Back in Bluefield:

By Bill Archer

BLUEFIELD — Armed with a whirlwind cutting-edge media innovations as well as enough confidence and savvy to know how it all works together, Clayton Morris returned to Bluefield Tuesday night to touch base with friends and to introduce many of them to the possibilities of the future of business through social media.

“I’m going to talk fast,” Morris said. “I want to look at how everyone in this room can use social media.” He pointed out that media is no longer the domain of the news reporters. “Technology allows everyone to have a voice,” he said. He said that all of the available sources of media today allows advertisers to reach “a narrow, targeted audience that is fully engaged.”

Morris, 32, has both a newsman’s eye and his fingers on the pulse of the viewers he loves to serve. He spoke with reporters about his work as a co-host of “Fox and Friends Weekend” as well as “Gadgets and Games with Clayton Morris.”

Although millions of viewers watch his work and thousands communicate instantly with him through “Twitter” and other avant-garde media, his charmingly humble Rural Reading, Pa., roots still shine through like they did during his time in the Bluefield-Beckley market as anchor of the 6 and 11 p.m., news on WVVA-TV. Morris still displays a keen eye for spotting trends or moments that will catch the public’s attention, and a drive to tell his viewers about the cool things he sees along the way.

“People don’t want you to talk at them,” Morris said during a press conference prior to his formal remarks during the Bluefield Chamber’s annual dinner. “They want you to talk with them. I love the feedback now. (When I) post it on Twitter, I’m able to get instant feedback from my reports.”

He talked about the personal side of his career during the press conference. Morris said he enjoys the time he spends with the Fox and Friends Weekend staff and added that the off-camera time he spends with his fellow co-hosts Alisyn Camerota and Dave Briggs is essentially the same as it is on air. “Alisyn rolls her eyes and Dave takes it one step further.” He said that in every story he approaches, he always looks for the “viewer benefit.”

He is aware of Fox’s conservative reputation, but he said that he doesn’t get involved in the positions of the on-air opinion makers. “We throw out a balance in the news. I just call it straight and narrow,” he said. “The great thing about Fox — it’s family there. Roger (Ailes, American president of Fox News Channel) is a very loyal person. If you get a great idea, you can stay with it.”

Morris served as news anchor at WVVA-TV in 2001-’02, before heading to the WB Network for the start-up of “The Daily Buzz.” He left the WB to host “Good Day Philadelphia” on Fox 29, before moving up to the Fox and Friends Weekend job. Yvonne Moses, an advertising account representative with WVVA-TV approached Morris through Facebook, to serve as Bluefield Chamber speaker, and he jumped at the opportunity.

“I’ve lived all over the country,” Morris said during the press conference. He said when he arrived in Bluefield: “It was like a walk down memory lane. I don’t need a lot of reasons to come here.”

Morris explained that there is a bigger difference between life in New York City and a small rural than simply “no 3G coverage.” He said people seem to give more personal attention to each other in small communities. “People still hold a door open for you in the city, just not as long,” he said. “When I stopped at (a shopping mall) someone was holding the door open for me when I got out of my car. I said, it’s OK. I can get it when I cross the parking lot.”

During his remarks, he reflected on his time in Bluefield. He said people he knew when he was here are still kind to him. “It chokes me up,” he said. “You are some of the kindest people I have ever met.”

Prior to Morris’ remarks, Lisa Huff, chairman of the Bluefield Chamber board of directors, used the lyrics from the Eagles’ song, “Hotel California,” to underscore her commitment to the Chamber. “You can check in any time you want, but you can never leave,” Huff said.

She expressed her appreciation to all of her division chairs and briefly reviewed several of the chamber’s programs through the year. She thanked R.W. “Buz” Wilkinson and Frank Wilkinson of First Century Bank for giving her the time to work on chamber projects, and gave special recognition to chamber staff members, Marc Meachum, president and chief executive officer, Debbie Maynard, executive vice president, Karen DeHaan and Beth Nelson, administrative assistants.

“I want to thank all of my peeps,” Huff said. “I would be lost without all of you.” She said the chamber had one of its best years to date.

– Contact Bill Archer at barcher@bdtonline.com