TAMPA, Fla. — I’m a Carolina Girl; so, thankfully, the Florida weather hasn’t been too much of an adjustment (although the heat and humidity have certainly offered me a “warm” welcome)!
After graduating from the University of South Carolina with a bachelor’s degree in Broadcast Journalism, I got my first paid gig in news as a reporter at WRDW News 12 in Augusta, Georgia.
In 2015, I moved to Flint, Michigan to work as a reporter at WEYI/WSMH. While there, I extensively covered the Flint water crisis, scandalous local politics, and environmental issues. I was awarded a NATAS Emmy for my coverage on invasive species destroying local habitats.
After seeing enough snow to last a lifetime, I headed to CW33 in Dallas, Texas. At CW33, I covered human interest stories, news of the weird, and launched an interactive online web-series. In 2017, I passed the FAA Part 107 exam, and was able to become a certified drone pilot.
In 2018, it was time to head back to the southeast, so I moved to my hometown market and began work at WIS-TV 10 as the weekend morning anchor.
At WIS, I reported on everything from COVID-19, to the shutdown of illegal strip clubs. But it wasn’t all doom and gloom. In 2019, I was able to donate bone marrow through Be The Match to a 2-year-old with a rare bone cancer. By documenting that process, we were able to highlight the importance of expanding the bone marrow registry to help save lives.
During my time in South Carolina, I was able to witness and report on the community coming together like I’d never seen before. At the height of the pandemic, I launched a segment called Carolina Cookin’ to spotlight the best local eats, and people poured out to support those small businesses during an incredibly tough year.
That’s the kind of coverage I want to do more of. I want to tell more stories of hope, more stories of resilience, and maybe some stories that can give you a really good laugh. The bad news is bound to happen, and it’s already going to be in our face, so I’d rather focus my energy into searching for some positive stories to help balance things out!
Connect with Miranda: mparnell@10tampabay.com | Facebook | Twitter
