Oral history interview with Calvin Cutler

Oral history interview with Calvin Cutler

Calvin Cutler describes attending historic daily COVID briefings with Governor Phil Scott's administration as a political reporter for WCAX. He explains the responsibility felt by reporters to represent their viewers during these briefings and communicate COVID information to Vermonters in a concise and accurate fashion. Cutler also discusses how the COVID-19 pandemic changed his daily workflow as his car became his workstation and he used the Vermont Hotspot Map to find Wi-Fi coverage. He talks about conducting interviews outside and socially distanced as well as the importance of thinking empathetically about the needs and wants of others. He relates the later "pandemic amnesia" of forgetting elements of his experience despite recognizing that he often had "chilling" moments or anxiety. Cutler concludes his interview with his perception that Vermont was one of the best spots to ride out the pandemic or cover the pandemic as a reporter. As an essential worker, he was fortunate to remain employed when many Vermonters were experiencing financial difficulties. He also observes that Vermont's government during the pandemic was comprised of public servants with Vermonters' best interests at heart.

Calvin Cutler graduated from the New England School of Communications at Husson University in Bangor, Maine, in 2017. After working at WVII (in Bangor), Falmouth Publishing (in Falmouth, Massachusetts), and KNBN NewsCenter1 (in South Dakota), he joined WCAX in Burlington, Vermont. At the time of this interview, he covered Vermont government and politics as WCAX's political reporter.

Sponsored by the Institute of Museum and Library Services MA-251676-OMS-22.

2023-03-22

Collecting COVID-19: A Vermont Story Project

AudioFileCOVID-016

MP3

WAV

Audio file

Permission to publish material from the Collecting COVID-19: A Vermont Story Project may be obtained from the Vermont Historical Society.

Bosek, Marcia Sue DeWolf

Cutler, Calvin

1 hr., 4 min., 22 sec.

Vermont Historical Society Library, 60 Washington Street, Barre, VT 05641-4215