live 5 news | Khadijah Dennis

The Road Less Traveled

“Do not be afraid. Do not be discouraged. For the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”

We hear the saying all the time — that all good things must come to an end. Well, I say, great things never see a stopping point.

On June 20, 2016, a small town girl put on her city boots and embarked on the most important journey of her life: becoming a news producer at her first love – Live 5 News.

I remember coming home every single day growing up, and my mom blocking time on the TV from 5 p.m. – 6:30 p.m. so she could see what her news of the day was. And don’t you dare touch that remote any time in between. Before the night is over, she’s checking back into the 11 p.m. show because she needed to know if we were walking out the door with jackets for school in the morning.

Fast forward to post-grad life after the University of South Carolina, and it’s me becoming a part of that voice, helping to provide that feeling of safety for other families, and hoping that there is a mom, or father, an auntie or a grandparents that depended on, and was more than satisfied with what was being projected on their screens.

Over the last few years, I’ve learned something so important about my journey as a journalist: I can do this. And if I can do this, I can do anything.

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From dreaming of being able to work with those I see on my T-V Screens, to living that lifestyle, and making a difference one story at a time.

To late nights, and missed holidays with families and friends, to laughs, and tears, to successes and sometimes a not-so good show.

I’ve been placed in a position to provide assistance, motivate change in and showcase the people and unique places that make up the Holy City.

I learned.

I grew.

And for that, I’m thankful.

Thankful for brand new opportunities.

Thankful for a journey that opened my mind, and my heart.

No journey is perfect, or ever easy, but you must always find meaning in the path you walk.

So with that I say, cheers to a new chapter, and thank you to everyone I have met along this journey that has become my forever family.

Thank you + Hello again

Posted on October 10, 2016 by kdennis12

I appreciate you.

I can’t even begin to say how grateful I am for the friends and loved ones I have who called or sent messages checking in on little ole me during Hurricane Matthew. It was greatly appreciated all the same.

I’m also grateful to be typing this up in my own apartment space where thankfully there have been no damages due to the storm, the power still works, and everything is exactly how I left it. If I learned nothing from this weekend’s 24 hour coverage of the storm, I’ve learned to count my blessings, no matter how big or small.

The Live 5 news team did an amazing job coming together these past few days to bring our viewers any information we could to keep them safe. As a producer, this is very important to me. I value those who love us and what we do because only a smidget of it is actually seen on camera. A whole lot of the work comes from behind the scenes with decisions on who covers what, how that is presented to the viewers and for how long.

I didn’t get many pictures of the newsroom over the weekend, but let me tell you: it was a whole lot of hustle and bustle! Many of us spent the night at Live 5’s headquarters so that we could all safely and with rest make sure that we were ready for the day’s events.

We stressed.

We laughed.

We fellowshipped.

We were all together in one space. Not everything goes well 100%, but our main goal is what the viewer needs from us, and we all came together to get it done.

While many may still be feeling the effects of Hurricane Matthew, I want to send lots of encouragement and light your way. Make it to all of your destinations safely, and remember that my team and I are always on your side, no matter where you are.

-K

P.S. I promise, I will blog often. Look out for personal notes and things on Mondays ❤

Checking in -Millyrock and Blessings

Posted on July 19, 2016 by kdennis12

Checking in.

It’s been awhile since I’ve been around, chatting about any subject.

That’s because for the first time in a long time, I spent more time living and less time dreaming.

Representing the lowcountry well ❤ – Ann McGill, anchor at Live 5 news and I after a morning show

It’s been a crazy incredible two months since I’ve graduated from the University of South Carolina. Never would I have expected for my life to move so quickly. I’m honored that I even have the opportunity to do what I love day in and day out. And I’d like to think that the people I work with help me a great deal with making my job a bit easier.

Weekend morning crew: Meteorologist Sagay Galindo and Anchor Hannah Mosely

My executive producer, Chaunte Turner and I

Moving to the city of Charleston is a completely new beginning. Outside of the very few friends or people I know in the area, it’s a different lifestyle. I must say though, between the area being gorgeous and the food being to die for, I can’t complain. And only driving twenty minutes at the least to a beach isn’t so bad either.

I’m overwhelmed with all of the love and support that’s been given to me in the past month as well. From the love on social media, to the calls and texts. It truly means a lot that you believe in me as much as I’ve grown to really start believing in myself.

I’ve had to learn a lot of things coming into this new transition. The hardest being that not everything comes full circle as quickly as you imagine. I love my job, but my job is not the answer to all of my adulting responsibilities. It’s an addition and one that I’m lucky to love and not see as a job but as my career.

Learning how to choose what’s best for me and to be unapologetic about that is something that I’m learning how to do better.

You’ll find that life is a big game of compromise. Sometimes, it’s not always about you or what it is that you want, but what you can do that affects a larger platform.

With my career at Live 5 News, I’m reminded of how many people actually count on me a day. From the moment that I walk in, my anchors, directors, and production crew are all counting on ME to have an idea. An idea that leads to building a show. That show building leading to better direction for ways my production team can make my ideas come alive.

I’ll admit, I admire my positive outlook on things that I set out to do i general. But often times, I do get nervous. I do fall short sometimes. and I’m learning that in the end, that’s okay. I’m learning how to fully accept that perfect and the imperfect. The ups and the downs.

My life is a dream right now.

Everything that I could possibly ever want has fallen into my lap *cues Chance the Rapper’s Blessings.*

And yet, I understand that the journey does not end here.

It was placed on my heart and mind to tell anyone that’s been in a stagnant place to not ever underestimate the blessings that God has coming your way.

Much love,