kelly_smock's Blog

Last Tuesday, Martha Stewart visited the FOX 2 Station to promote her new show, which will air this summer.  I had no idea she was visiting the station.  My boss, Dennis Kraniak, said, "How would you like to meet Martha Stewart today."  I was a bit stunned if you can imagine.  he caught me off guard to say the least.  I responded by asking him again, "thee Martha Stewart?" 
Dennis then told me that he wanted me to try to get an interview with Martha Stewart.  He also told me to take snap shots of her visit for a Behind the Scenes web special on her visit.  Paula (who I absolutely love working with!), a fellow Web Team intern. was also sent to interview Martha.  She videotaped, while I took snap shots.  The whole time I was waiting for best moment to ask my question.
She entered the studio escorted by four personal assistants.  Some people may think that this is overdoing it.  I have to disagree.  If I was a multi-millionaire, I suppose I may have four personal assistants as well.
Next, she went into the make-up room to powder her nose and get ready for her interview with Sherry Margolis.  Paula and I waited in the studio for her to enter and then taped her interview.  After,she was escorted to the FOX 2 cooking set to tape promotions for the station.  Her personal assistant stated that they were under time constraints and also that the lighting wasn't quite right.  They agreed to tape the promotions on Martha's set and send them to the station.  When they mentioned that they were running out of time, I decided I would probably not get the chance to interview her, but I did not give up.
Then came my moment!  A once in a lifetime opportunity to interview Martha Stewart.
Someone quickly asked her for a photo, and I thought to myself, "It's now or never." I then said the Martha, "Excuse me after you finish taking the picture would you mind if I asked you a question for our Ladies Room website"  And she responded, "oh, sure."  It was as simple as that.
After the picture she said and now what is your one question.  I proceeded to ask her, "If she could give all women one piece of advice on how to be successful what would it be."  Martha said, "It takes more than one piece of advice to be successful.  But, if you have a good idea and you have passion for that idea and you have your own good ware-with-all, you can try to make a business out of that idea, and read "The Martha Rules;" it's a good book, basic, for people starting a business or people who are dreaming of starting a business. It will help you out."  Who better to ask about how to be successful than Martha Stewart?
After that I asked her one more question to use for her to introduce the link to the website , and then I asked her is she would mind taking a picture with Paula and I.  She agreed.  Here is the photo of us:   

& that is how I was able to interview my first celebrity!!! Paula and I then put together a package of Martha's visit to FOX 2.  Here is the link to view our video story:

Everyone asks me if I was nervous.  I have to tell you I wasn't nervous, because the interview was so spontaneous.  I did not know she was going to be at the station, and I didn't think she would allow me to ask her any questions.  So, I guess I just didn't have time to get nervous, because I know I would have otherwise;) 

For the past few weeks of my internship with Fox 2 I have been working on the Ladies Room Page,  a new addition to the website.  We just published the page today and I am super excited about its launch.  For right now its location is on the Home page as a top news story.  If you click on the icon you can view the page.
The page has been a work in progress for the past few months.  It is being spearheaded by Monica, Sherry, Fanchon and Dennis Kraniak (yes a man;)  It is a place where women viewers can actually interact with the anchors about topics. Not only can women (and men if they would like)  get advice from the Fox 2 personalities themselves, but they can also get advice from the experts on almost every topic dealing with women including finance, fitness, gardening, fashion, home decor, skin etc.  It is not just a place for these amazing women to post topics but also a way for you to get your questions answered directly by them.  If you have a question about a topic you can simply post it on the message board (currently under join the conversation on the left hand side) and get it answered by the author herself.  
This page will be interactivity at its best.  There have been so many times when I have read a story online or watched a news cast and I have been left with questions.  If you have a question about any of the stories or broadcasts on this page, you can ask the author directly.

Anyways...I would like you to visit the page and ask that you give me feedback. What women's issues would you like to see talked about? What type of expert would you like us to interview? Men are welcome to visit the site as well. You guys might pick up a few good tips as well.

