Bobby Cleveland joins WLBT, Mississippi Public Radio
I know. I know. I know.
Believe me, I know how lucky I’ve been.
For the past 30 years, it has been my job to hunt and fish in Mississippi, and write about it. I had the privilege of meeting sportsmen and women, hearing their wonderful stories and then putting those words on paper.
It has been fun.The newspaper forum that provided me the opportunity is gone, but there are people who realized I still had a lot to say. That includes Mississippi Sportsmen and ms-sportsman.com, a growing magazine and Web site.
And, gulp, now it includes two other media forms, television and radio.
This week, I did my first piece for WLBT in Jackson, which included being live on the newsroom set. I was as nervous as all get-out, looked pretty stiff, but I am glad to report that the cameras in the studio survived.
(You should know this: When I first enrolled in the school of Mass Communications at the University of Southern Mississippi and was choosing between radio/TV or print journalism, my dad, Ace Cleveland —himself a sportswriter — gave me this advice: “Boy, you got a face for radio but a voice that’s just right for newspapers.” My dad’s way of saying I’d be better off typing than talking.)
The weekly pieces are part of WLBT’s 10 p.m. news on Tuesdays. If you can’t stay up that late, and I have a hard time doing so myself, the reports air again at 6:30 on Wednesdays and are available 24/7 at wlbt.com.
Last week, I felt it appropriate to tell why WLBT was adding outdoors to its news content. I talked about the number of people who are passionate about their pursuits, comparing it to college football. If all of our four-year schools all played home games on Nov. 17 this fall in front of their average crowds, there will still be more people in the woods for the opening day of deer season.
I also used money, pointing out how good a deal the $950 million-a-year industry is for Mississippi. Not one penny of general fund money goes into hunting and fishing programs, but over $67 million goes into the general fund in form of taxes on what sportsmen spend.
I finished the piece, jerking a crappie up out of Barnett Reservoir and saying that the real reason hunting and fishing are such popular sports is it’s just plain old good fun.
That one done, our next few segments will be from the field, including a trip next week to the Turcotte Shooting Facility, the nice range operated by the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries & Parks near Barnett Reservoir. John Satterwhite, the four-time U.S. States international skeet champion, talks about how the facility can prepare you for the upcoming hunting season.
We’ll follow that with a segment shot with bass pro Pete Ponds, who explains and demonstrates the quick snatch method of removing a hook from a body part. Pretty nice of him, seeing as how he hooked me that morning.
What’s next?
I’m going to continue to challenge my dad’s advice. Beginning Saturday, Sept. 1, Outdoors with Bobby Cleveland will air at 5 a.m. statewide on Mississippi Public Rodeo.
5 a.m.?
You bet. When you are in your vehicle headed to the hunting camp or to the boat launch, tune into MPR and get the latest hunting and fishing reports and tips from experts, things you can use to get the most out of your weekend trips.
And as always, keep coming back here to ms-sportsman.com each week for my weekly reports and commentaries.And share your stories with me by writing me at bobbyc7754@yahoo.com.
I’m hoping you still have a lot to say, too.
