Erica Estep

• East Tennessee State University. Majored in Mass Communications and minored in Political Science.

• WJHL News Channel 11, Johnson City, Tenn. (general assignment reporter and fill-in anchor)
• WCYB NewsCenter 5, Bristol, Va. (began in production as a production assistant running studio cameras, doing computer graphics and helping edit commercials. Moved over to news to become an editor, then photographer, finally, weekend producer and one man band reporter.)

Family time with my husband and sons. I enjoy exploring new places, hiking, dancing, eating out and just relaxing at home with a good book or movie. I also enjoy doing craft projects, but I don't always finish what I start.

My favorite part is just the different people I get to meet on a daily basis as a reporter. I love just soaking up everything I see and hear, and sharing that story with our viewers. I get to see and do things on a regular basis that I couldn't in any other job. Most memorable story: disaster training alongside fire fighters, police and EMTs. I actually put on the equipment the experts use and got a small glimpse into what they do. I practiced saving someone from flood waters in the rushing rapids of the Nolichuckey River, crawled on my knees through a dark building filled with smoke while wearing 70 pounds of gear, and practiced target shooting with a police SWAT team.

• Tennessee AP award for Tri-Cities Market Best Reporting 2004

• Man holds up CVS employee at gunpoint
• Church employee charged with theft in Gallatin
• Three people rescued after getting lost in the woods
• Golden, Tennessee trounce No. 25 Kentucky 88-58
• Officials search for suspects connected to Pizza Hut robbery
• Charter amendment question on ballot is vague
• Claiborne Co. couple charged with 134 counts of animal cruelty
• Deadly Ky. blaze leads to fire prevention drive
• Hundreds gather in Old City in support of beer tax reform
• Knoxville police still searching for suspect in pregnant teen's death