Jill Hezeau
Jill Hezeau
Like so many people in our community, my life's changed dramatically since Hurricane Katrina. Between my job and my personal life, nothing's the same.
I no longer report on the traffic, but I've managed to keep the same shift. I still wake up well before anyone should, to be the reporter on Channel Four's Morning Show with Sally Ann and Eric. However, working with the morning crew and the fact that I've always dreamed of being a part of WWL does make the early morning hours a lot easier.
I grew up watching Channel 4 admiring some of the very anchors I work with today. My parents are New Orleanians and I grew up in Kenner. I went to Our Lady of Divine Providence and Archbishop Chapelle High School. My family bleeds LSU Tiger purple and gold. My parents further proved their tiger support by sending me to Louisiana State University.
After graduation, I worked at WABG in Greenville and WDAM in Hattiesburg as a reporter and an anchor. But I always wanted to come back to the city I adored and persistence got me here. After sending a mere 12 resume’ tapes to WWL, my news director finally called and offered me the position of traffic reporter.
It was the first of its kind in the state, a newly created position I enjoyed wholeheartedly. I did some of my most important traffic reporting concerning contraflow in the days leading up to Hurricane Katrina. For two days I reported, and communicated by phone and the Internet, as well, routes to get out of the metro area to countless residents.
But it was after Katrina struck, when I did the most fulfilling work of my career thus far. A few New Orleans police officers allowed me on their rescue boats just hours after the storm passed through New Orleans to witness their heroic efforts. I will never forget the faces of the people our first responders saved and the rollercoaster of emotions of sadness, anger and ultimately pride for my hometown.
As for my personal life, I thank God for renter's insurance, family, friends and co-workers. But most of all for my husband, Scott Cody, who quit his job as a sports anchor in Birmingham to relocate to New Orleans so we can watch the city rebuild together.
Scott and I have a little girl, Cecilia Jean who was born in June 2008.
