Meet Lori Jane Gliha | Investigative Reporter & Songwriter

We had the good fortune of connecting with Lori Jane Gliha and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Lori Jane, can you talk to us a bit about the social impact of your business?
As an investigative reporter, I shine light on important issues, so community members can learn about what is going on in their neighborhoods and make informed decisions about their lives. For example, following the death of Elijah McClain in 2019, I began investigating how paramedics were using ketamine in Colorado to sedate some people who were in police custody. McClain died after a police altercation and after paramedics sedated him with ketamine. My investigation included months of extensive research, interviews with medical professionals, and meetings with stakeholders who had differing perspectives about the drug and how it was being used. I filed public records requests for body-camera footage, police reports, and internal health department emails, and I attended public hearings, meetings, and legislative sessions. I filed more than 60 reports over the span of two years, to help viewers understand why some people were strongly opposed to the drug’s use in law enforcement settings and why others felt it was one of the safest tools for paramedics to utilize in serious situations. My work also revealed videos of other questionable incidents and showed inconsistencies in how the drug was being administered. Questions about whether the drug was being used appropriately with proper training prompted the state to further investigate and to re-evaluate how it regulates and oversees the powerful medication. During this process, the state health department paused the program that allowed for the use of ketamine in pre-hospital settings, and the Governor signed a new law, limiting how the drug can be used.

How has music affected your professional career and what are you most proud of with your music?
I have been songwriting as long as I can remember. Music is constantly in my brain, and rhymes are always at the tip of my tongue. I think these gifts assist me in my professional writing career as well. When there’s a puzzle of phrasing and words and emotions that needs to come together, it is rewarding and therapeutic for me to figure out the best way to make it happen – whether it’s music or a news report. People who’ve worked with me know that I make a song out of anything, and I don’t even realize I’m doing it.

As a kid, I played violin for 8 years, but it wasn’t until I received an acoustic guitar as a Christmas gift during my freshman year of college, that I felt so empowered and creative.

I’m most proud that after more than 16 years without lessons, I made the decision to find a teacher. Then, I made an hour-long commitment each week to take a lesson. I learned so many new chords and styles. I learned electric guitar and played at an open-mic jam session with my teacher and other students. I added electronics to my acoustic guitar, so it could be amplified. My musical heart and my mind started to grow. Each week at my lesson, I’d learn something new, and then, I’d be inspired to make a new song based on whatever I had learned. Sometimes, it is a new chord progression. Sometimes, it’s an eerie sounding minor chord. Since starting up lessons again, I’ve written at least a dozen new songs, and my teacher has helped me record them. He holds a “Guitarbeque” recital twice a year, and each time, I perform one of my originals. He usually comes up with harmony to play on his own guitar. The last couple of times, he helped write a part for a bass and drum player, so I can play with a band.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
The possibilities for a wonderful weekend in Colorado are endless. I had a friend come to town this fall, and I made sure to take her to Golden Gate Canyon State Park while the weather was still nice. The parking was so crowded, we had to hike at least a mile just to get to the hike, but despite the long trek, it was incredibly rewarding. We saw a moose!

We didn’t have a ton of time together, but we checked out BeauJo’s pizza in Idaho Springs while she was here, and we tried putting honey on our pizza crust!

Of course, Red Rocks is always on the list of cool Colorado landmarks. If my visitor were athletic, we’d climb the benches for exercise before checking out a nearby hike.

Then, we could swing by Larimer Square to enjoy the beautiful lights and restaurants.

I cannot begin to name all the special restaurants that I’ve tried or want to try in various parts of the city. I’ve enjoyed Atelier by Radex, the Feedery, Denver Biscuit Company, Blue Pan Pizza, and Steuben’s. I really like the vibe at Barcelona. Work and Class, French75, and Bellota are all on my list to try!

I’m learning to ski, so checking out all the mountains for skiing (or snowshoeing) would definitely be on the list of fun for a winter visitor.

I’d take a summer visitor on a brewery tour (even though I really like wine). We’d go stand-up paddle boarding and then grab some ice cream from a local shop.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I am grateful to so many people for inspiring and supporting me in my professional career and as a songwriter.

My family has been the most supportive. I produced my first news reports as a child with the camcorder my sister and father won in a national recipe contest, and I recorded my first songs with a tape recorder someone gifted me.

I still have the original cassettes!

Without the patience and support of my family -helping me file my elementary school reports as video news stories and listening to me singing at the top of my lungs – I wouldn’t have grown into the successful woman I am today.

Aside from my family’s love, I am extremely lucky to have incredible co-workers who lift me up with their creativity and enthusiasm on a daily basis. And my guitar teacher, Paul Anderson, encourages me and challenges me to keep writing and recording my music, so I can share it with the world.

Website: https://kdvr.com/author/lori-jane-gliha/

Instagram: @ljgliha

Twitter: @ljgliha

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lorijaneinvestigator

Other: https://www.reverbnation.com/lorijane

Image Credits
James Long (the black and white photo)