By Josh Smith
Anchor / WJHL
Published: November 25, 2009

When I started in broadcast journalism… oh… about 19 years ago, I wouldn’t have believed you if you told me.

A reporter doing a liveshot with nothing but a laptop and a webcam?

It happened today: Dana Wachter, 11 Connects morning reporter, stood at baggage claim at the Tri-Cities Regional Airport and filed a live report on holiday travel.  Microphone in hand, she’s faced a tiny web camera on a laptop perched on top of a change machine near the airport window.

Missing from this scene: a huge TV live truck, lots of cables, a big camera, and a couple of co-workers helping pull off the live report.

Just Dana and a laptop and a computer program called SKYPE.

Friends of mine have used it for years to talk to people overseas.  With a webcam, it’s like a face to face cyber chat.

Now, it’s the new age of local TV. 

Camera and live truck operators on vacation?  No problem!