Posted by Alan Nye

David Clough introduced our Rotary speaker, Erin Ovalle, the host of Maine Life, a television program that can be seen Sunday mornings on Channel 6 in Portland and Channel 2 in Bangor. The program is about Maine people and what makes Maine a special place to live. Erin describes the show as being on air, online and on the road highlighting all the beautiful places and people in Maine. Past episodes are available online at mainelifemedia.com.

Erin began her presentation with a promo for her 3rd season of the program and then discussed how she came to Maine in 2008 from Florida. She was able to secure jobs as a morning news anchor at WGME and later at WMTW. She described how she had a “lightbulb moment” when, as a morning anchor, she realized she was only telling negative or sensationalized stories and missing what she knew were the off-the-beaten-path discoveries and stories from hard working Maine people.

In 2016, she left her morning news anchor position and started Maine Life. Ms. Ovalle loves doing what might derisively be referred to in the news industry as “fluff pieces,” but to her are more important and entertaining than the typical morning news stories. Where else, she asks, could she have the privilege of interviewing Julia Clukey, the Olympic Luger from Maine, and then have coffee with Maine Senator Susan Collins. 

She describes her show as the best job she’s ever had in that she no longer has to follow the national news story motto of “if it bleeds, it leads.” Although she works about 5 jobs to make a living, she has fallen in love with Maine and is actively involved in the community and enjoying all that Maine has to offer.  

(Photo: President Don Zillman, Erin Ovalle and David Clough.)