WFMJ’s Andrew DiPaolo: Staying Positive, Supporting Local

Andrew DiPaolo, meteorologist and news reporter at WFMJ-TV, is hanging tough. You can learn more about Andrew at his bio on WFMJ’s website.

What are some ways the COVID-19 outbreak has changed your work life?

COVID-19 has definitely shaped the way I work. I’m still trying to tell as many positive stories as possible and at the same time communicate what’s happening here in the Valley for our viewers. I’m taking several precautionary measures each day to make sure I’m as safe as possible while I’m working at the station and in the field and scaling back as much face-to-face interaction as possible.

How about your personal life?

The shutdown of bars and restaurants has been tough as I like to support local as much as I can, but from that, I have made sure to get takeout maybe one more time a week than usual or buy a gift card somewhere to support local businesses that really need our help and support. Obviously, with the shutdown in place seeing friends and family have been kept to a minimum but technology is amazing and being able to skype or zoom with friends has been great!

What steps are you taking to hang tough?

Being in the media and reporting these stories, I’m surrounded by the good and the bad every day almost 24 hours a day, so making sure I stay positive during this time is critical. Working out at home, or cooking something new or even taking a walk through the park have been great ways to keep my mind off of this as much as possible. My co-workers have been a great support system as we all are going through this together. We are honestly trying our best to make sure we keep each other positive through this tough time.

What advice are you sharing with the people you love?

PLEASE STAY HOME WHEN YOU CAN. I understand there are times when you’ll need to get emergency items or even when you just need to get out to stretch your legs but please be safe and stay a good distance from others when you can. I would also suggest to check up on friends and families when you can. Skype and Zoom calls are great ways to still interact! Especially if they are first responders or health care workers, this time can be particularly tough!