When I first started working in TV news, I had no idea what "sweeps" were. I'd never heard of these four magical months that determined stations' rankings. Given my background in print, that's not all too surprising. But even now, after eight years in the business, "sweeps" still don't mean much.

So what are "sweeps"? Otherwise known as ratings periods, sweeps happen four times a year - February, May, July and November. During those designated time frames, Nielson collects data on who's watching what and when. In my neck of the woods, they're still using paper diaries for the time being, which means the results aren't necessarily 100% accurate.

What does sweeps mean for local television stations? Traditionally, it means special reports and a finer attention to detail. Oh, and no one can take off. That's right, folks. There are four months out of the year I can't take off a single day. And for what? Are more people watching the news during those four months? There is no evidence to support that, and there most certainly are not more people tuning in during July (hello, summer vacation).

The idea of "sweeps" essentially tells stations that only four months matter and those four months are reserved for your best content. Seriously, stations will specifically set up feature stories or even investigative pieces to coincide with one of the chosen four. How impractical does that sound? As someone who's gone through more than a dozen ratings periods and juggled the scheduling that revolves around them, I can assure you that there is no practicality of sweeps. And quite honestly, I don't see any pay off at the close of the book.

So what makes sweeps so special? I would say it's for the sake of winning awards, but that's not true. Submissions don't have to be from within sweeps periods, and in fact, you're not allowed to submit shows that aired during sweeps. I can't even say that it's to get an accurate gauge of each quarter as the months aren't equally spaced out. The truth is that sweeps are tied to the months new shows are typically released; it has nothing to do with local TV and everything to do with the big boys.

The reality of news is that it happens every day. Your best story of the year may happen in January or August or even December, and you won't sit on it until sweeps starts. You can't. Great stories shouldn't just be reserved for February, May, July or December. And the work we're doing as journalists matters 12 months of the year, not just four.

Sweeps don't matter.

We had our first cold snap this week. Well, cold for Alabama at least, ha! Even so, it's still hard to dress during this time of year. Cold in the morning, almost hot during the day, back to cold at night. The day I wore this outfit it actually didn't get out of the 60s. One of the ways I like to keep things fresh is to layer unexpected pieces, like wearing this dress tucked into this pencil skirt. All of these pieces are old, but the boots are still in stock in a few sizes. As for the dress and skirt, I've linked to similar options below.

Details:
Dress: similar
Skirt: similar
Boots: exact

It has taken years but I think I've finally figured it out: my style. It's a little bit traditional, sometimes quirky, and a tad trendy. Reaching this realization wasn't easy. There was no "light bulb" moment, no aha! as I looked in the mirror one day. It was more of a gradual acceptance of myself beyond my outfit decisions.

A couple weeks ago, I wrote about my post-pregnancy struggle with body image and how I've been working to change the way I think about myself. It's truly been a process, one that's involved letting go of ill-fitting, old, no-longer-appropriate clothing and a shift in shopping habits.

I absolutely love a good sale, but for most of my professional life I avoided buying almost anything at full price. If I did buy something that wasn't on sale, it was either something I absolutely had to have at the time or not great quality. Now, I still don't pass up a good sale but instead of buying a lot of cheap, poorly-made pieces that will only last one season, I've been investing in better quality clothes that will stand the test of time. Even so, I find myself drawn to the same silhouettes, colors and patterns over and over again.

I think, though, that one of the key transformations for me was when I stopped looking at other women's outfits and comparing them to mine. Theodore Roosevelt said, "Comparison is the thief of joy," and he's right. As soon as I stopped thinking about how so-and-so could pull off something I was wearing better than me, the more confident I became in my fashion choices. And as that confidence began to grow, people started to notice. And although it's kind of validating to get those compliments, it is much more important that I'm dressing for myself.

We're currently in the process of hiring several new reporters at my station so I thought it would be a good opportunity to talk about five things you simply can't do this job without.

1. Research Skills
You've got to be able to independently gather information. The internet in a lot of ways has made this task easier, but there's more to research than typing key words into the Google search bar. You've got to be proficient at identifying the right people to talk to and making phone calls. And let's not forget about filtering the information you gather.

2. Interviewing Skills
Whether it's over-the-phone, face-to-face, or even via email, interviewing is an essential part of being a journalist. For me it all starts with research so I know as much as possible going into the interview. Don't forget the basics: who, what, when, where, why, and how. Take notes and listen. Here are some other tried-and-true interview tips.

3. Video/Photography Skills
Long story short, know how to frame a shot. This is a pretty good explanation on the "rule of thirds." Some other quick tips -- always set up your tripod based on the person you're interviewing's height; have your interview talk to you, not the camera; avoid ceiling shots and boring wall backgrounds.

4. Writing Skills
If you can't write, you simply can't do this job. Journalists are storytellers specializing in the truth. You've got to be able to write coherently, using appropriate grammar and punctuation. Here are some tips for grammar and writing for deadlines.

5. Social Media Know-How
When I was in J-School, social media wasn't something we talked about, but now social media is the first thing we think about in the field. People want their news when they want it, so NOW. Unfortunately, even though most of the younger journalists in the field grew up with social media, they're not exactly savvy on using it for news. But if you want to stay relevant in today's news cycle, social media is a must. Check out my social media do's and don't's and three steps to master social media.

For other advice, check out my posts on four things to master before your first job and tips for new producers.