Finally Reporting!

Week 6 was the week to be with reporters. It was really something to experience. I have been out with reporters before at another internship, but this time it was different. Being a reporter has its perks, but there are some days were a story is just a story and you have to get that information. Reporters start their days by going to the night side meeting where they discuss their pitched story ideas. Each pitch is found from a press release, a Facebook or twitter post, or a personal contact.

The best thing about being a reporter is when your story is put together to change someone’s life for good. This week I worked with Allison Mechanic. Her stories were incredible. Her interviews were conducted with first asking the interviewee their name and how to spell it. She then let them know to look at her and that she would ask the questions in a way that would be conversational. Allison also taught me that when it comes to getting footage, sometimes it is better to do it now and ask for forgiveness later. I also learned that anything in view from the street or side walk was fair game.

Getting everything together for the package was interesting. Stand ups were shot and sometimes shot more than once. On the way back to the station, Allison would type up a LOG. Which is a document with important lines from the interviewee(s). I never knew that there was a thing called a LOG so that was cool to learn. She then makes sure to type up her script in OPUS and records her VOs. Before it is finalized the producers for that newscast will check over it. It is really important to know that, no matter how much of an excellent story you have, it may be killed if a more breaking a serious story is necessary.

This week was absolutely amazing. The best advice Allison gave me was to know myself and to not settle. I am glad someone in the field took the time to teach me and to encourage me this week. Again I cannot say thank you enough for giving me the opportunity to grow and to learn from such a wonderful team. Week 7 here I come.