one singular sensation
an interview of darcel grimes of WLOS Channel 13
by deAnne hampton

I am so thankful and proud to be a woman.Today, I had an experience that reminded me of all the things there are to celebrate about being fantastically female.

When I ponder the innate wisdom, the inner beauty and thefoundation of quiet strength that is the backbone of women all over the world, I am honored tohave spent time with one that exudes the extraordinary essence of being a wise and powerful woman—Darcel Grimes.

Darcel knew from an early age (she grew up the youngest of three children in Washington, DC) that she wanted to be a news reporter. She never fantasized about cooking and playing house and being a mom. As a junior inhigh school, she vividly recalls watching the very first female news anchor in DC and knowing then that that was what she wanted to do with her life.

Her mother was both a working mom and a stay-at-home mom at different times in her childhood. When asked if she had any role-models growing up, Darcel quickly acknowledged her mother. She was inspired by her mother's constant reminder that she could be and do anything she set her mind to if she worked hard and followed her own dream. There was not a question if she and her siblings would go to college—this was a given. Her dad didn’t ask if, but which college they would go to. And the message always instilled in her family was that being the best you can be matters!

Darcel has been the evening news anchor for WLOS since 1981, (I asked her if she was 12!) and was recently voted for the umpteenth time favorite news anchor by Mountain Xpress readers. I told her WNC Woman had our sites on her way before this latest accolade.

DH. What brought you to Asheville?

DG. After graduating from American University with a journalism Degree, I was offered a job in Jackson, Mississippi at an all news radio station. It was my first time away from home and living on my own. I was scared ofmy own shadow and imagined everyone of those 1000 miles between my family and me. But it is what I wanted to do, so I went. A year later, I was offered the job at WLOS. I didn’t know a thing about Asheville except that it was 500 miles closer to home! I thought I’d stay a year...which became two, which became amarriage, 2 children and 22 years later. Asheville has really grown on me and I feel very welcomed and at home living here.

DH. What’s it like being a working mom?

DG. You’re in a perpetual state of exhaustion! But it’s fun. I was always so intent on my career and having kids never really entered my mind—didn’t give it any thought. So having 2 wonderful boys (ages 14 and 8), it’s such a joy....it is something I don’t think I could have ever dreamed of. And a wonderful supportive husband with, thankfully, a flexible schedule—it’s great. To them, I am just mom. We have dinner together every evening. It is a nice balance in my life that I am grateful for.

DH What are your thoughts about women in media and how that has changed over the years?

DG. I think women in media have come to be recognized as strong and professional and capable, and acknowledged for knowing what they are doing. I remember a time in this business when thegeneral consensus among consultants was that you could not have a female solo a news cast because you had to have a dominant male anchor...

DH ..and women were like a side-kick.

DG. Exactly. And if you think back, I don’t know if you remember the whole Harry Reasoner/ Barbara Walters fiasco, when they first made her co-anchor?

DH It was a big to-do?

DG. Oh, it was a big to-do because he was like, “I’m not having any of that!” So, you’ve seen an evolution of women. You are seeing women age on television (chuckle), you’re seeing older women and everyone is not 20!

DH Thank goodness for that!

DG. Thank goodness for that! I am thinking hmmmm maybe I’m good for a few more years!

DH But also it seems like there is more character in the personality when life experience is involved...not just “Oh, she’s pretty.”

DG. Oh, yes! I think we are seeing that and it’s great.

DH You obviously take really good care of yourself. As a public figure, do you feel extra pressure to take extra care of your appearance?

DG. I do work out, but mainly because it is a stress buster! There is an added incentive being a public figure, but I think you just have to be honest with yourself, with expectations and lifestyle. Early on, I joined a gym - but by the time I got up, got dressed, drove to the gym, drove back...

DH That’s half your time!

DG. That was half my time and I thought, “I’m not going to do this!” It was not realistic for me. So, I got exercise equipment that I could use at home.

DH You have to make it work for your life.

