The Story

With the centennial of Route 66 approaching, I produced a segment featuring Oklahoma authors and Route 66 historians Jim Ross and Shellee Graham, whose award-winning book, Route 66: The First 100 Years, celebrates the iconic highway through decades of research and photography. While the anniversary provided the news hook, I wanted the interview to tell a larger story about preserving one of America's most recognizable landmarks and the people who have dedicated their lives to documenting it.

Creating the Editorial Roadmap

As I reviewed the authors' background materials and pre-interview questionnaire, I realized the book wasn't simply a history of Route 66. It was a visual biography of the highway, pairing historical research with more than three decades of photography that captured its people, landmarks, and changing landscape.

That perspective shaped the editorial direction of the interview. Rather than focusing on dates and milestones, I built the conversation around preservation—why documenting Route 66 still matters nearly 100 years after its creation and how photography has become just as important as the written history in keeping its legacy alive.

To support that storytelling, I gathered archival maps, historic photographs, and footage of Nat King Cole performing "Get Your Kicks on Route 66." I also collaborated with our host to open the segment by reflecting on the song's lasting popularity and how Route 66 became synonymous with the classic American road trip. Those visual and cultural references provided viewers with immediate context before introducing the guests.

Because the segment aired in June, I also saw an opportunity to connect the story to summer travel. Rather than presenting another vacation destination, the interview invited viewers to consider a road trip that celebrates American history while supporting the preservation of one of the country's most iconic highways.

Navigating a Last-Minute Change

About 24 hours before the interview, I learned that Shellee Graham would be unable to travel because she had chosen to remain at her father's bedside during his final days.

My executive producer, host, and I discussed whether to postpone or move forward. Ultimately, the decision came down to two questions: Was Jim comfortable doing the interview alone, and could we still tell the story in a meaningful way?

With the Route 66 centennial approaching and uncertain scheduling ahead, I believed viewers would still benefit from the conversation. Jim also wanted to continue.

Although I would have preferred interviewing both authors together, I reworked the segment to ensure Shellee's role remained an important part of the story. Throughout the interview, we highlighted their lifelong partnership, their shared passion for Route 66, and the decades they spent preserving its history together. The result was a conversation that honored both authors while remaining sensitive to the family's circumstances.

Outcome

The segment introduced viewers to Route 66 through the lens of two historians whose work has helped preserve the highway's legacy for future generations. Following the broadcast, I published clips to the show's digital and social platforms, extending the story beyond the live interview.

As someone who enjoys road trips and travel photography, this assignment resonated with me personally. What initially drew me in were the photographs, but producing the segment reminded me that the most memorable travel stories aren't simply about the places we visit—they're about the people who work to preserve those places and the history they represent.

For me, the best lifestyle stories use timely events as a starting point, then uncover the people and purpose that give those moments lasting meaning.