Reviewed by: Pat Byington
Bham Now turns 10 — here are the stories our team will never forget
Reading time: 5 minutes
Ten years and thousands of positive stories later, we asked our team a simple question: What’s the one that’s stuck with you?
The answers took us everywhere from a helicopter ride over the Magic City to a Lakeview listening lounge to a river in central Alabama that lost more species than almost anywhere else in the country. Some of these stories broke news. Others barely made a splash outside Birmingham circles. But each one left a mark on the person who told it.
Here are eight stories, straight from the reporters, photographers and account executives who lived them.
Flying over Birmingham in a Children’s of Alabama rescue helicopter
After nearly eight years at Bham Now, Senior Content Producer Nathan Watson has covered everything from Ella Irby’s famous sweet rolls to the Prince Hall Masonic Temple. But one story stands out: riding along in Children’s of Alabama’s new twin-engine critical care transport helicopter, funded by a donation from the Monday Morning Quarterback Club.
“In the air, we learned about the Critical Care Transport service — all while seeing the Magic City from a perspective few will ever experience.”
Nathan Watson
Rediscovering Birmingham’s rare watercress darter
Conservation has been Content Director Pat Byington’s life’s work — from the Alabama Forever Wild Program to preserving Dugger Mountain Wilderness. So it’s no surprise his most memorable Bham Now story combined that passion with a hometown discovery: an interview and photo shoot with Dr. Mike Howell, the Samford biologist who first identified the watercress darter.
“Capturing Mike re-discovering the watercress darter on camera, more than 60 years after he made it “known to science,” was a special moment.”
Pat Byington
Honoring her grandmother’s role in the Children’s Crusade
For Black History Month, Content Producer/TikTok Manager Tira Davis created a City Walk social post highlighting Birmingham’s Civil Rights Movement, including her own family’s connection to it through her grandmother, who took part in the Children’s Crusade.
“As a Black American in Alabama, it’s important to be a voice for those like me, especially in a city with such rich history.”
Tira Davis
Connecting a client to a life-changing donation
Sales Director Gabi Hembree-Lee has spent eight years connecting Bham Now’s partners and creative team to tell their stories. One that’s stuck with her is the 2021 announcement for AIDS Alabama’s Way Station, Birmingham’s only shelter for homeless youth — a client she’d worked with since her first year at Bham Now.
“Directly from this story, AIDS Alabama received a significant donation from an unknown individual with no previous ties to the organization. That speaks to the heart of our mission.”
Gabi Hembree-Lee
Capturing the final Sloss Fest
As the only Bham Now team member on the ground at the last Sloss Fest in Birmingham, Channel Analyst/Photographer Jacob Blankenship spent the weekend moving between the pit box and the crowd, camera in hand, photographing acts like AJR, Chris Stapleton and Moon Taxi.
“Having that level of access let me document some of the most amazing scenes I’ve ever shot in Birmingham.”
Jacob Blankenship
The importance of Alabama’s free-flowing rivers
Bham Now founder Cindy Martin points to a Bama Buzz story on the importance of free-flowing rivers as one of her most memorable. The piece explores how Alabama’s wild creeks and rivers provide habitat for colorful darters and other species — and what locals can do to protect them.
“I was surprised to learn years ago about the largest extinction in known U.S. history — 36 fish, mussel and snail species lost from the Coosa River during the 20th century.”
Cindy Martin
An exclusive first look at High Dive Listening Lounge
Director of Branded Content Cindy Hatcher loves going behind the scenes as new restaurants and businesses debut in Birmingham, and High Dive Listening Lounge is a favorite. She toured the Lakeview space during its final week of buildout, spending a Sunday afternoon with owner Bart Stephens learning about the sound-focused research behind every design decision.
“We were the first in Birmingham to tell that story with exclusive access. We take it seriously when business owners entrust us with these first looks — and they’re a lot of fun too.”
Cindy Hatcher
Capturing Carole Griffin’s legacy in Birmingham’s food scene
When Continental Bakery and Chez Lulu founder Carole Griffin announced her retirement, Senior Content Producer Grace Howard and the Bham Now team pulled together a video shoot, photo shoot and interview in about 12 hours. The result became one of Howard’s favorite stories, not for its hits, but for the story it captured.
“It’s a bit of an ‘if you know, you know’ story. Carole was hugely influential in creating the diverse food scene Birmingham has today.”
Grace Howard
What is your favorite Bham Now story? Let us know on Instagram or Facebook by tagging us @bhamnow!
