Story

Caryn Golden

News Center 7 Managing Editor/Reporter

Monday, August 25, 2003 – updated: 1:07 pm EDT July 18, 2008

BIO

Hello everyone! You may not see me on the news as much as you used to, that's because I was promoted to WHIO-TV Managing Editor in January of 2007. But I truly love getting out in the community and reporting, so you'll see me on-air from time to time, doing special investigations and reporting on stories important to the Miami Valley. Prior to being named Managing Editor, I served as full-time reporter on Dayton's crime and courts beat, and fill-in anchor.

I've covered Dayton crime stories since 1997, except from 2002-2004. During that time, my husband and I moved to my hometown of Huntington Beach in Orange County, California near Los Angeles. While there, I served as Director of Media Relations for a technology company. We found ourselves missing Ohio and its family-friendly, slower pace of life, so we made the decision to return to Dayton, and my home away from home, the WHIO-TV newsroom.

I first came to WHIO in October of 1997. I earned the station two Regional Edward R. Murrow Awards—one for my investigation into Cinema X East, and the other for spot news coverage of the shooting of Dayton Police Officer Mary Beall. I was honored to receive two Best Reporter titles from the Associated Press, as well as several awards from the Society of Professional Journalists (SPJ). Before joining WHIO-TV, I worked at KOSA-TV in Midland-Odessa, Texas as weekend anchor and reporter. My most proud moment there—helping CBS Evening News secure exclusive coverage of the Republic of Texas militia standoff in Fort Davis, Texas.

Before working in Texas, I worked on the assignment desk of CNN's Los Angeles Bureau, and as a news writer with the Orange County News Channel. I earned a Bachelor's Degree in Communications from California State University, Fullerton, as well as a Minor in Political Science. My television news reporting career actually began at Huntington Beach High School, where I anchored a weekly cable program. My husband Jay and I enjoy spending time with our three children—Alysha, Joshua and Grace. Other family members include our English bulldog "Ike" and Pug "Lucy Belle." We love the outdoors and spending time with family in California, Texas, and Arizona.

Q & A

Where were you born?
Lufkin, Texas.

Where did you grow up?
Sugar Land, TX, Huntington Beach, CA

What was your favorite TV show then?
Charlie's Angels. Fantasy Island

What was the first thing you ever wanted to be?
A nurse

How might someone have described you in high school?
Driven, friendly, good student

What was your first job?
Retail, Contempo Casuals

What was your first job in television?
CNN Los Angeles, Assignment Desk

What do you like about your job?
Every day is different; I love the challenge of chasing down a story and getting it, and of course meeting so many interesting people.

What do you not like about your job?
As a reporter on the street, there is an element of danger when covering active crime stories, or knocking on strangers doors. Also, the long hours.

What might people be surprised to know about you?
I'm a daredevil…there are not many challenges that I will turn down. I love hard work, getting dirty and helping my husband with home improvement projects.

What would be a perfect day for you?
Sleeping in, waking up to warm sunshine outside, spending part of the day playing outside with my kids, laying by the pool, then a trip to spa for a massage, then a romantic dinner with my husband Jay, and home early to watch a good movie.

What advice would you have for someone wanting to go into the business?
First, I always tell young people, do what you love, but also make sure the career you choose will financially support the lifestyle you want to live. Surprisingly, a lot of young people don't think about that when selecting a career. Many people think if you're on TV, you make a lot of money and that's not really the case. So don't get in to it just for that… get in to it because you love journalism, writing, and digging for stories.

If you could only keep one 5-minute tape from your career what would be on it?
My first year as a reporter…the Republic of Texas militia declaring war on the state in Alpine, Texas. We broke the story exclusively for CBS Evening News, camped out for days in the mountains, with the only direct line to the head of the militia telling us what would happen next in their attack. Our video and interviews appeared on the CBS Evening News.

The disappearance of Erica Baker from Kettering.

The Blue Ash tornado outside Cincinnati.

Cinema-X East hidden camera investigation.