I recently had a job shadow come in to see what we do here. He came in right before news time when things can be the most hectic. My show, all of the writing and the graphics, were pretty much done. So I was able to sit with him and explain to him what happens day to day. I took him into the control room at 5 to show him what was done during a show. He then went into the studio at 5:30, and then left right before my show started at six. And as he was leaving, his father said, "things really change a lot before you go on the air, I never realized that things are so fluid."

It was a very accurate observation. Things in news are quite fluid, and changing quicker than you can deal with them. That night it was 4:45 when breaking news was happening and a reporter was a few minutes away-but that reporter was already in the 5 o'clock show with a different story. So we had to quickly make changes, all while the viewer at home is not able to detect we made changes to our shows moments before they go on air.

The three of us, the 5, 5:30 and 6 o'clock, producers are all able to handle the changes. But, it is all teamwork. The anchors, reporters, writers, producers, prompter operators, directors, technnical directors, graphics and audio people all have to work together. Its amazing what a well oiled machine the system really is, and without all of those people it's nearly impossible to make air.

Melissa Dethlefsen
- 6 p.m. Producer

There are so many things that I could I write about... Where do I begin?



First off, I will introduce myself. I'm Melissa Dethlefsen, I am the producer of the 6pm news and Face the State. Many people who I meet don't really know what a producer does. There is a lot of work that goes into making a nightly newscast. Three producers work during the day, we all start in the morning and work all day towards the finale of our day-when our show finally goes to air. We pitch story ideas for reporters, write stories and then come up with creative ways to make sure people enjoy our shows and get the most informative news in Connecticut.



My job is fun and this is a great place to work, I honestly can't imagine ever doing anything else.



The hard part about working in television news is having to move around a lot. I moved to Connecticut almost 3 years ago. I was living in New York where my in-laws live and before that my husband and I lived in Illinois, where my family currently lives. So we only see our families a few times a year. My father is in radio and we moved around a bit when I was younger. I think that's why moving around as an adult isn't as hard on me. I think my father also being in "the business" made me want to work even more.

Melissa Dethlefsen
- 6 p.m. Producer