Andrea Naversen Returning To Her Roots

Andrea Naversen's resume epitomizes success, and reads like an inspirational catalogue of what one can achieve if they put their mind towards hard work: she's been a field reporter for such ABC- and CBS-owned shows as Nightline, Good Morning America, and World News Tonight, anchor for XETV and KUSI, author of two books about San Diego, and has even had a string of Hollywood acting gigs on shows like Renegade and Night Stalker.

But today, Naversen has stepped away from the television cameras and is returning to her roots as a print journalist. The impetus behind this has as much to do with wanting to spend more time with her family as it does with her love of the written word (Naversen cites Little Women's Jo as the reason she began writing news). But first on her agenda of newly-found downtime is a family cruise to the Mediterranean, her first vacation in over a year.

"I think traveling is the best education one can have," she says. "Living in the U.S. you become a little insular. It's especially important for young people to get out there and see how other people live, see how well off Americans are in comparison." Naversen's penchant for traveling started as a child growing up in a military family that was always relocating.

"Growing up, every couple of years I traveled with my family. We were constantly on the move. I had no home to speak of. But moving so much taught me independence and a curiosity for what lay beyond my own backyard."

Because of this — and her location-jumping as a reporter — she never felt grounded to any one locale until she got to San Diego. "I thought the quality of life here was so great that for the first time I put down roots. I said, 'this is my home.'"

Naversen was never apprehensive to go where the news was. She covered stories all over the U.S., Europe, and even the Middle East. Curious by nature, she explains that she liked to soak up local culture, whether reading overseas' newspapers or simply talking to the locals. Sometimes, her own travel education was shocking.

"There was rioting at the great pyramids of Giza, back in the '80s. People were setting fire to tourist hotels, and it was a dicey situation. I flew in as part of a contingent to cover these events. I remember landing in Cairo, and there wasn't a soul on the street — there was a curfew in effect and there were armored personnel on the street. The next morning, we went to the bazaar, and I remember being in a big crowd of people. I took out my American passport and the photographer slapped my hand and said, 'that can get you killed.' It was the first time in my life I realized Americans weren't universally liked."

To hear Naversen tell it, her career in television just sort of happened. After graduating with an English degree she found a job reporting news for the Plain Dealer, a newspaper in Cleveland, Ohio. Eventually the day-to-day hustle and bustle of newspaper reporting led to her finding a job at a magazine. But that soon wore thin as well, and she took the risk that changed her life.

"I was in Pittsburgh writing for a magazine, and the publisher was starting to use the magazine as a political mouthpiece. That was in the days when we were young enough, and perhaps stupid enough, to quit on principle. I read in the paper that a local [television] reporter was leaving, and a friend suggested I try out for the job. I said, 'You're crazy, I have no experience with that.' But I went and I got the job."

Naversen admits her lack of television experience at the time made for some funny moments. "I remember my first live shot one night in front of the Pittsburgh post office. When the cameraman cued me to begin my report," she says, "I froze like an animal blinded by headlights. I blanked out for what seemed like forever, but eventually managed to stammer through my 'stand up.' It was a moment of pure terror." Despite this, Naversen learned quickly and rose in the ranks from field reporter to anchor.

Today, with news behind her and the Mediterranean's cobalt waves just a day away, she speaks about the business from afar. It's easy to see she still retains a passion for the news. But she also recognizes that online, instantaneous news reports and all-news cable networks are changing the face of the industry, and perhaps not for the better.

"There're 24-hour news channels now and it's overload. You keep seeing the same images over and over and over, and I'm concerned that people might become hardened to what's going on in the world. I'm not saying they shouldn't show it, but it's a steady drumbeat of coverage that lessens the shock. As for online news, particularly in the area of health news, the American consumers are very confused with what to believe. There seem to be so many different studies coming out that contradict previous studies. In the old days when the studies came out, the medical community had time to chew them over. Nowadays, because it's instantaneous, they're disseminated in the media before they can be filtered. There's something to be said for thinking about things before you put them out there."

