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A Day in the Life of TV News
Ten years of stories from a news photographer
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Underdogs and Legends: The 2009 NJCAA Championship Showdown in Pittsburg
As college football winds down this season, I find myself reminiscing about one of the most unforgettable games I ever covered. On...

Aaron Thompson
Dec 6, 20242 min read
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A Christmas Eve I’ll Never Forget
In 2018, I covered one of the saddest stories of my TV news career—a story that has stayed with me ever since. It was Christmas Eve, and...

Aaron Thompson
Dec 2, 20242 min read
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Travis Kelce Spreads Holiday Cheer with Kids at JCPenney
Wow, I can’t believe it’s already December. Where did the time go this year? December always brings a mix of emotions for me, especially...

Aaron Thompson
Dec 2, 20241 min read
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From Thanksgiving Deadlines to Black Friday Live Shots: Reflections on Working Holidays in TV
Working in TV means you are probably working most holidays. I remember Thanksgiving day and that weekend I usually had to work. Once in...

Aaron Thompson
Nov 20, 20241 min read
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Election Night Thrills: Covering Claire McCaskill's 2018 Senate Race in St. Louis
I never understood why some people in the news business didn’t enjoy working election nights—they were my absolute favorite. During my...

Aaron Thompson
Nov 1, 20241 min read
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Dreams, Loss, and Bad Luck: My World Series Journey in 2013
On October 27th and 28th, 2013, I had the opportunity to cover the World Series between the Boston Red Sox and the St. Louis Cardinals....

Aaron Thompson
Oct 22, 20242 min read
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First Time Abroad: Covering the Royals in Toronto and a Trip to Remember
On October 19, 2015, while working in Wichita, Kansas, I had the incredible opportunity to travel to Toronto, Canada, to cover the Kansas...

Aaron Thompson
Oct 17, 20242 min read
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Soaring Above Joplin: My First Helicopter Ride and a Love for Aviation
On October 15, 2013, while working at KOAM-TV, I was collaborating with Brandon Stokes on an aviation series he planned to air in...

Aaron Thompson
Oct 15, 20241 min read
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From Dream to Reality: My Journey Covering Events at Arrowhead Stadium
Growing up in the '90s, like most kids, I watched a ton of pro and college sports and dreamed of covering an event at Arrowhead Stadium....

Aaron Thompson
Oct 14, 20241 min read
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Royals, Road Trips, and a Comeback for the Ages: My Unforgettable 2015 ALDS Journey to Houston
On October 11-12, 2015, I had the incredible opportunity to travel to Houston, Texas, to cover the Kansas City Royals in the American...

Aaron Thompson
Oct 8, 20242 min read
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Behind the Scenes: My Exclusive Interview with Vice President Biden at the Joplin High School Dedication
After the Joplin tornado, many people visited the city, both to witness the devastation and to attend various dedications and memorials....

Aaron Thompson
Oct 3, 20242 min read
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From Player to Photographer: Finding My Passion on the Sidelines
October was always one of my favorite months when I worked in TV news, especially back when I was single and shooting high school...

Aaron Thompson
Oct 1, 20241 min read
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Breaking News and Baby: A Wild Morning in TV and Fatherhood
October 6, 2016, in Wichita was probably the most unforgettable morning I ever had working in TV news. At the time, Maria was pregnant...

Aaron Thompson
Oct 1, 20241 min read
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Reliving the Moment: A Local's Big Win on The Price Is Right
September 27, 2016 – A Fun Assignment in Wichita Back in 2016, I was working for KWCH-TV in Wichita, Kansas, and on this day, I had the...

Aaron Thompson
Sep 27, 20241 min read
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From City Stories to Small-Town Life: My Return to Pittsburg and Fond Memories of Wichita's Zoo
I was excited to return to Pittsburg/Frontenac in 2019 after spending time working in Wichita and Kansas City. However, there are some...

Aaron Thompson
Sep 25, 20241 min read
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Fair Memories and Pronto Pups: A Wichita Morning to Remember
When I worked in Wichita, I used to do the morning shift and had a segment called "Where’s Shane," which was similar to something you'd...

Aaron Thompson
Sep 16, 20241 min read
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Solar Eclipse Magic: A Memorable Day in TV News
I've been falling behind on my blog posts lately, but I have a good excuse—two trips, one to California and another to Minnesota, plus...

Aaron Thompson
Aug 20, 20241 min read
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Embracing Change: My Journey from KOAM-TV to Wichita
August 5, 2015, was not a day I shot or edited a story; it was my last day at KOAM-TV. I had accepted a job in Wichita, Kansas, and I...

Aaron Thompson
Aug 5, 20241 min read
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From Disappointment to Thrills: My Unexpected Journey as a News Photographer in 2009
The summer of 2009 was quite eventful. Fresh out of college, I transitioned from part-time to full-time at KOAM-TV. I was disappointed at...

Aaron Thompson
Jul 18, 20241 min read
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From Tornado Recovery to Cherished Memories: Meeting Freddy Simon of Freddy’s Frozen Custard and Steakburgers
In the summer of 2011, many people came to Joplin for the recovery and cleanup efforts following the devastating tornado. On July 11th of...

Aaron Thompson
Jul 11, 20241 min read
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