of the Tourney, I must say that it's too bad Jennifer and Nikki's Washington State team fell big to North Carolina last Thursday. It was a close game thru the first half but North Carolina was just too tough down the stretch. Jennifer, Nikki, you have nothing to be ashamed of, your team made it farther than a lot of people expected them to.
Anyways, for those of you that haven't already checked it out there's a new Jennifer on the Job out there. This time Jennifer tried her hand at dentistry, which is kind of scary because I have a dentist appointment coming up. She really does a good job as a dental assistant though. If you haven't seen it make sure to check it out on the Jennifer on the Job page. Also, Courtney Hanson has a fun new story where her and photographer Jesse Kester go on a ride along with a local police officer for the night. Her story is all about the health risks that go along with working nights. Make sure to check that out as well, it's on the KTVQ homepage right now.
That's all for me for now. I'll "see" all of you this Friday on Montana This Morning. Have a good week.
-Richie Melby
Q2 Sports

I Love Washington State Mens Basketball!

As most of you know.... my beloved Alma Mater, Washington State University is in the NCAA Mens Basketball Tournament!!

As a basketball fan and WSU fan ( PLUS! I combined my love for both by interviewing most of the players that are still on the team from the 2006 season) It is so exciting to see our team in the big dance for the second year in a row... and it is even better that they keep winning~!

Cougar spirit is something that is un-matched... and I am SO glad that my friend and co-corker Nikki Laurenzo (also a WSU Graduate) Feels the Coug spirit just as much as I do (sometimes were a little TOO spirited!)


Take at look at the pictures from the Winthrop game that we watched with friends and KTVQ co-workers:

Below: Anna Gibson (in mascot hat) is a Montana This Morning Newscast Assistant

Group Shot! Nikki, Josh ( Loyal Q2 Viewer), Jennifer, Anna Gibson (Montana this Morning Newscast Assistant), Richie Melby (Q2 Sports), Jose (Loyal Q2 Viewer)



WSU NCAA GAMES
WSU Vs. Winthrop 71-40
WSU Vs. Notre Dame 61-41



** Next Wazzu Game: Thursday March 27th Tip Off 5:27 PM on KTVQ **
Tune in Friday Morning on Montana this Morning as Richie Melby brings you WSU highlights along with other NCAA bracket upsets and successes and all of your local sports score and highlights! **

Intern Guest Blog-- COLT KIRKPATRICK!!

My name is Colt Kirkpatrick and I am an intern at ktvq. I actually go to high school in Lavina. I wouldn't be surprised if you didn't know where that was. It's a little town about 45 miles away from Billings. Most high school classes in Billings have more students in them then the town of Lavina has residents. Through a program my school offers I have the opportunity to intern here (unpaid) for 16 weeks every Monday. So I thought I would take the time to tell you what goes on behind the show and my internship.

I get to the station at 8:30 a.m. by then the morning show has already aired. When I arrive the Jennifer Rohrer and Rob Monaco are usually just getting back from their morning fix of coffee or pop at the Holiday. Jennifer checks her e-mail and depending on what Monday it is she either looks for a Jeniffer on the Job or edits one. Around 9:00 a.m. Nikki Laurenzo and Courtney Hanson usually come in and their search for stories begin. By this time Jon Stepanek has already written on the board when there are scheduled shoots and who will be doing them. Lately I have been trying to come up with my own idea on what to do a story on, sounds easy enough, but it isn't. You have to take into consideration if the public will find it interesting, if there is enough video to capture to keep it interesting, or who you can interview to...keep it interesting. I have an idea (with the help from Jennifer Rohrer and Jay Kohn) but I still have to get it approve by Jon. If it gets approved then I will have to start putting it together and schedule interviews and gather information, the photographers ( Rob, Paul, or Jesse) will worry about the footage to correlate to the topic being discussed. I get out of here around 2:30 to 3:00 pm.

What I've enjoyed most so far is watching how the photographers get the shots they need, and how the reporters put it together to tell a story. Anyone who knows a little about editing know that at time it can be a little tedious at times, but they do it everyday with no difficulty( for the most part). There are days when the news is slow, but the way I look at it is a bad day here beats a good day at school.

St. Patty's Day guest blog

Hey all, Q2's Richie Melby here guest blogging for Jennifer Rohrer. She's been pretty busy lately so I get the honor of filling in on this blog in the wee hours of this Monday March 17th, St. Patty's Day. I hope Jennifer remembers to wear something green on Montana This Morning, because I'm guessing Marc and Jon both will.

Other than the holiday I can't say there's a whole lot going on. I would like to congratulate Q2 photographer Paul Humphrey and his wife Kama on the birth of their first child, Ryland Scott Humphrey. He sure is a cute little guy! Here's the link to see him if you haven't already: http://www.montanasnewsstation.com/Global/story.asp?s=7994503
Like the rest of you I'm anxiously awaiting the next Jennifer on the Job. Can't wait to see what it is and how she handles it. I have to say she has done some things that I wouldn't want to do. But that's what she gets paid for right?

