ABC News Investigative Producer Barb Mankoff Speaks to Club
Barb Markoff a producer with ABC news, who works on Chuck Goudy’s team gave an interesting look into the life of a investigative/producer. From ABC’s bio, Barb says, “I work on a team that includes an investigative reporter and two other investigative producers covering topics such as public corruption, terrorism, government waste and crime. I pitch, research, conduct interviews, and supervise editing of my stories that typically air on our 6pm and 10pm newscasts. We are also the go-to team for breaking news.”
Here are the highlights from the Q&A about her career:
Q: When you were in New York, what was the most interesting story you did?
A: Barb shared that was the story about the largest snowfall ever in New York. They got over 22.5 inches of snow. She remembers getting up at 1 a.m. to go to Central Park to do footage and not a soul was there. That was the first and only time she heard snow thunder. The storm was starting while it was still snowing. She as back home 13 hours later and things had returned to normal, and by Wednesday all the snow had melted.
Q: What was an unusual thing you learned in Iraq?
A: Barb shared that she learned about the amazing logistical power of the US Military in Iraq. She talked about how you’d be headed down desert roads to a destination, turn on some tiny, strange side road and a mile or two later you’d enter a mini-city build by the military.
Q: Did you learn of anything going on in Iraq that hasn’t been widely shared yet?
A: Barb said she did not.
Q: In Iraq did you eat local fare or military food?
A: Barb said they ate local fare while there and they ate well! Two individuals were hired for their security and these folks took them to all their favorite places.
Q: What do you speculate will come on Madigan’s future?
A: Barb said he has been under investigation for years and has always proven too savvy to have things come back to him. However, she said this prosecutor is really lining up his ducks and she guesses that they are leading to Madigan.
Q: What do you love about your job
A: Barb said she loves her work, and she tells her kids that should look to do something they love. While her job is demanding and often requires long hours, she loves that she learns something new everyday and that she is providing a community service.
Please watch the meeting on our Facebook page, we post them weekly, and listen to Barb’s story. Her team consists of 4 investigative reporter/producers, that includes reporter/investigator Chuck Goudy. Jason Knowles, a consumer reporter is part of another team, but all teams will work together, then there are photographers, and graphics people and so on.
