Deidra Shores, “Kid Reporter” for NBC’s “Today Show” interviews Mayor A C Wharton Jr.  (Courtesy Photo)

by Deidra Shores
Special to the Tri-State Defender

Since winning the “Kid Reporter” contest on NBC’s “Today Show” last November, Deidra Shores has been on the go. And while it’s been fun for the Memphis middle school student, the experience also has been sobering at times. Her next segment, which airs Friday, March 5, highlights the International Toy Fair in New York City, including interviews with the CEOs of toy companies Hasbro and Mattel.

The experience I am having is one that I never even imagined. Most of the days I have an interview or an event to attend start really early. If I am making an appearance on the “Morning Show” in Memphis or New York, I am usually up around 4:30 a.m.

Thankfully, this is not a daily activity, because I am a slow starter most mornings. My call time for interviews in New York is around 7 a.m. Eastern and around 6 a.m. for the “Memphis Morning Show” on Action News 5.

Late nights also come with this new adventure for me, because I still have to do homework, and I even have a teacher that allows me to call her at night if I have questions.

Probably the most memorable experience I am gaining is the opportunity to meet celebrities, or put a smile on the face of an individual that may recognize me in a local store!

The preparation for an interview

Preparation for my interviews starts a few days in advance. There is a Team effort – between myself, mom (Vanessa Conner) and the producer we are currently working with on a story – to come up with the right questions, contacts and location.

I actually get to ask questions that a teenager would be interested in and the rest of the Team helps me to understand the vision of the segment that I need to get across to the viewers. Once the questions and the vision are set, I practice. If you fail to practice, you are practicing on failing.

My Mom helps me to practice my interview and working with her can be very challenging because, well, I am a teenager; her creativity and mine sometimes have to find a common intersection in the road to a successful interview. Oh of course, hair and wardrobe is a part of the preparation for each interview. Again, that common intersection between mother and daughter has to take place!

The interview and the aftermath

This is where the fun starts! I try and calm my nerves, and have a great time. The work is before all the lights, camera, and action. Now it’s MY TIME to do what I love to do, and that’s make people laugh and have a good time. My goal is to try and have a positive interview and make people feel special. So the aftermath is usually more laughs for all involved!

How people are reacting

99.9 percent of the reaction from people on my win has been positive and most are very excited that Memphis has representation on a global television show. I am so appreciative of people that don’t mind being happy for me and greet me with a smile or big hug. I am more than happy to return that love!

However, there is a small mindset that I don’t bother to acknowledge who allow envy, jealously & hatred to cloud their perception of me. There are those who have stopped speaking to me or those that comment that because my grammar is correct I am “not black enough.” Sadly, that mindset is a reflection of their character and life’s expectations and not mine!

What she is learning

I am learning how to operate television and radio industry equipment. I get to see the behind the scenes of news operations that most are currently in school to find out about.

I am also learning to accept the word, “No”. Just because someone may turn me down, I know I will have many more opportunities to make myself, my family and Memphis proud!

Look for Deidra in the April edition of Essence Magazine.