    This past Friday I attended the Detroit Hoedown, which I thought was amazing.  I was able to see Lady Antebellum, Jewell and Josh Gracin all in concert in the same night and for absolutely no charge.  It was so nice to be able to see so many people in Hart Plaza enjoying the city.  There were literally thousands of people all enjoying the music together peacefully...well except for a few individuals.
    My friends and I were thoroughly enjoyed the concert minus one small incident.  We were just to the right of the stage in a grassy little area, and we had a great view of the stage.  A family had "staked" out the area in front of us, literally.  They had brought  about six lawn chairs to sit in, that way they could relax and enjoy the show throughout the day.  It was a great idea to bring chairs, and my friends and I even stated that we wished we would have brought some as well.  I am not going to complain about the fact that they brought chairs, but instead about the man's reaction to the people in the area. The father was fine during the first two performances, Lady Antebellum and Jewell, but things changed when Josh Gracin went on.  More and people began to crowd the area to see Josh Gracin.  The man with the family did not like this.  He thought that because he had been sitting in this area first that no one should be able to stand in front of them or beside them for that matter.  I think this is absurd!  It is a FREE concert.  Everyone else in the entire area folded up their chairs to make space for the increase of people in the area.  In this situation that seems like the polite thing to do, in order to allow everyone to enjoy the concert.  If everyone brought chairs only the first select few to attend the concert would be able to see the show and that is not the point.  I am not here to simply talk about the space issue but instead about the events which proceeded which were completely inappropriate and rude.
     Now mind you we were near a ledge in which people were sitting on to enjoy the view, with the exception of the ledge near this family which the man believed he had control of.  A young teenage girl attempted to walk by the families' chairs in order to sit on the ledge.  The man began to yell obscenities at the girl and told her "to get the blank out of there."  I am sure you can imagine what he said.  The young girl was stunned and of course left the area.  This situation was unbelievable to me.  What happened to respecting women?   I just do not understand how a grown man thinks that he has the right to speak to a young girl in this manner.  Has common decency  went out the window?  Now that women are more equal to men do we just disregard respect for women?
      The man continued to yell obscenities at everyone who entered the vicinity of  "his area." Of course a couple neared the man who were equally as aggressive as the man and a confrontation ensued...did anyone not see this coming??? Security had to break them up.  The man in response flew from his chair and went to the front of the crowd unopposed.  The situation has an unbelievable ending.  While standing at the front of the crowd, just moments after pushing through Josh Gracin decides to leave his stage and walk over to our section.  Which was amazing;)  Unfortunately, the unruly man got to shake hands with Gracin, definitely proving the saying "they will get what they deserve" wrong.   The man was rewarded for his horrible behavior.  Irony indeed.

     Today was my first day as a Fox 2 News intern for the Web Team!  I will periodically be sharing with you my experiences during my internship, opinions about stories in the news and maybe even some personal accounts of my life outside of the internship.  This is my first blog, so here goes!
     I was able to get a first hand account in the studio of just how the 5:00p.m.news is compiled.  One of the stories on the news tonight really struck me.  It was actually one that hits close to home, since I am from Monroe.  A man and a woman were arrested in Frenchtown Township, after stealing a donation jar.   This story was unusually appalling.  Stealing is a horrible act to begin with, but I just cannot believe that someone would steal from a sick child.
     The boy they stole from is Tommy Brancheau an eight year old Monroe resident.  The money being collected is to help him receive medical attention at the Mayo Clinic in Minnesota.  He is suffering from a rare lung disease and his muscles are deteriorating.  This poor family is doing their best to help their child and these two people are completely insensitive to another’s suffering.  I have to wonder, what were they stealing this money for?  I would guess it was most likely something insignificant.  Therefore, these two people threw away their integrity for what…jail time?
     The funny part about the whole scenario, if there is a humorous side to this incident, would have to be that they were caught on the surveillance camera.  This is what I don’t understand about criminals, their idiocy.  They stole this donation jar, but didn’t even think to check to see if the store had a surveillance camera, unbelievable
    If you would like to learn more about Tommy or to donate to his cause follow the link: http://tommybrancheau.pledgepage.org/