Developer Ellen Shareef cherishes encouragement from her late husband as she embarks on a long-awaited, large-scale development project in East Buffalo. Historic, brightly-colored structures dot this area. Once hubs in the various neighborhoods, many of these buildings now stand vacant. Ellen works to redevelop several of these landmarks so that they will never meet the wrecking ball. Since 2019, I …
This news story features Ron Carter, the renowned bassist who overcame adversity to record over 2000 albums and perform in world tours. When I contacted him requesting an interview, I didn’t expect an immediate answer. After all, at that moment he was a time zone away headlining a tour. When we met, I didn’t expect to spend 30 minutes with …
For this story, I interviewed three Bills’ fans from three different countries. Altogether, they traveled a total of nearly 40 hours to meet up in Los Angeles and cheer on their favorite team as they suit-up against the Rams this Sunday. Such dedication is typical of these football devotees known as the “Bills Mafia.” Since 2005, one of these superfans has …
As I drove into Western New York’s Treetop Acres, Christmas trees extended as far as the eye could see against a backdrop of puffy clouds. When I got out of my car and unloaded my camera equipment to film a story for the news, it felt like I had stepped inside a Hallmark movie. Shoppers have made Treetop Acres a tradition for over three decades, beginning when the family-run operation opened in 1990.
Here is a picture from the first time I covered a Comic-Con as a broadcast journalist. To get into character, I dressed up as news reporter April O’Neil in the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles franchise. Now this outfit lives in the Halloween costume section of my wardrobe. At this time every year, I remember that fun experience.
This is the story of a man who was wrongfully convicted of murder and spent 27 years at the notorious Attica Prison. While behind bars, he built a relationship with his daughter, who was just a baby when he was incarcerated, and became a famous artist. Today marks six years since Valentino Dixon was freed. His story is so complex …
This report contains candid images a United Nations ambassador gave me from footage that she swiftly tossed in her handbag as she fled from invading troops seeking her life. An Indonesian army was attacking Timor-Leste, a small Southeast Asian country, while she was overseeing the Timorese’ vote on independence after over 400 years of captivity. On May 20, Timor-Leste celebrates 22 …
For this story, I followed the restoration of a century-old Buffalo building that has attracted travelers from around the world! Watching the work of these skilled preservationists felt like going on a treasure hunt, as they chipped away old drywall and discovered elaborate artifacts hidden underneath. Supplemental photos in my report came from The Buffalo History Museum, Jason Yots, Tom …
This is the first time I have animated an entire news report! For years, this Buffalo building, steeped in history, has been hidden underneath a plain façade. Few realized that it was a treasure designed by the first-know female architect and used to help lead the Black Arts Movement. In this report, I bring the building to life by combining …
“They were thirsting for somewhere to show what they did, other than in their kitchens to their neighbors.” This is a quote from an interview I conducted with the legendary musician, Ron Carter. He sat down with me to describe what it was like for Black artists in the 1970s, and the discrimination they faced due to their race. This …