The Newsroom Lunch Table

It's the first place I was asked to sit down when I entered the newsroom on my first day of work more than 13 years ago.  The "Newsroom Lunch Table." 

It's a big, sturdy, oval wooden table that sits in the center of the newsroom off to the side.  The table always has some form of food on it- whether it's bagels, pizza, or candy. 

Newsrooms are known for attracting food. And people who work in newsrooms are known to eat.

Almost every day people gather around it and eat together for lunch or dinner. The cast of characters include producers, photographers, editors, reporters and anchors. We can be a rowdy bunch.

Earlier this week, Don Alhart and Mike Catalana shared some chicken gorgonzola for dinner.  Our producer, Katherine Loy, captured the moment.  I remember when our former Chief Meteorologist Bill Peterson worked with us - he would pull up a chair and share a joke or a story.

We talk about our families, what movies we've seen, or what renovations we are doing to our house.

Sometimes reporters come over to share stories about who they interviewed that day or to tell us how their story is turning out to be a bust.

I'm not sure how common this is in other businesses.  But in a place where things are always busy and we are running from one place to another, it's nice to talk to your co-workers when you are not under extreme stress.

I never knew how special the newsroom table was until I was the News Internship Coordinator at the station.  They always wanted to hang out with us at the table and hear our stories. Even after they left us to go back to school, they would email me. Their request?  They were back in town and wanted to have lunch with us at the Newsroom Lunch Table.

So while it just looks like an old, messy wooden table to most people, it actually holds a lot of memories for us.

Thanks,
Digital Diva