Questions for Emily Richett, early riser and entertainment reporter for FOX-17

Let me start by breaking a rule of polite society. How old are you?

Twenty-five. What an age. I liked it much better saying 24. Now, I'm five years from 30.

What's wrong with being 30?

Well, nothing. By the time I'm 28, I'll say there's absolutely nothing wrong with being 30. I just have a lot of things I want to do and five years from 30 doesn't leave me a lot of time.

A lot things to do before you turn 30 or before you leave the planet? What things?

It's just the journey of figuring out everything you want to do. Just the simple things everyone wants to do like travel and see the world, and the things I want to do with my career and relationships.

Sounds like a midlife crisis. And you're only five years from 30.

You only get so much time. So that's why I'm all about birthdays and New Years. A lot of people don't think much about the New Year. It could be your last year, could be the best year of a your life.

Do you do resolutions?

Not specific resolutions. I don't write a list and say, "I can't eat bread in 2010." And birthdays, I don't make a big fuss. It's just internally it's a big deal, because I'm all about reinventing myself.

How did you reinvent yourself in 2009?

In 2009, it was about finding the right balance between my work life, my social life and what was left over.

How do you even have a social life when you have to be up so early?

I won't go to bed at 7 in the evening just because I have to be up at 3 a.m. I still want to meet people and live out my 20s and go to fun events, so it's hard to be eating well and sleeping well when you're burning the candle at both ends.

Did you gain weight or lose weight last year?

Gained. I refused to buy bigger clothes, though. I just kept saying: "I will get back into these jeans!"

Going to break another social rule, here: How much weight did you gain?

Here's the thing that threw me off when I finally stepped on the scale: It was only like 3 pounds. I think the muscle mass I had gained turned into mush. I just kind of embraced being curvy. But I am excited that I fit in the skinny jeans again.

What's the reinvention on FOX-TV going to look like in 2010 versus 2009?

Last year was a lot of change because they had us create something that's not been done, and it was a journey to figure out what I was supposed to be doing and what kind of role I'm supposed to have and how that works in the community. In 2010, I don't think there will be as much change. I think we've found our rhythm and pace.

You don't always act the part of the typical reporter, like when you're on camera throwing snowballs or filling your mouth with whip cream.

What we're doing each day is really not that deep. We're just there, telling people what's going on.

Do you get criticism because you're not doing the "serious journalist" thing?

I really don't care what people think.

What about your thousands of fans and friends on Twitter and Facebook? Do you care what they have to say, even if they're being critical?

I'm flattered they're even writing to me or about me. We got an email into the station recently, and the first thing it said was, "You should pay Emily more so she can get her nose fixed."

What's wrong with your nose?

I don't know. The thing is that there's nothing in my life that I'm too insecure about. I love that line by Tina Fey: "I thank my parents for giving me confidence that is disproportionate to my looks and talent."

I think your nose looks fine.

At the end of the day, I laugh that people took the time out of their day to write about me. I consumed part of their day.

Now you just need to figure out how to monetize that.

Yeah, right. Maybe I can get a Google ad page or something like that.

INTERVIEW CONDUCTED, CONDENSED AND EDITED BY BRIAN EDWARDS. PHOTO BY BRIAN KELLY.