Last day at the NJ. Weird!
I finished up 3 stories this week, and I'm working on one more before I leave today. I feel like a high school senior about to graduate, but my teachers keep giving me more homework.
I brought in donuts for everyone this morning and I have a card for Betsy. It's been like a little dysfunctional family here, so I really am a bit sad I'm leaving.
I can't believe how much I learned here. I never realized how quickly I can finish a story if I need to, how well I'm able to speak to people on the phone, how sharp my interviews can be, or how much I like writing features.
It's been such a great experience, and I only hope it will lead to bigger and better things. I think it will.
Adios!
Friday, August 13, 2010
Monday, August 9, 2010
Helping People
I just have to add to my earlier post today--
I got the best phone call a few minutes ago. A woman named Jane (who had a fabulous accent...sounded sort of Jamaican) called me to compliment me on my volunteer article and ask how she could get involved. We had a little conversation and she said my article made her want call me since she knew I would help her. She kept saying, "Bravo, young lady!" as she asked me more about my work here (I don't know how she knew I was young...) and was just gushing about my article. She said, "I bet your momma will be so proud of ya!" (She is.)It was so great to hear from someone who actually feels inspired by something they read, and has something positive to say in spite of negative comments the paper gets online or otherwise.
Reflecting back, I feel like I really have helped people here, and people have so many good things to say. I get so many calls and emails complimenting me on stories or asking me for more information because people want to help or be helped. Writing about volunteer organizations like Forgotten Cats, or inspiring stories like Amporn Vasquez's, or Kaz Sortino's 5K charity...it all makes me feel very positive about humanity.
One of the funniest responses is from my grandmother's friend, Dorothy. I guess my grandmother showed the women in her building my articles, and Dorothy emailed me after my first one to say some nice things. She said that she used to write for The Review when she went to Delaware (she won't tell me how long ago it was, but the paper was called the Blue Hen Review back then). She emails me after almost all of my stories are published with hilarious little comments and congratulations, and I feel like she is so excited to live vicariously through me.
I really feel like my final two stories (about the nonprofit/volunteer organizations Cleaning for a Reason and No One Dies Alone) will make me leave here on such a positive note. It's funny that I wrote so much about volunteer organizations in the state. So many of my articles were about people helping others, something that is very close to my heart. I find it really inspiring, and it puts the biggest smile on my face. That's what I like so much about features--often they are stories that bring our focus away from negative news and highlight all the good things to which we so seldom give our attention.
:-)
I got the best phone call a few minutes ago. A woman named Jane (who had a fabulous accent...sounded sort of Jamaican) called me to compliment me on my volunteer article and ask how she could get involved. We had a little conversation and she said my article made her want call me since she knew I would help her. She kept saying, "Bravo, young lady!" as she asked me more about my work here (I don't know how she knew I was young...) and was just gushing about my article. She said, "I bet your momma will be so proud of ya!" (She is.)It was so great to hear from someone who actually feels inspired by something they read, and has something positive to say in spite of negative comments the paper gets online or otherwise.
Reflecting back, I feel like I really have helped people here, and people have so many good things to say. I get so many calls and emails complimenting me on stories or asking me for more information because people want to help or be helped. Writing about volunteer organizations like Forgotten Cats, or inspiring stories like Amporn Vasquez's, or Kaz Sortino's 5K charity...it all makes me feel very positive about humanity.
One of the funniest responses is from my grandmother's friend, Dorothy. I guess my grandmother showed the women in her building my articles, and Dorothy emailed me after my first one to say some nice things. She said that she used to write for The Review when she went to Delaware (she won't tell me how long ago it was, but the paper was called the Blue Hen Review back then). She emails me after almost all of my stories are published with hilarious little comments and congratulations, and I feel like she is so excited to live vicariously through me.
I really feel like my final two stories (about the nonprofit/volunteer organizations Cleaning for a Reason and No One Dies Alone) will make me leave here on such a positive note. It's funny that I wrote so much about volunteer organizations in the state. So many of my articles were about people helping others, something that is very close to my heart. I find it really inspiring, and it puts the biggest smile on my face. That's what I like so much about features--often they are stories that bring our focus away from negative news and highlight all the good things to which we so seldom give our attention.
