Hi!
I’m Cara Kumari, the state capitol reporter for WSMV-TV. I just wanted to use this first post to introduce myself and explain what exactly you can expect from this blog in the coming weeks.
I have been working at Channel 4 for about eight months now. Before that, I worked as a reporter for a television station in Wichita, Kansas. While there, I covered the legislature up in Topeka. I have to say, it’s a lot easier to cover the state capitol when you actually live in the city, as opposed to 2 hours away! I started covering Tennessee politics in January. Even though I’ve covered state government since I was in college, each new statehouse is a completely different experience. There are different players, different faces, and the process itself varies from state to state. Luckily, I came armed with a photojournalist who has covered the Tennessee Legislature on and off for the past 10 years. He was able to help me adjust to a new place quickly!
Most television reporters hate covering the state capitol. There are a lot of meetings, the issues are rarely clear cut, and sometimes it takes hours to figure out WHAT the story of the day actually is. I love all of this. Here’s why: At the end of the day, you are covering news that will impact every Tennessean. I know that sounds like some type of generic phrase, but it’s true. From the smoking ban to the cable fight to allowing wine sales in grocery stores, there’s going to eventually be a story that impacts your life.
I hope to use this blog to talk about some of the issues that come up on a daily basis and go more in-depth on some of the topics I cover at the Legislature. If you have any questions you want answered, just leave them in the comment section or email me at ckumari@wsmv.com and I’ll try to answer them!
Happy reading!
Cara Kumari
