A text or email from a supervisor containing the contents “we need to talk” is likely to send anyone into a bit of paranoia. That’s exactly how a piece of news was delivered to Tim Kelcher early one morning—in the middle of a broadcast no less.
Kelchner, who graduated from Elizabethtown College in 2007, added that, while the words “nothing bad” were tacked onto this particular message, he still couldn’t help but think the worst as he sat at the WBRE/WYOU anchor desk delivering the morning news to the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, Pa. market. After the Eyewitness News Daybreak credits rolled, he spoke to his general manager. “Nothing bad” was right—an understatement, even. That’s Kelcher’s “it’s kind of a funny story” recap of how he found out he was one of two anchors offered the opportunity to cover the 2014 Winter Olympic Games in Sochi, Russia, for Nexstar Broadcasting Group, the national media company that owns WBRE/WYOU.
Kelchner and Neile Jones, of Fayetteville, Ark.-based KNWA, were selected from among the talent—broadcasting term for reporters and anchors—at 70-plus television stations owned by Nexstar. The two will provide live reports, athlete interviews and behind-the scenes coverage to all of the group’s location stations, which cover 43 media markets in 18 states.
“This is hands down the greatest accomplishment in a very young career; all eyes are on the Olympics,” Kelcher said.
Before taking a seat at the desk, the E-town communications alum spent about six years covering sports in the South. He reported on high-profile football games and a few Bowl games, but “nothing at this global level.” Further, he added, the Olympic events are different than the “everyday” sports he’s used to covering.
“I love the nations competing, together. I enjoy the global aspect,” he said.
I want to find the backstories there … I want to take people to Russia.”
World Games. Small World.
Kelchner hails from a small town in Pennsylvania’s Columbia County, the same county that’s home to Olympic athlete Jayson Terdiman of the U.S. Olympic luge team. This region also is part of WBRE’s local coverage area, so Kelchner is excited to offer his viewers a local angle to complement his world coverage.
“This is the No. 1 thing I’m interested in,” he said, adding that he hopes he’ll get to share some good news about a local athlete. “That would be the biggest happiness for me.”
Those are the kinds of stories Kelchner enjoys telling. In addition to covering the action and results of the Olympic events, he’s looking forward to “exploring the mysterious town of Sochi.”
“I want to find the backstories there,” he said. “I want to take people to Russia.”
Olympic Trials
Kelchner and Jones recorded promos and got Olympic-coverage training in Park City, Utah. Photo courtesy of Kelchner.
To prepare for the Olympic coverage Kelchner and Jones participated in what he calls “boot camps.”
They visited a sister station in Salt Lake City, Utah, home to the 2002 Winter Games. This visit allowed the newly minted Olympic reporters the chance to get some do’s and don’ts from reporters and production staff members who had firsthand experience covering the global games. The pair also visited some of the 2002 game sites in nearby Park City, Utah, a perfect backdrop for recording promos—short promotional videos—that would air leading up to the event. In fact, they recorded a custom promo for each Nexstar station—spending about five minutes on each, this took about four hours.
“It was the worst weather I’ve ever had to work in—blizzard conditions. It was brutal—four hours without a break,” he said. “Weather-wise, there could not have been better training. That will have prepared me well [for Russia].” (see video)
This project, Kelchner said, allowed him and Jones the chance to “meet” the anchors of the other stations, who would be introducing their reports from Russia.
He also headed to Fayetteville to shoot more promos and spend some time getting familiar with the production gear, which he refers to as “quite impressive – a James Bond operation.” While a producer, cameraman and audio technician will likely be on hand with the reporters during the live broadcasts, the two will be on their own for other assignments so it’s crucial that the required gear can be carried and managed by just two people.
…this is the ultimate field experience for a journalist—to cover the Olympics for 25 days.”
Game On: Reporting from Russia
It must be official: Kelchner’s credentials. Photo courtesy of Kelchner.
Kelchner embarks on his Sochi trip February 1. And he says his schedule is quite intense: three live shots in the morning and three live shots in the evening, seven days a week. They will cover events, interview athletes and find cultural stories to share.
“As soon as our feet hit the ground in Sochi, it’s time to run,” he said.
His accommodations, as well as the media center, are near the Olympic village and coastal section, where the indoor events are held—the mountain cluster is about an hour’s drive. Aside from potential culture shock, Kelchner explained one challenge of covering the Olympics. He said it’s NBC’s policy that no one can have phones with them during the games; that means no tweeting (he’s a big tweeter), no access to social media or communication at all for eight to 10 hours at a time. In lieu of live-tweeting, he plans to take lots of pictures and share them later. No phone also means fewer opportunities to check in with his wife and four-month-old daughter—leaving them for several weeks will be tough, he said.
In addition to live coverage and packaged reports, Kelchner will blog daily about his experiences in Russia for his local stations and other media outlets in the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton market. Those who wish to see his live reports, but do not live in a market with a Nexstar-owned news station, can find coverage on the website of any of the Group’s NBC affiliate stations.
Kelchner said he loves anchoring, but he’s looking forward to reporting again.
“I really, really, really love being out in the field,” he said. “And this is the ultimate field experience for a journalist—to cover the Olympics for 25 days.”
Note: While producing the article, E-town NOW couldn’t help but make the connection that Kelchner will arrive in Russia on Groundhog Day, but he won’t need a burrowing buddy to tell him winter will last a bit longer—the Winter Games, that is.
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