I ask about her hobbies, which prompts her to say she has no real hobbies. But the truth is so much of Naversen's non-news life has been dedicated to helping others that perhaps she doesn't see the connection. In her free time she has helped to create a successful fundraiser that benefits local children.

"I joined the Del Mar Unit of the Children's Hospital Auxiliary," she explains, "advocating the health and welfare of children. Then I got an idea for a fundraiser. I ran into a woman I know, a local designer, and she said why don't you do a fundraiser based on opening day hats at Del Mar. I took it to the unit and said 'what do you think of this?' and they loved the idea."

That idea became Hats Off For Children, which just celebrated its ten-year anniversary. To date, the charity has raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for San Diego children. Naversen was given the Top Hat award this year for her dedication to the cause.

This philanthropic mindset has already been passed down to her 13-year-old son, who recently completed an acting stint in a performance of MacBeth that raised over $3,300 in funds for StandUp For Kids.

It's plain to see that family is a big part of Naversen's life. "When my son was born," she says, "I'd already had a long and fulfilling career, so I felt strongly that it was time to be a mom — the most important job I will ever have." Her two books, Beautiful America's San Diego, and San Diego Coming of Age, a Modern History, were written in conjunction with her brother Ken's photography, and recently, she had a chance to see where her real roots exist.

"My parents were both born in Norway. About five years ago we had a family reunion where my mother was born, a town called Risor. They welcomed us like long-lost children and I finally had a sense of where my roots were."

And speaking of roots. If you're curious as to where those earlier-mentioned writing roots are taking her today, read the "Domino Effect". Yes, we welcome Naversen to the team of Ranch & Coast as editor-at-large. — Ryan Thomas, photography by Vincent Knakal

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Deirdre Brandes:
Bringing Creature Comfort To Rancho Santa Fe

"I really wanted to be a vet when I was six, but I think that's fairly common," laughs veterinarian Deirdre Brandes, founder of the new Rancho Santa Fe Veterinary Hospital, next door to Helen Woodward Animal Center (HWAC). Though the hospital is new, Brandes is no stranger to the grounds — as a teenager, she volunteered at HWAC in various capacities. "That's how I got my start. Then when I got more into the sciences and medicine, it all came together," says Brandes, who studied chemistry and nutrition at UC Davis, then earned her doctorate in veterinary medicine at Cornell.

Now, a seasoned veterinarian running a new hospital, Brandes doesn't stray too far from her roots. She has adopted HWAC's philosophy of people helping animals and animals helping people. "The people there really understand the importance of the human-animal bond — what animals can do for people, and vice versa," she says.

Brandes certainly does her share of helping animals these days. The new hospital cares for a steady flow of furry patients, and also offers a popular mobile vet service. Having the vet come into the home is helpful in many situations — from cats and dogs who simply don't like going to the vet's office, to people seeking privacy and comfort in a humane euthanasia situation.

Though the hospital mainly treats cats and dogs, Brandes also has a longstanding interest in exotic animals. Through the organization Project Wildlife, Brandes has treated hawks, opossums, raccoons, tortoises, turtles, and owls, which are released back into the wild.

"One of the challenges of being a vet is learning the different systems and physiologies — for example lizards are very different from dogs," explains Brandes. "It's fun to learn about all these other species, but not at the expense of what you can learn from dog and cat medicine, which is constantly making huge advancements."

Brandes is the mother of two-year-old Miles (an animal lover), and has a second child on the way. "I didn't have pets in my early childhood," she recalls, "but I guess I'm making up for it now." In addition to the patients she sees each day, she has three cats and a dog of her own. "We've never chosen a pet, they've always just been animals that needed a home." Brandes also notes that she treats her patients with the same care she would her own animals. "We all view the pets that we treat as if they're our own, there isn't really a big distinction. We fully understand how important it is to have animals in your life, and what joy they can bring." (858/759-8797, www.rsfvets.com) — JJ Hall