23
COVER STORY
LAURA HAND
Using her platform for good Norah Machia
L
aura Hand had always believed she could use her position as a broadcast journalist to shed a positive light on the Syracuse community and all it had to offer. During her 47-year career as a reporter and anchor at NBC 3 and CNY Central News, “I saw my job as giving a voice to people and groups who were doing good things, but didn’t have a place to tell their stories,” she said. “I was never at a loss for having people who wanted to come through the door and talk.” Laura built a reputation for inviting guests with a variety of different backgrounds to speak about the issues in their communities, and how they were working to address them. “I didn’t just report the news, I really became friends with several of those people,” she said. She tackled topics such as domestic violence, mental illness, grief and loss, and gambling addiction. Local firefighters talked with her about safety issues, and members of the 174th Tactical Fighter Wing spoke about their organization’s mission. Continued on page 24
SYR ACUSE WOMAN MAGA ZI N E
SYR ACUSE WOMAN MAG.COM