:-)
Last Week!
Today is the first day of my last week at the NJ! I can't believe it. I actually counted (like a geek), and there were 38 days total that I came into the office. That seems like so much fewer than I thought. I mean I was here for 2 months, and minus weekend days and my one week off I guess it makes sense, but I honestly feel like I've been here for many months.
Last week, David Ledford, the executive editor here, had a big dinner for all the interns. I was honestly hesitant about going at first, because I really have not met any of the interns all summer, and thought it might be a strange thing to sit down to a dinner with people I haven't met all summer, even though we have been working together.
Anyway, I was apparently in the same boat as everyone else, as when all the interns arrived at David's house, pretty much everyone was being introduced for the first time too. I had expected hamburgers and hotdogs, but David was grilling salmon and asparagus, and had brie and crackers and tomato and mozzarella cheese appetizers--a really impressive spread. His wife even made homemade fruit tarts and creme brulee for dessert. He made us feel very welcome, and we all bonded a lot over stories from our summers and eachother's advice. It was really nice.
One of the higher-ups here, Greg, who I didn't know even knew me, also came up to me at the dinner and told me what a great job I was doing, and so did Betsy, and David mentioned how excited he was to read my volunteer story. It was so great to know that my hard work is being noticed here.
Last week I did get to pop into an intern meeting as well. Only one other intern was here (we are all steadily beginning to leave the NJ), and we learned about databases and how to use Excel and Access to compile info.
Also, Betsy came up to me one day last week and asked me to cover a breaking news story. Very exciting. I talked to the editor of the section, and it was to be a story about military personnel arriving home, so I would be able to go speak to them and their families in Smyrna. The problem was, it was already 10 and it would have taken me two hours to get there and back, plus the time to write the story, and I have to leave the office by 2. I had to pass on the story which really stunk. It really is a downer sometimes that I'm not here as much as full-time interns are. I do so much in the time I'm actually here, but when I have to pass on stories because of my other job, it is a disappointment.
One of the coolest things I'm learning about myself here as a reporter is that I don't really need to write down interview questions anymore. I used to plan out my interviews meticulously with questions, but now I just sort of go with the flow and see where the interview takes me. I mean I obviously have some questions in mind and know where I want to go with the interview, but I'm learning to just conduct an interview like a conversation, and it's becoming much easier for me.
Whew-long post. I'll do one more before I leave!
Last week, David Ledford, the executive editor here, had a big dinner for all the interns. I was honestly hesitant about going at first, because I really have not met any of the interns all summer, and thought it might be a strange thing to sit down to a dinner with people I haven't met all summer, even though we have been working together.
Anyway, I was apparently in the same boat as everyone else, as when all the interns arrived at David's house, pretty much everyone was being introduced for the first time too. I had expected hamburgers and hotdogs, but David was grilling salmon and asparagus, and had brie and crackers and tomato and mozzarella cheese appetizers--a really impressive spread. His wife even made homemade fruit tarts and creme brulee for dessert. He made us feel very welcome, and we all bonded a lot over stories from our summers and eachother's advice. It was really nice.
One of the higher-ups here, Greg, who I didn't know even knew me, also came up to me at the dinner and told me what a great job I was doing, and so did Betsy, and David mentioned how excited he was to read my volunteer story. It was so great to know that my hard work is being noticed here.
Last week I did get to pop into an intern meeting as well. Only one other intern was here (we are all steadily beginning to leave the NJ), and we learned about databases and how to use Excel and Access to compile info.
Also, Betsy came up to me one day last week and asked me to cover a breaking news story. Very exciting. I talked to the editor of the section, and it was to be a story about military personnel arriving home, so I would be able to go speak to them and their families in Smyrna. The problem was, it was already 10 and it would have taken me two hours to get there and back, plus the time to write the story, and I have to leave the office by 2. I had to pass on the story which really stunk. It really is a downer sometimes that I'm not here as much as full-time interns are. I do so much in the time I'm actually here, but when I have to pass on stories because of my other job, it is a disappointment.
