#MediaMonday – Natalie Brand
Just another Manic Monday (do you wish it were Sunday)? Every Monday, HMA introduces you to a member of the media – the new and the seasoned – that keep us informed about various members of the media.
Today we hear from Natalie Brand who has just returned to Phoenix and is a new reporter for KTVK TV 3! Over the years Natalie has worked in both Portland and California and covered stories that made national headlines including massive wildfires, a tornado, and President Gerald Ford’s funeral. She even scored an interview with Archbishop Desmond Tutu when he visited California.
Natalie- What would you like to share with the blogosphere today?
As a new face on Channel 3, it feels amazing to be back in the Valley of the Sun, after braving two years in the rain. I moved here two months ago from Portland. While I loved the city and miss the wonderful friends I made, my body never adjusted to the weather.
That could be because I spent my early childhood right here in Phoenix, before my family moved to San Diego. It’s amazing to see how this desert has grown into a Southwest metropolis. I’m enjoying discovering new places and favorites (True Food Kitchen), and rediscovering old favorites (Sugar Bowl).
Living in such a great city and facing a brand new year, I’ve begun to ask myself, how I cannot only improve as an individual, but make my community a better place, as well. Through my job as a journalist, I feel privileged to be able to raise awareness about important issues, resources and organizations that people may not know about, until seeing a story on our air.
My goal in 2013 is to find the local groups really making a difference, tackling everything from substance abuse to sex trafficking, a topic I covered extensively in the Pacific Northwest. If highlighting the problem can help at least person, then I’ve done my job. This year, I’m honored to be named a founding member of a new organization, the National Women’s Coalition Against Violence and Exploitation.
Also, with so many heartbreaking stories in the media right now, I’m going to make an increased effort to pay closer attention to loved ones, friends, colleagues and neighbors. Sometimes, a kind word or short conversation can make all the difference. In the internet age, it’s something we don’t do enough, face to face, or even over the phone.
Ultimately, I’m going to challenge myself to make a bigger difference in my community this year, and I challenge others to do the same.
I’m always looking for story ideas and new issues to highlight. Feel free to email me at nbrand@azfamily.com I would love to hear from you!
Happy New Year!
