Lance Foxx Breaks the News...
Tonight, I'm really excited because I did something that I've always wanted to do. I provided breaking news of a major news story before anyone else!
Not only did I break the story within minutes, I actually broke the story by HOURS! No other news agency was even aware of what was going on when I happened upon it through radio traffic. I stayed home, continued monitoring the police radio traffic, and quickly worked my magic of pulling up information quickly online. As I did this, I reported this news to a very popular news chatroom provided by FOXNews.com out of Chicago. Several regulars and collective "news junkies" like myself were on hand to ride of the LIVE event as things continued to unfold.
Sadly, the news story could not be a more positive one, like a dramatic rescue that ends happily. The news event I stumbled upon... was a shooting rampage at a nearby campground. This was big. This was no small news story that stays within town. This was instantly a story of national appeal.
At least one person died and four others were injured. They believe one of the injured may have been the shooter. They're not sure yet...
I don't mean to be happy and celebrate under such a tragedy, however you have to understand, as a journalist, this is HUGE for me! I broke the news! I didn't hear it on the news first and then raced to tell others. They heard it from ME first and it took them two hours to get caught up to speed. I couldn't believe I was so ahead of the game on my first story. I kept checking, "Where's the news?! I can't believe no one's carrying this yet!"
Journalism has been a little known interest of mine and I've always wanted to go out and cover news stories. A part of me wishes I could be a "stringer," take photos, and capture video for the news. I love it. I'm really passionate about it and it's really exciting for me to be part of the "breaking news" process.
So, if you happen across a news story later today of a campground shooting in Temecula, Ca., I wasn't there but I had my ears on for this story, and I was reporting a play by play of events until the news officially showed up about two hours later.
May your thoughts and prayers be with the families that were effecting by this shooting, but please understand how I could feel excited about this. This was a very exciting night for me. I just hope the next news story will not be such a tragic one. I would love to do this again and break a more inspiring, uplifting story. I would love to balance things out.