I don’t think it’s really hit me yet. It’s been a week since I left News 8 Austin, and as long as it took me to make the decision, it’s taking a while to sink in, too!
I landed in Austin in 2003 after graduating college. All the news folk I knew told me it would be nearly impossible to get my first gig in a mid-size market, but I would hear none of it. My sights were set on Austin, and no where else. I was in L-O-V-E love, tired of long-distance romance, and ready to be in the same town as my sweetheart (we’re now married). Plus, I knew Austin was a place I could call home.
So I lined up two interviews over my spring break. The first news director I talked to advised me to smoke and drink some, and come back later because I looked and sounded too young. Of course, I can’t lay too much blame: my spiky bleached hair wasn’t the look of credibility (although my husband’s a fan).
Transformation
My second interview went much better. The news director and assistant news director at News 8 sat down with me, watched my resume tape, quizzed me on my ethics, and shooting abilities, and I left feeling pretty good about things.
I knew I had what it took to be on air, but I didn’t have much experience to prove it. The managers at News 8 saw, yes, a young, green reporter (with short spiky hair), but they also saw potential. They started me in their video journalist-in-training position, and took some time to groom me before putting me on the air. News is such a deadline-driven business, it’s amazing a news room in market 52 is willing to take the time to invest in a fresh face.
I also owe a lot of credit to my news directors and general manager for allowing me to pursue the reporting I most enjoyed. While colleagues at other stations were standing in front of dark buildings in the mornings, fronting news of the day, I got to decorate cookies with a pastry chef for Halloween, or tour an abandoned jail to promote an upcoming fundraiser instead. In news, we call these water cooler stories: they’re the ones that make you say, “Did you see that story about…” while you’re standing around the water cooler at work. And they’re perfect for morning television, as people are getting ready for their day.
Of course, I also have to give a shout-out to all the News 8 viewers who wrote in with compliments and encouragements over the years. Your feedback no doubt had at least something to do with my bosses letting me run with my antics! And, man, it sure makes me feel loved when people stop me in the grocery store to say they love waking up with me every morning. It’s like I’m part of the family, and that feels pretty good.
As for now, I’m on a new adventure. It took a year or two to muster the courage for this leap of faith, and now I’m chasing my dream job. Have you ever seen Samantha Brown on the Travel Channel? Or Mike Rowe on Discovery’s Dirty Jobs? They’re my heroes. If things work in my favor, I’ll land on one of the national lifestyle entertainment networks I so love. As I try to move in that direction, I’m also pursuing freelance work doing voice-overs, hosting local shows and videos, conducting media trainings, and creating a community-focused project with my husband that’s top secret. For now.:)
If I’ve piqued your curiosity, you can subscribe to receive my posts, and keep up with all my news and goings-on. Would love to have you!
34 Comments
11:34 am
wow! transformation is right! hard to believe you were older than 12 in that first photo!
love the website/graphics, and the photos are very fun and very you. keep up the good work! best of luck in all your new adventures!
11:32 pm
I was wondering what happened to you. You never know how much you miss something/someone until they’re gone. Weird…. BTW- I loved your latest hair style too…those subtle highlights were perfect for your cut and face.
All I can say is, the network is not the same without you. If it wasn’t for the timely “weather on the eights” I might not be watching anymore.
Oh, nice website. It was very easy finding you.
Best of luck in your future endeavors…
8:26 am
Hey Amy. I just noticed that you weren’t on News 8 anymore. Now I can’t turn to my husband and tell him that I know someone on there. Well I’m very excited for your new adventures and can’t wait to see what happens. Goodluck!!!!!
11:35 am
I had to google you this morning to find out why you were no longer on News8. I always admired your ability to handle tricky segments and interviews with grace and marveled at your extreme perkiness in the wee hours of the morning!! Good luck with new adventures!!
10:31 am
Emily:
You’d best be careful with the age jokes. I have some incriminating photos of you floating around, and a public website to share them.
I’m glad you like the site, and pics and graphics!
Dave:
Thanks so much for the note! I really had a good gig going at N8, and it was bittersweet to leave. Just the fact that they give fresh faces like mine a chance makes me forever grateful. Plus, I think they do news right, with a community focus most other stations don’t bother touching. Sorry… stepping off the soapbox.
I’m glad you found the website ok! I wanted it to be a place for people to find me, post N8, so I’m glad it’s working!
Marisa:
Are you still playing ultimate? You should pitch it to the new Fit for Friday reporter, Heidi Zhou. I bet she’d cover it!
I hate to disappoint, so how about I land a national show so you can still turn to your husband and say you know me?
I visited Cottey a couple weeks ago! It was my first time back on campus since we graduated. I was there speaking to the media classes, but my favorite part was catching up with faculty and staff. I missed our 5 year Founder’s, but I fully intend to be there for our 10!
Bonster:
I’m glad you found me, then! I won’t lie: I enjoyed morning tv, but I’m also enjoying sleeping in till 8. Thanks for your well-wishes. I’m definitely in square one of this adventure, but it feels good to be here.
