Week Two

I finished up my first week at the station by going with Katie to Screen Gems studio to find out more about the big film productions that were coming to Wilmington. The studio was extremely interesting, and the people we talked to at the film commissioner's office were incredibly friendly. It was awesome to learn about all of the time and effort that the people of Wilmington put into making a movie like 'Iron Man 3' or filming a tv show like 'Dawson's Creek.' Katie took the information she learned from the interview and created an awesome package for the A block of the 5pm show. I was able to observe her for another day and learn more about the editing process. I also stayed and watched the show from the control room again. I learned a lot for my first week, and I left the station feeling very accomplished. Click here for a link to the Screen Gems package.

This Wednesday I started the second week of my internship by heading back to Screen Gems with Katie and a new intern named Sarah. This time our story was about the beginning of the 'Iron Man 3' film production. We took some video of the studio and preformed stand ups in front of the camera. It was so exciting to be on camera for the first time. I loved it! While out in the field, we also took a trip to the StarNews building to interview the editor of the book 'Wilm on Film.'  I was super impressed with their newsroom. It was massive compared to my days at ABH. The day was extremely interesting. We wrapped up our interview and went back to the station to put together the package. I got to learn more about editing by playing around creating my own version of the package. I used my own standup and tracked my voice to be used with the video we shot. It was awesome. I was thrilled to have finished a package that featured me as a reporter. It was amazing.  Click here to see the package that aired and imagine me as the reporter.

Thursday, I woke up at 4am and went into the station super early to help out with the morning show. The morning was a much more relaxing environment to learn about production and camera equipment. I was able to double check the scripts and watch the show from the set. I learned more about the cameras, prompter and sound board. It was amazing. I learned that the production of any live show is really a team effort. I loved the experience, and I was so thrilled Ashley had asked me to come in early. I agreed to come in for the morning show again the next day as well. After the morning show, I went out in the field with Katie to a shopping center parking where we met a bus filled with political protesters on their way to Raleigh. We shot a few interviews before following the bus to the capital. Raleigh was a great city and I loved the experience. We shot stand ups in front of the legislative building before heading inside to listen in on a press conference and we were on the floor for a meeting of the NC House of Representatives. It was amazing to witness the political process first hand. After the session was over, we got some interviews with two of the House Representatives and some more stand ups in front of the capital. Then, it was time to edit the video from the field and send it in to the station. The process was thrilling and extremely stressful. We had some technical difficulties, but managed to get the video in by deadline before driving back to Wilmington. Click here to see the package from my Raleigh road trip.

Yesterday, I woke up again at 4am and went in to work the morning shift. I wrote some of the script and learned some more about video editing. I watched the show from the production studio where I helped answer the phones for the trivia question and escorted a guest interviewee. After the show ended, I got to play mock anchor on the set. I had so much fun, and it was really funny watching the actual anchors of the morning show, Ashley and Tim, attempt to run the prompter for me. For the day side shift, I went with Ryan to chase down the Sheriff and Chief Deputy, who were riding around on motorcycles. We shot video using the big camera which is extremely heavy. It was difficult to trying to get video from inside the car, but lucky for us some of it was not too shaky.  We finally managed to get an interview with them before heading back to the station to put together a vo sot for the 6 o'clock show.  I was able to put together most of it by myself in the editing system and write the script for the show. I was so excited to watch it when I finally left for the day. I have learned so much in just two weeks, and I am having an amazing time. Can't wait to learn more about the broadcast business next week.

Week One

This week has been eventful to say the least, and its not even Friday yet. After a long drive through a few flash floods and terrible South Carolina roads, I arrived in Wilmington on Tuesday night. My apartment was not available until the next day, so I got a hotel room for the night. All settled in, I watched the 11pm news show and then read more about the 50 Shades romance before calling it a night. 

Bright and early Wednesday morning, I woke up excited to begin my first day as a news intern. I hit the ground running by arriving early to the station early and meeting most of the staff at the morning meeting. I went to work shadowing a reporter, Katie, who took me into the field for a story on a book written about a WWII gunner on the USS North Carolina Battleship. The story was extremely interesting, but sadly it was raining the whole time making filming more difficult.  We were able to get the story though and went back to the station where I observed Katie putting the package together just in time for deadline. I, then, watched the entire news show from the production studio. Click here to watch the package. 

 After finishing up my first day at the station, I headed to  to my new apartment for the first time ( I had been able to pick up my keys on a short lunch break that involved eating a Wendy's jr. bacon cheese burger from the drive-through). I met my roommate and her friend, who were watching episodes of the Vampire Diaries when I arrived at apartment 2A.  After some brief hellos, I got to work hauling in all of my stuff, which was quite the task. Exhausted, I looked up story ideas and then went to bed ready for another day at the station.

Today I arrived early and met the station receptionist, who supplied me with a badge and a parking pass. I felt so official walking into the newsroom with a badge. I was surprised with a Chickfila biscuit as I sat down for the morning meeting. My day was made, but far from over. I shadowed Katie on another boat story. This time the story was about a tall ship that had been used in multiple movies was docked in Wilmington. We went abroad and talked to the ship's captain and some tourists around the ship. To see the ship story click here. 

Next we covered a scholarship fundraiser luncheon. Both stories were extremely interesting. On lunch break, Katie showed me around Wrightsville Beach after we ate some really good Mexican food. After the fascinating tour, it was back to work. I learned a little more about video editing and writing for TV, which is very different from newspaper and magazine writing. Katie had a live report on the tall ship for the 5 and 6 o'clock shows, so I went with her to the location. We were joined by a camera guy named Ryan, who taught me how to use the camera and film for the show. It was all so interesting. I have only been working 2 days, and I have already learned so much while having a wonderful time! I am excited to go back to the station tomorrow for my last day of work before the weekend. Life has been pretty good so far. I hope the rest of the summer will be just as fun and educational.