{"id":3371,"date":"2022-10-27T14:26:41","date_gmt":"2022-10-27T18:26:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/?p=3371"},"modified":"2022-10-27T14:26:41","modified_gmt":"2022-10-27T18:26:41","slug":"cover-story-laura-hand-using-her-platform-for-good","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/?p=3371","title":{"rendered":"Cover story – Laura Hand: Using her platform for good"},"content":{"rendered":"

By Norah Machia<\/strong><\/p>\n

Laura 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.<\/p>\n

During her 47-year career as a reporter and anchor at NBC 3 and CNY Central News, \u201cI saw my job as giving a voice to people and groups who were doing good things, but didn\u2019t have a place to tell their stories,\u201d she said. \u201cI was never at a loss for having people who wanted to come through the door and talk.\u201d<\/p>\n

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. \u201cI didn\u2019t just report the news, I really became friends with several of those people,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

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\u2019s mission.<\/p>\n

\u201cI wanted to bring as many guests as possible into the studio to share their stories,\u201d and provide information about their positive efforts to offer programs and services to the community, she said.<\/p>\n

At the same time, Laura helped to publicize fund-raising events, heritage festivals, road races, parades and many other activities held throughout Central New York. An animal lover, Laura also hosted a pet adoption segment each week.<\/p>\n

Laura was the first female reporter hired at WSTM-TV, an NBC affiliate station. Her first day at the station was Election Day in 1972, the year Richard Nixon defeated George McGovern in the presidential election.<\/p>\n

She held numerous positions at the television station, including reporter, anchor, and community relations director. Laura produced the popular \u201cWeekend\u2019s Best Bets\u201d and \u201cThe Weekend Ahead\u201d segments, and later maintained the CNY Central \u201cIn Your Community\u201d web events calendar.<\/p>\n

The top-ranked television segments were popular \u201cbecause people really wanted to see what was going on in the community,\u201d and often made their weekend plans based on that televised information, she said. During those early years, social media didn\u2019t exist as a resource for publicity, she noted.<\/p>\n

When she was first hired, Laura worked as the anchor for the 6 p.m. and 11 p.m. newscasts. The earlier broadcast was typically produced by others, and \u201cI was there to put a face to the newscast,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

Laura was the only nighttime reporter at the station, and it was her job to develop stories for the 11 p.m. broadcast. \u201cI did an original story every night, and I had to dig deep,\u201d she said. \u201cI really got to know the community.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cBut if there was a major breaking news story, I would be diverted,\u201d added Laura. During her broadcast journalism career, she covered many important news stories throughout the Central New York region.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

She vividly recalls interviewing Nancy Reagan, after managing to secure an interview with the former First Lady following a speaking engagement held at the Syracuse Hancock International Airport. After the other journalists left, Laura asked Mrs. Reagan if she would do an interview with her crew, and she readily agreed. Laura also had the opportunity to interview former New York State Governor Nelson Rockefeller.<\/p>\n

In 1993, Laura reported on the Tully mudslide, where she found a vantage point to stand safely in the mud while watching state police pull homeowners off their roofs to safety.<\/p>\n

\u201cThose were the days before live trucks,\u201d she said. \u201cWe\u2019re talking film, not tapes. We had to get back to the station by 9 p.m. to edit the film before it could air on the 11 p.m. newscast.\u201d<\/p>\n

Laura is the first to admit that it\u2019s \u201cuncommon\u201d in the television news business for one person to stay at the same station for 47 years. \u201cNo one usually lasts that long,\u201d she said. \u201cBut I was always able to produce my own content. I knew the important issues because I was in touch with the community.\u201d<\/p>\n

She was from a generation of reporters who made daily \u201cphysical rounds\u201d to talk with sources at the police station, the mayor\u2019s office, and other key locations, Laura noted. \u201cIt was basic journalism, but it was good journalism,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

In 1994, she was appointed the station\u2019s community relations director, and oversaw the internship and career fair programs at local schools. In that role, Laura was also responsible for filing required Federal Communications Commission (FCC) reports to document how the station was addressing some of the most pressing issues in the community.<\/p>\n

Laura established a library reading program called \u201cBook Breaks\u201d that brought television staff into the public libraries for more than 30 years to read to children during the summer months.<\/p>\n

<\/a> Although she signed off the air for the last time in 2019, Laura has not slowed down. She continues to be a strong community advocate, and her commitment to helping others is reflected in her busy volunteer schedule.<\/p>\n

Laura has continued her dedication to library programs, but she has a different type of companion accompanying her these days. She brings Moose, her child therapy dog, along on her visits.<\/p>\n

