Her voice inflection is so irritating. All I hear when she speaks is blah blah BLAH? blah blah BLAH ?blah blah BLAH? She needs to speak in a more soothing lower, slower manner. I have to change the channel when she is speaking.
This email with the subject line “Tara Thomas” greeted me when I returned to my desk tonight after solo-anchoring the 10pm news. The woman who sent it to the entire newsroom staff included her name and phone number, too. I won’t reply. I won’t call her. I will just take it as a reminder that I will never please everyone and I will never get a big head because someone is always waiting to deflate it. After 13 years of anchoring local news, I am used to the criticism. Sadly, though, it is almost always another woman behind it. No, we have not come very far in breaking through the glass ceiling. Just when you feel good about being able to work full-time and having a family to come home to someone will tell you why you aren’t doing your job well enough or why your kids are suffering. I guess she didn’t go that far. She just doesn’t like my voice. But she must have been watching to be reminded of how much it annoys her, right? So that’s saying something.
Posted under Baby Thomas: Month 5
This post was written by tthomas on December 23, 2008
Having retired as an elementary music teacher, I can relate to your feelings concerning criticism. Yes, we try so hard to please the public and work hard to do so but there is always a small majority who make it their business to specialize in being critical. Don’t let it bother you-continue to be confident in yourself and continue to maintain the the excellent professional qualities you present in all of your broadcasts.
Merry Christmas, Tara!
Hi Tara,
I read your blog at least twice a week and do enjoy sort of “being part of your family.” This viewer comment is intersting to me becuase just last night I mentioned to Wayne what a great job you were doing as you anchored alone while Ron is off (he agreed).
I do hope you will be with your fmaily for a few days now. Wherever you spend Christmas, may it be a very merry one as you make memories and capture the “moments”. Bev.
Hi Tara,
I can’t believe anyone would write to you and tell you such horrible things about your news casting. I think you are awesome and have watched you blossom on KWWL over the years. In my opinion, you just keep getting better and better. I feel so lucky to have a news team to watch that I truly like and enjoy watching nightly. I admire the fact that you are a working mom! You just radiate while you are on the tv. Anyway, that’s my 2 cents. YOU are great and don’t allow anyone to tear you down like that. You are respected in our community and I value you!!! Merry Christmas to you and your family. God Bless!
Julie Kime
I don’t know what’s wrong with that lady. I look forward to the news so I can see Tara. She’s always happy and upbeat.
Keep up the good work!
You did and always do a great job!
Tara,
I have watched you every night for the past how many years. You do an amazing job. You are great at both your full-time income earning job and the job where you get the best rewards, being a mom.
ps. We were pregnant at the same time, two times in a row haha. You always look amazing!!
Hi Tara,
I also read your blog and came across this one. I was very surprised that people can be so rude. I teach and always tell kids and for this adults too to always speak with good purpose.
Tara you are doing a AWESOME job with your family and work! Keep up the good work and make sure your family and you have a HAPPY HOLIDAY!
I disagree with the comment from the viewer after your newscast last night. I was very happy when you got the position to co-anchor and thought it should have been yours before and I think you have done a very professional job. You are right in thinking that you will never please everyone and I actually feel sorry for that viewer. Apparently there is some unhappiness in her life and we can only hope she learns how to better cope with it. Merry Christmas and thanks for sharing your blog with us.
We can never please everyone. She is probably a very unhappy person who complains about everything and everybody!! A HOLIDAY SCROOGE!!!!
How could someone say something like that??? I guess there are people like that out there that have no life other than to bring down the life of others trying to succeed in life. I read this blog every day and I get really excited when there is a new post. I saw Tara in Target last weekend and I was tempted to start talking to her because I felt like I was apart of what she has going on. Tara you do an excellent job at what you do and don’t let this person bring you down
Happy holidays!!!!
Perhaps the viewer that doesn’t like your voice could put herself out there in the public eye for awhile…
You’re right, you will never please anyone. But remember, those that throw daggers and insults at others are ususally unhappy with themselves.
Merry Christmas Tara!
Tara,
Please don’t listen to that negative woman. You do an awesome job!!! I love to see you on the news and read your blog. Some people have no class and when they are unhappy they want to make everyone else’s life miserable. You are a great woman, mother and wife. Keep it up
Happy Holidays to you and your family
TARA,
YOU ARE DOING A GREAT JOB.
I WATCH FOR YOUR NEW BLOGS
EVERYDAY.
THAT LADY’S COMMENT IS WAY OFF.
IF SHE DON’T LIKE WHAT SHE SEES.
SHE SHOULD PULL HER LIP OVER HER HEAD AND SWALLOW.
KEEP THE GOOD WORK UP.
MERRY MERRY
Hurting people hurt people. And people will always disappoint us. But I know Tara that you know who will never disappoint!