7:44 am
Hi Amy. I’m so sorry to see you’ve left News 8. Last week I thought maybe you were on vacation. This week I thought “Amy’s been gone too long!”. My husband and I will really miss watching you. We’ve always thought you were really brave to do a lot of those Fit for Fridays. We’ve had a lot of laughs as we’d say “I can’t believe she’s doing that!”. Good luck in your new endeavors! I can’t wait to see you on national tv!
4:31 pm
Jill -
It’s amazing how much your popularity is upped when you’re willing to look like an idiot on tv.:) No, I like to have fun, and I figured why put on a “reporter” face for TV? Thankfully, my bosses agreed to let me be me.
I had a great career with N8, and I especially loved having through-the-screen friends like you and your husband. Thanks for your encouragement, and hopefully we’ll meet again on another network!
7:18 am
Amy, Thanks for all the great work on News8. We all thought you were on vacation till I found this site. While we miss seeing your smile every day, we look forward to landing the dream job! The hardest part will no longer having the first person to see you yell “Amy” when your segments came on, but the kids will have just wait till we see you on a new show. Again, good luck. (will subscribe to updates so we can keep track of the rising star!)
9:41 am
Thanks, Bill. Indeed, it’s a permanent vacation! I’m glad you found me, though, and I’m determined that you’re right that you and the family find me again! Tell the kids I say hello!
9:30 am
Amy,
Congradulations and good luck on the new career direction. However, my kids and I will miss you on News 8. I always turn on News 8 in the morning when they are getting ready for school to see what the weather is going to be like to know how to dress the kids and what the traffic will be like for me on the way to work. My three kids (7, 9 and 14) have been asking “where’s Amy”?” every day when we have been watching. Now I can let them know:)
8:44 am
Like a lot of people, I was wondering where you’d gone. Have to admit I was hoping it was a vacation or something. We’ll miss your segments.
Good luck with the new projects, though. It does take a lot of guts, and remember that the first attempts may be just that…attempts…but we learn from everything.
9:23 am
Paul – It’s such an honor to think I’ve been part of family life! Tell the kids I say hello. And thank you for your well-wishes, despite leaving a hole in your morning.:)
Jason – You’re spot on. I heard a story about Edison getting questioned by reporters about the lightbulb; “You’ve failed 2000 times. When are you going to quit?” He responded something like, “That’s 2000 times closer to the answer!” My goal is to see “no’s” as feedback rather than failure. I’m learning a lot of life-lessons in this phase!
9:25 am
Amy,
All I can say is -from watching the show- it looks like News8 is struggling to find your replacement. No offense to the other reporters, but it’s a little painful watching them try to pull- off what you did every day. It’s gonna take News8 a while to find someone to fill your shoes.
Anyway, you HAVE to chase your dreams! That’s awesome. Go conquer the world!
Good Luck!
Jen
7:33 am
I too had to google in search of “finding Amy”! Can’t wait to see you on the History/Discovery chanel, if I’m not watching News8 that’s where I am. Good Luck.
9:23 am
Amy,
My father Walter Furley, recently retired as noon news director/anchor at Channel 10, KZTV in Corpus Christi. He even made it into the Guinness book for at time. Ask Rich Segal about him if you get a chance.
That being said, I grew up in and around his newsroom and sets and staff during that time and have seen a lot of personalities come and go.
I’ve always wanted you to know I think you are one of the best feature reporters I have ever seen. I was hoping you wouldn’t take the bouncing-from-one-market-to-another approach to career advancement that I’ve seen some others do. I spoke on the phone with Todd Callahan today, and he updated me on your decision. I think it is a perfect way to go and I applaud you for trusting your instincts and following your heart.
Best wishes and best of luck. We’ll all be watching for what’s next!
Ric
10:05 am
Jen – Yeah, I certainly don’t want it to be hard to replace me. I think my bosses gave me so much room to run the way I wanted, now it’s going to take someone finding their own niche and making it work for them.
Thanks for your enthusiasm! Some days, sitting by myself in front of my computer, I need a little reminder I’m not crazy to try this.:)
Pam – I know! Aren’t those channels great? Quality TV that’s interesting and full of integrity. It would be such an honor to work for those networks.
Ric – Wow… your father was at KZTV for 45 years?! Talk about a commitment to and love for news and his station! That’s something to admire.
Thank you for such a high compliment. When it came to a career in news, I was more interested in doing it well and calling a place home than climbing the ladder. I think it worked out okay for me here! We’ll see if the next phase is as good to me as Austin has been. Thank you. I appreciate your words.
10:41 am
We miss you Amy – it took me this long to find out what happened! Fit for Friday is not the same without you – but I admire you for your courage to reach your goals! You are one of the reasons we enjoy channel 8 news in the morning – we look forward to seeing you on another channel soon!
11:29 am
Thanks, Kathy. Now that I don’t have to be in bed by 8, I think I need to find a Fit for Friday of my own. I’m thinking dance or theatre could be my real life hobby! Thanks for your encouragement.
