Leaving WKRN
Today I put in a two weeks notice with WKRN-TV here in Nashville. I’m sad to leave my work family here, but I’m very excited about the personal and professional growth opportunities that lie ahead. I will miss co-workers who have taught me so much during my time here, especially the wisdom of those who have been in the TV news business through a lot of ups and downs.
The past 3+ years have been an exciting time in television news and specifically at WKRN. The innovation we helped bring to the industry as a whole through the web has been widely noted and has helped moved stations across the nation into use of emerging web tools.
Our experimentation with blogs is likely the most widely noted. At a time when the industry as a whole scoffed at empowering any other voice but the reporter or anchor, WKRN embraced it. Now, virtually every TV station across the country has one or staff who author them.
Twitter and Facebook has helped place WKRN in a dominant and trusted position within our local community as viewers seek the latest information that directly affects their lives. WKRN was the first station in Nashville to bring you regular on-air commentary on top news stories directly from our viewers via Twitter. Since then, use of Twitter on cable news and elsewhere has become a new tool in instant viewer interaction.
Listening to our viewers has gotten infinitely easier thanks to these and other social media tools.
WKRN was the first station in the nation to use a locally developed platform to accept user generated photo and video content. Now TV stations and newspapers across the state and all over the country are using this innovative tool empowering individuals to instantly share their life’s experience, sometimes in the midst of breaking news.
WKRN’s recent use of live streaming from iPhones and laptops with broadband was just a dream 3 short years ago. Now anyone can do it, and access to live streams directly from viewers opens up a tremendous possibility for news gathering in the very near future.
A lot has changed in just 3 short years, and more change is certain to come. The very near future is full of exciting opportunities and changes that connect us and share our stories in innovative ways. If you would like to follow along, you can follow me on Twitter (@grantham), FaceBook, or read my blog. Yeah, those things are still around. 
Good luck in your future endeavors!
Godspeed, Mr. Grantham. I’ve enjoyed following your tweets/ustreams/general shenanigans. I’m looking forward to what you’ll be doing in the future.
WKRN was very lucky to have had you there to help them move into the new interactive world. We’ll all be looking forward to the next chapter in the Christian Grantham saga; I’m betting it’s going to be a blockbuster.
Christian! Big news. Best of luck in whatever lies ahead for you.
I can’t wait to see what is brewing.
Know that we’re pulling for you, wherever you wind up, hopefully somewhere in Tennessee!
Congrats on your new endeavors… I truly have enjoyed pitching you story ideas on Twitter! Remember when we met and you explained how these social networks are evolving? WOW. I forward to hearing more from you in the near future!
@cathylewusa
Best of luck to you! I’m sure you’ll do great at whatever lies ahead. Can’t wait to hear what’s next for you!
Ooooo! The future! So exciting. Good luck Christian and thank you for all the hard work you did to keep us informed.
Best wishes, sir, and thanks for keeping us all up to speed!
Man-oh-man, I am sorry to see you leave WKRN. I do wish you the very best in whatever comes your way. Please know that you have friends in Nashville who appreciate your entrepreneurial spirit!
Paul:)
(aka bruingeek)
Offering best wishes and any help you ever need! I know you’ll do great.
Good luck, Christian! Much continued success!
Your activity in the social media platforms is what has made me a very loyal WKRN viewer. I will continue to be so, but will definitely miss your input and participation in the stations news events. Best of luck to you in all you do in the future!!
Thank you all for the all your well wishes
It’s very touching you all care so much. I’ll be able to talk more about what’s next soon.
I’ll be a little busy over the next couple of weeks as I transition the staff and station, but I’m also starting to think about how much I can share along the way here and through YouTube. I’m very excited about the changes to come. I’ll share more soon.
I can’t wait to see what the future has in store for you, Christian! Best of luck!!
Good luck, Christian! Nashville will miss Nashville Is Talking. I appreciate all your hard work, even taking it on the chin from the “V” haters last fall. Keep us posted!
Rob
I’m a little late on this since I just found out within the last day or so, and lately I haven’t been awake right at Morning Browser time (tho I’ve caught it later on YouTube a bunch) so I haven’t been there either. Anyway, what a shock, but I certainly wish you only the best and am looking forwarding to hearing what’s next on your plate! I hope maybe you’re going to be taking a shot at that big piece of YouTube pie that so many others are making a living on these days…? Either way I wish you well and can’t wait to hear what’s next!
I might actually watch WKRN now.