Merry Christmas to you and your beautiful family! God bless you all!!
I want to wish you and your family a very Merry Christmas! Some people just don’t have anything else to do but complain. I read your blog faithfully.
Having been an elementary teacher for 31 years and also a Mom, wife at the same time one cannot avoid criticism when working for the public. But I always said let it go in one ear and out the other. I always look forward to your radiant smile and your interest in the news stories that you are telling us about. I look forward to reading your blogs. Keep up the good work and Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.
Your response to your viewer’s criticism of your voice made me wonder why we all put so much stock into the negative feedback we get compared to the positive feedback we get. We all do it. Someone pays us a compliment about what a good job we’ve done, how nice we look, etc. and we discount it and quickly forget it. But when someone criticizes us we take it to heart and carry it with us for a long time. Why do we allow other people’s negative comments to affect us so deeply? Meanwhile Tara, know that you’re doing a great job and take the many positive comments to heart as deeply as you did the viewer’s criticism.
Wow, what a Christmas greeting! It’s unfortunate that no matter how silly the comment it’s difficult to just ignore something so personal. I hope you’re better at it than I am! Of course, it’s difficult comparing yourself to someone as beautiful and upbeat as you:) That poor, poor woman - lol!
Tara,
I can’t believe someone had the nerve to leave that for you. I think you do an excellent job. Some people aren’t happy unless they are complaining. Keep your head up and know that you are doing and awesome job!
Obviously she continues to watch you otherwise she wouldn’t be saying anything. If she doesn’t like it then she can watch a different channel. I think you are doing a great job!
I think your great! I have seen you several times at the womens convention in waterloo. I love reading your blogs. You are “real”. You are a mother, wife, friend, AND work your tushy off. What is to not look up too? There are so many days that I wonder if I will ever be called by my real name. It’s either Honey or Momma. Thats ok though. My kids are 6 and 8. They still believe in santa, so I must be doing something right. You rock Tara! Keep on working your magic. God Bless!
Honestly………Some people are goofy. I think that when you’re working full-time, raising young children, and lacking sleep, it’s easy to let a negative comment like that affect you. Rest assured, that I’m sure her opinion is not that held by the majority of the people who watch you each night. If she would like to listen to someone with a more soothing manner, she should probably think about purchasing some relaxation cds, instead of tuning into the nightly news. You’re doing a super job, and I agree with others who’ve posted saying you just seem to be getting better all the time. I was sad when you left the morning news with Mark, and Chris. I really enjoyed starting my day listening to the three of you joke with each other, but you really fit in great with the night time crew. Laugh her comment off, and know the rest of us have got your back!
I don’t know what night it was… Christmas Eve night or Christmas night… but you looked BEAUTIFUL in a silver suit.
You are professional.
The commentary by a viewer with disdain for your voice inflection brought back a memory. Almost 27 yrs ago to the date my husband-to-be and I were in a prenuptial couseling session when the pastor asked us each if the others voice irritated us. I thought that was a most bizarre question but apparently voice tone & inflection can be an issue. Thanks for the memories and keep up the GREAT work. You are a talented journalist!!
Tara, you are a lovely young woman with a most pleasing voice and would look beautiful in a gunny sack! Some people just have no class at all!
One lousy comment can make us forget 100’s of positive things, but I want to add my voice to the outpouring of positive feedback. I have watched you since you came to KWWL in the mornings, and miss you there, but love seeing you in the evenings. I also thought you deserved the job when Bobbi Earles left, and am glad to see you there now. I also like sharing your days with your blog and seeing your adorable kids. And I’m sure some days are hectic to the umpth degree, but my kids are all grown now, and from experience I can tell you the years fly by. Enjoy each day. Keep up the good work.
she is only here blah blah, Tara, you are so lovely and wonderful !!
Tara, I find you refreshing and genuine.
Thank You for a job very well done!!!!
A true additon to the nightly local news
At Covenant Hospital 11:51pm we had a beautiful baby girl and she was the only one born on Valentines Day! Other Hospitals I am not sure about. This was the best Valentines present of all.
Thank You for listening. I am so very happy and Mother is doing fabulous.
I am just starting to read your blogs, and other of your co-workers, as well, I think you all share all of your experiences in a very interesting way, and I happened on this comment, and it is so typical. I mean, I don’t understand why this woman would actually take the time to write this to you, instead of simply turning the channel if this is how she truely feels. People are so inconsiderate, I think you do a wonderful job, and I hope you are not one to take these type of unnecessary, negative comments to heart. Keep up the good work!
Tara, I love watching you and keep up the good work. I never got to thank you for the considerate comment you made about Charles the day he got killed in the May tornado in Parkersburg.It was a terrible time for me and you made me feel a little better. He had nothing but good things to say about you when he worked and we lived at the complex where you resided. Thank you. Sorry I was so late Thanking you.