7:46 am
amy
i’m glad to have figured out where you went. my husband LOVES you, and looked forward to seeing you every day. i am usually on the computer in the morning, and was regularly interrupted with “babe! you gotta come see what amy hadley is doing!”
since you’ve been gone, i have been subjected to mock-derogatory comments about your replacements, and how much better you would be doing the story. you are missed, and we look forward to seeing what you will do next, and wish you the absolute best, brightest future possible.
10:37 pm
gonna miss your segments!!you are punkrock,in your own way!!take care on your next journey.
6:32 pm
My husband and I have been wondering if you’d left – we missed you on Friday mornings! You were fantastic on News 8 and we’ll miss your reports. We’d ask people if they’d seen you (“Did you see Amy Hadley do salsa dancing at like 6 in the morning? She’s awesome!”) like we were friends with you. It felt that way after all these years!
We wish you the best in your career and think you’ll be fantastic. Thanks for the blog – I’ve subscribed! Have a Happy New Year.
9:52 am
Bianca — That’s the highest compliment I could possibly imagine! Thank you. I did have a lot of fun — at crazy hours!
Thanks for subscribing! I have some fun news coming.:)
2:27 pm
Our TV broke in Sept. and we lived without television for a few months. (Not really that difficult, but we missed watching movies.) When the replacement set arrived and we went back to our habits of checking News 8 for weather, traffic, and local news, it took a week or two before becoming paranoid about Where’s Amy? I finally emailed Channel 8 and they kindly replied that you had left the station to pursue other opportunities and that they missed you.
We miss you too! But found this website and will try to keep up with your new adventures. I was privileged to speak with you a few times on the UT campus when you were doing a story there and you have been a bright part of our home lives for all these years. It’s not the same without you and we’re sorry to miss your wit and insight and joie de vivre, but naturally wish you all the best in whatever direction you go. I hope this blog will let us follow along for the ride. Never stop being Amy, Amy!
I couldn’t figure out how to subscribe or manage content that way — those software applications/browsers are too rich for my limited cyber-savvy skills — but I’ll check the website as best I can. You should get a MySpace space, too, while you’re at it (even if it is passe in the face of FaceBook). Cheers, ciao, et a bientot!
9:48 am
Amy, I’m so sorry to see you go but figured you were moving up and on, so good luck and thanks for all the fun stories. I’m still watching News 8, but I miss you!
6:32 pm
Amy,
I would not normally do this but I want you to know how much my husband and I enjoyed waking up to your news stories every morning. You became part of our routine and we truly miss your fun excited personality. You helped me start my day with a smile. I am sure whatever it is you do you will bring much heart and enthusiasm! Good luck with your journey forward and thanks for everything you did at News 8!!!! You are a very talented person.
7:28 pm
Ah, M – Thank you! I’m tickled to know I inspired early morning smiles. I did love what I was doing, and I hope I can do it again soon… nationally!
6:15 pm
When I would watch News 8 Austin, I used to admire your job. You were always out in the field working, meeting people and getting yourself involved with Austin, TX. You got to play paintball, play basketball with the disabled and so many other things that I believe most of us would love to do in real life. People like me have to work 60 hours a week and we kinda lived a bit of our dreams in you with your job at News 8 Austin.
I wish you well in your journey, and hope you land the dream job that you truly dream about. What ever you do, Keep Smiling. You fill the night with the glow that comes from your smile. We will miss YOU.
9:08 am
Amy,
Break a leg! My wife and I are fans. We have missed Fit for Friday over the past couple of months so I went looking for you in online(Google). We never even heard on News 8 that you were gone so we have been wondering what was up. We frequently watch all of the lifestyle channels and we hope to see you on one soon.
Take Care,
-Keeton
9:19 pm
Amy,
like the other posts my husband and I were wondering what had happened to you! We agree that N8 is no longer the same without you. You were the life of that news station! You were such a joy to watch and we wish you the best. I can definitely see you on the Travel Channel. All the best and hope to watch you soon!
2:51 pm
Amy –
I feel like I came too late to the party. I did not hear that you had left N8 on tv and thought you might be on vacation but now I know. Google is my friend
Anyway, you will be missed, best of luck to you in the future and thanks for some funny moments.
4:43 pm
If there’s one thing I’d like to be, it’s punk rock. Thanks, Phyl.:)
12:36 pm
Mollie — You make me laugh! Sorry for all the interruptions… hope they were worth it.:)
8:19 pm
Hi Amy,
We were watching news on t.v. I asked my daughter i wonder what happened to the girl that was
all over the viewing area of channel 8. We could not remember your name until , a discussion
of some Hadley family that ran a beer joint and worked in the oil fields ,where we worked.
The town was Edna, Texas. Well Mrs. Hadley i read up online to find out, I am glad for you.
May God Bless You for he has better things instore for you.
Roberto Romo Sr. Kyle,Tx. in Austin now Bye!!!!
9:47 am
Us Hadleys are everywhere, huh?! Well I’m glad and flattered you found me, Roberto. Thanks for writing! My husband and I have actually just relocated to Prague, in the Czech Republic, for a couple years. So we’ll see what adventures await us here!