DG. Exactly. I get up, get myself together, go work out, and it’s done! If I don’t do it then, then it’s not going to get done and I accept that about myself (chuckle). Even if it’s only 10 or 15 minutes—over the course of the week, it adds up and really puts you in a different frame of mind. Listen, I love to eat and when I was pregnant, I gained a lot of weight. After I had my first son I remember looking in the mirror and thinking, “I still look pregnant!” I knew I needed some discipline. It is not a great chore for me, I enjoy being active, and I’d much rather eat what I want and then work it off!

DH. That’s my philosophy! So, when I told some of my friends about doing this interview with you, there was a consistentquestion they wanted me to ask, and that
is: there seems to be atendency for news to focus on what is tragic, negative, vs what is good. What is your thought about that?

DG. I think what happens is, people have to understand the definition of news. News is what is new, what is affecting yourcommunity, what people are talking about when they get up tomorrow morning. Now, one day, if there is a blizzard, that is the big news story. Everybody will be talking about the weather. If you have something that is bizarre, like last night’s news about somebody going out and killing horses—I mean that happened in our community and people will be talking about it. So, I think you have to balance that with teacher of the year, student athlete of the week, never stop learning, parenting... When people say that I think that they don’t look at the whole newscast. We cannot ignore what everybody will be talking about and what is affecting our community.

DH You are educating us...

DG We have an obligation to educate and inform. You cannot hide from things that are unpleasant. People need to know,have a right to be informed about what is happening in their community.

DH Do you get to have creative input?

DG Oh, yes!

DH Is that important to you?

DG Oh, I think—ultimately—you know it is my face that is hanging out there... the reporters will write intro’s and the producers will write their stories and I may write some—but if you write an intro and I come to you and I say—I have a problem with this...

DH That’s great, that you have a say.

DG Absolutely. I need to understand what has been written and why—to have it explained so that I see who made this statement and who it is attributed to.

DH And my personal question, coming from someone who has been told that I could never play poker...how do you—especially if it is personal/local, how do you keep your face totally neutral?

DG (laughs)

DH it is obviously a skill you have to have.

DG You have to understand—at least, I think journalists have to understand, how I feel is not important. What is important is the story. Yes, I can empathize, I can feel pain, but it’s not for me to judge. When you cross the line and start to judge - I have a problem with that.

I had an instructor in college who said there is no such thing as total objectivity. We all come to the table with life experiences, so as journalists you have to sit down and say, this is how I feel. Acknowledge the feeling and be honest with yourself so that your feelings don’t creep into the story.

DH And you are excellent at that.

DG I may think this politician is (does a raspberry), but how I feel is irrelevent because this politician is still a person. How I feel about him matters only on election day when I go to cast my one vote. My job is to inform, not to sway. To give the facts and then let you decide. That is one thing that does bother me sometimes with the news and reporting across the nation today. You have young people in their 20scoming into the business that tend to forget that they’re dealing with someone’s life.

DH And you are in a position where what you say can really have an effect because you are so front and center.

DG Absolutely.

DH After 20+ years—there can be a tendency for a job to get old...obviously news is different everyday—but what keeps your job fresh and new for you?

DG It is different every single night and I enjoy what I do and the people I work with. Asheville is a wonderful community...very kind, very accepting, they’ve been very loving. I’ve been very blessed because I had a dream and I get to live it everyday.

DH Do you have a closing thought, words of wisdom to share with the women of WNC?

DG. Don’t give up on your dreams. I feel kind of silly saying this but I still believe in miracles—and in dreams comingtrue. That’s just me. I think if you believe in miracles and in your dream—you can continue, move on. Life is going to throw you curve balls—we all get them. And we have to learn to cope with them and move beyond them.

DH And that philosophy comes across in your personality so strongly; love of life, love of what you do—I just feel the joy you have and it has been a pleasure meeting and talking with you. I really look forward to sharing you with the women of WNC!

DeAnne Hampton is a therapist in private practice, specializing in teen issues, family mediation and home visits. She is also a writer and workshop facilitator with two books in production: Interior Joy and Inner City Innocence, A Teacher’s Journal of Joy and Despair. She is available for private and group sessions regarding the above topics.
[ 828-296-0630; mtnjoy2@ cs.com ]