#MediaMonday – Erisa Nakano

Today’s #MediaMonday comes to us from Erisa Nakano, a senior real-time editor at ABC15 and fellow Cronkite grad.

So Erisa, tell us about yourself!

What do you do at ABC15 and what do you like about it?

I’m at the breaking news desk that combines TV and digital content gathering. My focus is on coverage plans, making sure we’re on top of upcoming events and stories. When there’s breaking news, I assist with assigning crews, reaching out to agencies and distributing information. I like that I get to stretch my organizational skills by keeping us all on track with what’s ahead and how we can follow-up on big stories we have previously covered.

Tell us about your other work in media over the years?

My first job out of the Cronkite School was reporting in New Mexico for the Albuquerque NBC affiliate. I worked out of the Four Corners Bureau as a one-man-band multimedia journalist. I shot and edited my own stories and set up my own live shots. It made me grow quickly and learn all elements of newsgathering in a short period of time. I wanted to move back to the Valley to be close to family, so I returned to ABC15 in 2010 where I was once an intern. When I started, I was a web producer and wrote for the website, mobile app and social media accounts. In the last few years, the assignment desk and web department merged into the Real-Time Desk, so I was able to bring a digital background to a traditional breaking news desk.

Where did you grow up?

I was born in Japan and moved to Southern California at age 3. My family and I later moved to Arizona to finish out my high school years.

Did you always know you wanted to be in writing, producing and/or media?

In elementary school, what I considered a “dream job” constantly changed. But in my sixth-grade yearbook, it asked what I wanted to be when I grew up, and I wrote “reporter.” During my freshman year of high school in California, I started a newsletter with classmates because the school didn’t have one. I got to write articles and figure out what kind of content we wanted for each issue. This made me realize how much I enjoyed writing and informing others.

Favorite type of music?

My music taste varies from rock and pop to oldies and classical. I’m just not really into country music.

Favorite color?

Gray. I could wear gray clothing every day.

Favorite local haunts?

Casey Moore’s Oyster House, True Food and Little Miss BBQ

Favorite places to visit?

My favorite spot in Arizona is Sedona. I also love going back to Japan to visit relatives, and California will always be home to me.

Favorite food?

Sushi

Least favorite food?

I can’t have dairy.

Three things readers would be surprised to know about you?

-I played piano for 12 years growing up.
-My first language was Japanese. In high school, I started a foreign language club and taught classmates the basics of Japanese. The school later found an instructor and added a Japanese class to the curriculum.
-It’s not much of a surprise if you know me, but I’m passionate about rescuing dogs. My boyfriend and I adopted two so far: one is a pit bull mix and the other a Chihuahua mix. We’re looking to add another someday.

Best way to pitch you?

Email me with a newsy angle and an element that appeals to a large audience in the Valley and/or Arizona.

Types of stories and pitches you are looking for?

I’m looking for anything from a hard-news story for a reporter to a fun live-shot idea at an upcoming event. Let me know about any future story ideas. You never know what we might jump on!

Contact info:

enakano@abc15.com and @ErisaNakano on Twitter