Also being the middle of March, its time for us sports people to go "bracket crazy" filling out our college basketball brackets. You can sign up and fill out brackets to compete against myself, Scott Breen, and Casey Conlon. You have a chance to win free Papa John's pizza! All you have to do is go to our website and follow the link below: http://ktvq.collegebasketball.upickem.net/collegebasketball/registration/login.asp
Also tune into Montana This Morning this Friday to see our picks. Jennifer, Marc, Jon, Rob, and I will all weigh in on the tournament and present our picks for the NCAA Champs.

Until then so long, keep watching, and have a fun and safe St. Patrick's Day!

-Richie

Rud Busting!

Hey All!I have a new "Jennifer on the Job" on KTVQ! I try my gloved hand at tying rebar.

CLICK HERE TO VIEW JENNIFER "THE ROD BUSTER"

Jennifer on the Job Requests?

It has been a little over a year that we have been shooting Jennifer on the Job stories (to check out ALL of the stories click here) and I need some more ideas! We receive requests all the time about interesting jobs in our community but let me give you a sneak peak at what we are looking for to consider a story:

* Great Pictures
* Great Sound
* An interesting occupation or an occupation that is "ordinary" but people may misunderstand

One of the Most Common questions I get (other than what time I wake up in the morning) is what is my favorite Jennifer on the Job....that question is ALWAYS hard for me to answer because I don't have a favorite...they are each memorable in their own unique ways.... For everyone who has asked....this is why I loved the first three segments:

Dog Groomer: The groomer let us know that the dog we were grooming was a ranch dog and hadn't been in in a year... you can only IMAGINE the smell!! oh yeah and the gland comment at the end has stuck with me to this day! :)

Florist: It was always a wish of mine to be a florist... I loved my horticulture classes in high school and thought that this one was so much fun because I could see myself doing it. Plus! Wild Rose smelled SO amazing inside....

Waitress @ Stellas: This job was one of the toughest beucase I knew my little sister would be watching and critiquing me (she is a waitress in Vancouver,WA)! Plus to "wait" on Stella and Ziggy Ziegler (the owners of the restaurant)

Come back soon and I will let you know what I loved about each Jennifer on the Job....

Heroes Benefit Tonight!

I am so excited to be invited to the 10th Annual American Red Cross Heroes Celebration tonight! Hopefully I will see you there!

The banquet is at the Crowne Plaza...Max Baucus is the Keynote Speaker and I have the honor of introducing the nights honorees!

Here's a little bit of information about the event:

The Heroes Celebration is an annual event. Ordinary people who have demonstrated heroism, courage, or selfless humanitarian actions, have saved lives or had an exceptional impact on the lives of others are recognized and honored for their actions. The Heroes Celebration honors unheralded everyday citizens who are truly the pillars of their community. The event is designed to increase awareness of firefighters and law enforcement personnel who, in the course of their daily responsibilities, risk their own safety (even their lives) to serve citizens in our communities. The celebration also emphasizes positive actions in our communities and the value of learning and knowing life-saving skills.

Do you have a hero you want to nominate for next years celebration?!? CLICK HERE TO NOMINATE A HERO for 2008!

Happy Valentines Day!!

Happy Valentines Day everyone! Today on the show we had a performance by two of the stars of MSU-B's Play "Cinderella" and also Jeremy Vanatta and Kendall Merrick enlightened both Marc and I on the last minute gifts to buy your special someone! These segments can all be seen on the MTM website... Since it is Valentines Day... I found some cool facts about the holiday that you might enjoy:

• 73% of people who buy flowers for Valentine's Day are men, while only 27 percent are women.
  


• California produces 60 percent of American roses, but the vast number sold on Valentine's Day in the United States are imported, mostly from South America. Approximately 110 million roses, the majority red, will be sold and delivered within a three-day time period.
  


• Teachers receive the most valentines day cards followed by children, mothers, wives, and then, sweethearts.
  


• Children between ages 6 to 10 exchange more than 650 million Valentine's cards with teachers, classmates, and family members.
  


• A single perfect red rose framed with baby's breath is named by some florists as a "signature rose," and is the preferred choice for most for giving on Valentine's Day, anniversaries and birthdays.
  


• The red rose is the most popular flower sent.....The color red stands for strong romantic feelings making the red rose the flower of love.


• About 1 billion Valentine's Day cards are exchanged each year. That's the largest seasonal card-sending occasion of the year, next to Christmas.

• About 3% of pet owners will give Valentine's Day gifts to their pets.

HAVE A GREAT DAY WITH YOUR FRIENDS, FAMILIES AND SIGNIFICANT OTHERS!! :)

I hate this picture!!

Although I am on-air every single day... I hate taking pictures! Take a look at this one for example:

This is probably one of the top five worst pictures I have ever taken! Although we have taken new pictures that would look a little less scary, shocked and overly excited...It still hasn't changed~ Hopefully with the help of this blog.... my favorite Internet guy Kyle can help me out!! Check back too see the new picture VERY SOON!! :)

Jennifer on the Job-- Chimney Sweeper! TONIGHT

New!!! Jennifer on the Job airs tonight at 5:30 and Tuesday February 12th at 8:25 AM Check it out... and you can also check out all of the Jennifer on the Jobs at KTVQ.COM

Click here to see it now!