Moose, a 15-pound Pomeranian, became therapy-certified through the PAWS (Pet Assisted Wellness Services) organization of Central New York. When she first adopted the rescue dog, \u201cI realized she needed a job,\u201d said Laura.<\/p>\n

Laura has taken Moose with her to several different libraries and daycare centers. \u201cShe has a calming effect on the children,\u201d she said, and added the visits allow her the opportunity to teach children how to safely interact with a dog.<\/p>\n

They have done programs together at the Onondaga Free Library, the Paine Branch Library in Eastwood, and the Salvation Army Day Care. Laura primarily works with 3- and 4-year-olds.<\/p>\n

She takes advantage of Moose\u2019s charms to help keep the children\u2019s interest when teaching them about letters, numbers and colors. \u201cThe dog is the answer,\u201d Laura said. \u201cThe kids see the dog, and they pay attention.\u201d<\/p>\n

<\/a> Laura now volunteers with PAWS to help certify other dogs. \u201cWe\u2019re looking for more volunteers to go through the training with their own dogs,\u201d she added.<\/p>\n

Moose accompanied Laura to the recent Syracuse Mets \u201cBark in the Park\u201d event held at the NBT Bank Stadium She and Moose lead the pre-game parade on the field, where she also helped judge nearly 100 dogs for various awards.<\/p>\n

Laura also volunteers for the Oasis Senior Education Program, sponsored by Upstate Medical University. She gives her time to serve as a technical assistant for the Italian language classes. Laura learned to speak Italian as a child, when she spent many summers with her mother\u2019s relatives in Italy.<\/p>\n

Although she is retired, Laura is often called upon to help promote different community events. During the past New York State Fair, she was asked to volunteer as a judge in the milkshake contest.<\/p>\n

Laura also gives her time to help fund-raise for different nonprofit organizations, including Hope for the Bereaved, which offers support groups and other services to those who have lost a loved one.<\/p>\n

When she is not giving her time in the community, Laura can be found volunteering in her neighborhood during the warmer months. An avid gardener, she maintains several gardens located in the medians of her neighborhood roads.<\/p>\n

As a child, Laura grew up in many places throughout the world and the United States because her father served in the military and was often transferred. Born in Virginia, Laura lived with her family in England, Germany, Thailand and Italy.<\/p>\n

Laura enrolled in Syracuse University to study news and politics, graduating in 1971. She was the first female director of the campus radio station, WAER, and recalls covering the anti-war protests by students that resulted in cancelled classes for two days.<\/p>\n

After graduation, she decided to stay in Syracuse because \u201cit\u2019s such a great place to work and raise a family,\u201d said Laura, who has two adult children. \u201cI\u2019ve never lived in one place for very long until I came to Syracuse,\u201d Laura said. \u201cIt\u2019s just been wonderful.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Here are just some of Laura\u2019s awards:<\/p>\n

Hope for the Bereaved Award for being a founder of the Butterfly Garden of Hope at Onondaga Lake Park<\/p>\n

The Onondaga Kennel Association Award for her support of animals<\/p>\n

The Central New York Firefighter\u2019s Association Fire Services Journalism Award<\/p>\n

Community Action Network for Exceptional Merit Award to WSTM-TV for its \u201cFeed the Hungry\u201d segments<\/p>\n

Award for Outstanding Support from the 174th Tactical Fighter Wing<\/p>\n

The Gentile Advocacy Award from National Alliance on Mental Illness Syracuse Chapter for Mental Health Reporting<\/p>\n

The CNY Business Journal Nonprofit Award for Career Achievement<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

By Norah Machia Laura 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, \u201cI saw my job as giving a…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":3372,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[100],"tags":[708,1316,1317,990],"class_list":["post-3371","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-cover-story","tag-cover-story","tag-laura-hand","tag-november-2022","tag-philanthropy"],"gutentor_comment":0,"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/Laura-Hand-and-Moose-Syracuse-Woman-Magazine-0018-scaled.jpg?fit=2560%2C1708&ssl=1","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":705,"url":"https:\/\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/?p=705","url_meta":{"origin":3371,"position":0},"title":"Laura Sateriale","author":"Staff","date":"April 29, 2017","format":false,"excerpt":"Turning Loss into Words By Sarah Hall | Photography by Alexis Emm\u00a0 For 630 days, Lily Sateriale brought light and laughter into her family\u2019s lives. 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PATTERSON \u00a0 If you have not yet heard the name Tiana Mangakahia, get ready. 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