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Print this pageGO Getter: Missy Shelton Belote
Read the full interview we couldn't fit in print
Photo Edward Biamonte
So tell me about your background
“I have a background in both radio and television [she does a weekly report from Jefferson City that is broadcast statewide]. I graduated from the University of Missouri’s J school, and I got my masters at [Missouri State].”
So you’ve been here how long?
“Eight years this month.”
Covering politics that whole time?
“Up until I became news director, state government was the main beat for me. I was in Jefferson City Monday through Thursday, January to mid-May. I covered two [state legislative] sessions as a student, so this would be my 10th session. I actually had a six-month stint at a commercial television station in San Jose, California, just after I graduated.”
What brought you back?
“Well, my fiancé. And I didn’t like commercial television—I was working a really early morning shift as an assignment editor. I didn’t like that lifestyle at all. It’s very demanding on your time and energy. Not that this isn’t, it’s just a different pace. I think you can be a lot more thoughtful in public broadcasting, and in commercial television it’s much more reactive.”
You wouldn’t know anything had happened in Springfield over the last six weeks than the ice storm—what is something that people don’t pay enough attention to, in general?
“It seems child abuse isn’t given enough attention. A report will come out and everyone will cover it and we’ll get worked up over it for a day and then it goes quietly away until the next report or summit on child abuse…We have some of the highest numbers of child abuse in the state. That’s a little heavy for GO.”
That’s true. So, politics! Is it too early for all the presidential hoopla?
“I don’t know. It happens for a reason. Obviously people enjoy watching it or people wouldn’t be covering it. I love watching it at the national level, but even more so at the state level. What’s happening in the state? Are the Democrats going to keep gaining in the House?”
Are the Democrats really gaining?
“This last election they picked up a few seats. Of course each side spins it the way they want you to see it.”
Being a woman in political reporting, have you ever had any issues in your job regarding your sex?
“Well, once [some legislators] were having a forum about mandatory insurance coverage of contraceptives for women, and I was the only reporter with my recorder on or taking notes. All the others were men. It’s like it hadn’t registered that covering the pill is a big deal for their readers. This is one of many reasons why we need female reporters.”
What is the most interesting interview you’ve had?
“When George Bush was campaigning for president the first time, he made a very brief stop at the Springfield-Branson airport and I got to ask him one question. It wasn’t a one-on-one, but it was kind of neat. I also got to interview John Kerry and John Edwards when they were campaigning, so they were pretty close to being president. Madeline Albright—I met her when I worked for the TV station in San Jose.”
Is she as tough as she seems?
“Very cool lady, tough as nails. But at the same time a very kind person. Honestly, the most interesting people I interview are children. They’re honest, funny and unguarded.”
What do they say about politics?
Sometimes during election years we like to get their perspective, mock voting and stuff.”
Yeah, when I was in second grade we did that. It was the 1988 primary and I voted for Bob Dole because I liked pineapple…do you get a lot of that?
“Yeah, sometimes they have the same views their parents do, and you can tell. On the other side, some can explain why they would vote for so and so. Once we were talking about diversity and one kid was like, ‘Some people like to stay home and some people like to go out and exercise, and that’s diversity.’ Only a kid would think of that.
You got to take part in the Jim Talent vs. Claire McCaskill debate. How was that?
“It was an honor. I feel it’s important to ask questions that aren’t being asked in other debates—to force them to get away from their scripted answers.”
What was an example?
“I asked them, ‘Do you believe in global warming, yes or no? If yes, what do you think government should do about it; if no, how did you reach that conclusion?”
What did Senator Talent say to that?
“He said yes, and then used it to launch into his biofuels schpiel.”
Yeah, can’t get away from those biofuel schpiels. If you had Matt Blunt and Jay Nixon in these two chairs, what would you ask them?
“First question to Matt would be ‘Are you running?’ [He hasn’t declared for the 2008 race]. And then if I could get them to put down their scripted answers, I’d ask them what they think is the biggest problem facing our state.”
Why are Democrats blue and Republicans red?
“Good question. “I’m sure there’s a good history lesson there. I don’t really like to use that kind of stuff in my reporting.”
Maybe that should be something for GO. Digging into the hard stuff like that. Enough about politics, how about you?
“I’m married, my husband is Brad Belote. He’s the news director for KSPR.”
Wow. You are news directors in two different meetings. How do those conversations go?
“We have good conversations because we have different perspectives about what a news story is…We have those conversations, but they kind of drive me crazy because when I’m home I don’t really like to talk about work.”
Where do you hang out?
“Anywhere downtown. Maria’s, Nonna’s, MudHouse. Right now we’re both in Cinderella—I’ve done theatre before but Brad hasn’t done anything since high school. I’m the queen, opposite Jeff Jenkins, so that’s quite the trip.”
Are there any roles or shows you’d like to do in the future?
“Well, I was the Narrator in Joseph [and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat] and that was my dream role..,pretty phenomenal. Now after seeing Wicked on Broadway with Idina Menzel, I’d love to play Elphaba. I don’t know if I have the vocal chops for that. A girl can dream, right?”
Anything else going on in your life?
“We just started the process to adopt a baby from China. We’re very excited about that.
Why China?
“I went to China in April 2005, and loved it there. We’ve been trying to have kids since August 2003, and couldn’t get pregnant. Adoption has been part of the process all along. This fall after a lot of prayer we decided what we wanted to do. We felt led in that direction.”
Congratulations!
“I don’t mind telling you we tried to get pregnant and couldn’t because I think there’s a lot of misunderstanding about that whole issue., and it’s really surprising when you start talking openly about it how many people experience it.”
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