Emily Rau: Do-Everything Journalist.

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Since I joined the WVEC 13 News team in Norfolk, VA, I've learned so much about what this self-proclaimed title of 'Do-Everything Journalist' really means.

Writing, shooting, and editing the story of the day isn't the hard part...it's doing all those things well and telling a great story that counts. The multimedia, multiplatform wave of journalism isn't an experiment for me. It's part of the craft.

Some days I run the assignment desk, man the station's website and social media accounts, tune in live shots, turn a package and front the story before the day is done. Is it a challenge? Yes. Ideal? Not always. But I feel privileged to make the effort each day and the people we meet make it all worth it.

Out in the cold




They pay their rent on time despite dangerous living conditions and unanswered complaints to the landlord. On Friday, police showed up to condemn their homes and force them out by 5 o'clock.

Find the online version here: http://bit.ly/rRBcRS

First comes her wrath, then the aftermath of Irene



After a marathon weekend of hurricane coverage, this was the Monday after, when thousands of people (including me!) were on day three of no power.

We visited a neighborhood where everyone was holding it together and trying to stay patient as power crews continued their work.

Forever bonded by tragedy and love   


This was a tough day. As we drove around the neighborhood where this mother was seeking refuge at her parent's home, it was clear everyone around was truly shaken by the previous day's events. After months of death threats from her estranged husband, he finally followed through.

Find the online version of the story here:
http://www.facebook.com/#!/EmilyRauWVEC

A Turkey Day tradition  


This was a great story to cover. Our newscasts are often filled with the 'bad' news of the day, so when we get to share stories like this one, I think it's extra special. It's about the Higgs family in Hampton. They open their home every year for soldiers who are far from home with no place to go.

Find the online version of the story here:
http://www.wvec.com/home/USO--134466093.html

A mother in mourning

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Lots of heartache for this woman, who held her 27 year-old daughter in her arms as she took her last breath. Tabbatha Russell was killed after being stabbed in the throat, steps away from her grandmother's home.

Find the online version here:  http://bit.ly/nCnwNd

Twister tears through Deltaville, VA

One of the things I love about this job is getting an up close and personal look at the incredible power of Mother Nature.

The tiny town of Deltaville got slammed with a huge tornado in April and the community is still cleaning up. We arrived the morning after, as people surveyed their damaged homes and pinched themselves that no one was seriously injured.

Find the online version of the story here:
http://bit.ly/pXbs4g

The search for Billie Jo   


I made the drive from Virginia to North Carolina to cover this story several times.

This piece is right at the beginning of the search for this woman. Days later, search and recovery teams found her body in the water. Until that discovery, her family's hope and determination never wavered.