One of the coolest things I'm learning about myself here as a reporter is that I don't really need to write down interview questions anymore. I used to plan out my interviews meticulously with questions, but now I just sort of go with the flow and see where the interview takes me. I mean I obviously have some questions in mind and know where I want to go with the interview, but I'm learning to just conduct an interview like a conversation, and it's becoming much easier for me.
Whew-long post. I'll do one more before I leave!
Monday, August 2, 2010
More Stuff...
Finishing up the volunteer story today/tomorrow, and I pitched 2 more stories to Betsy for this week. One is going to be a about a brand-new volunteer organization in DE called NODA-No One Dies Alone. The volunteers are on call 24/7 to come to Christiana Care hospitals if a patient is dying and has no family or friends with them. The volunteers basically sit with people as they die. I think it's a heartbreaking but amazing story. I found out about it as I was researching information for the volunteers story, but thought that NODA was too much of a stand-alone story to include it. It's cool when one story leads to another like this. Betsy was very happy with my pitch, which was encouraging.
Tomorrow, all the interns are invited to a dinner at one of the staff member's house. It will be nice to sit with the other interns and talk about our summers. My regret is that we didn't really get to know one another throughout the summer. I talk to one of the interns, Chris, a little bit, but I don't even know who the other interns are. I wish someone had introduced us to one another--besides the very first intern meeting I went to at the beginning of the summer (only 3 of us showed up) I haven't been asked to any other intern meetings. I think one was held while I was out for the week. I wish I hadn't missed it.
Along with the NODA story, I'm doing a piece on Cleaning for a Reason, a group that works with maid services in every state to have the houses of women with cancer cleaned for free. This is close to my heart, as my next door neighbor, who I was very close to, died of breast cancer, and I remember how difficult it was for her to maintain a clean and cozy home for her family while she was going through treatment. I think it will be great to talk to some of the people who have worked with cancer patients.
Betsy originally said I might rotate to another desk at some point in the summer, but I only have 2 weeks left, and Features is like my home now. I would have loved to get an experience at another desk, but I like that I really got comfortable here. Maybe my next internship experience will be with a news or business or even sports (not sure I would be great there, ha) desk.
I was going to stay at the NJ until some point after Summer College is over (Aug. 14), but my family has arranged a week-long vacation right after I'm done SC, and right after that, classes start, so I told Betsy my last day here would be Aug. 13. I hate to cut my internship a little short, but of course I have to roll with the unexpected. Betsy said she would call my mom and dad to yell at them for taking me away. I will have been here for 2 months exactly by the time I leave. It really flew by. I think I'll wind up with 10-15 big Life stories (most of which ran front-page of the section) and a bunch of little clips from 55 hours as well.
I have to say, I'm very proud of myself. I worked really hard all summer, and it wasn't easy between the NJ and Summer College. I learned so much here.
Only a few more posts left on the old blog before I'm outta here!
Tomorrow, all the interns are invited to a dinner at one of the staff member's house. It will be nice to sit with the other interns and talk about our summers. My regret is that we didn't really get to know one another throughout the summer. I talk to one of the interns, Chris, a little bit, but I don't even know who the other interns are. I wish someone had introduced us to one another--besides the very first intern meeting I went to at the beginning of the summer (only 3 of us showed up) I haven't been asked to any other intern meetings. I think one was held while I was out for the week. I wish I hadn't missed it.
Along with the NODA story, I'm doing a piece on Cleaning for a Reason, a group that works with maid services in every state to have the houses of women with cancer cleaned for free. This is close to my heart, as my next door neighbor, who I was very close to, died of breast cancer, and I remember how difficult it was for her to maintain a clean and cozy home for her family while she was going through treatment. I think it will be great to talk to some of the people who have worked with cancer patients.
Betsy originally said I might rotate to another desk at some point in the summer, but I only have 2 weeks left, and Features is like my home now. I would have loved to get an experience at another desk, but I like that I really got comfortable here. Maybe my next internship experience will be with a news or business or even sports (not sure I would be great there, ha) desk.
I was going to stay at the NJ until some point after Summer College is over (Aug. 14), but my family has arranged a week-long vacation right after I'm done SC, and right after that, classes start, so I told Betsy my last day here would be Aug. 13. I hate to cut my internship a little short, but of course I have to roll with the unexpected. Betsy said she would call my mom and dad to yell at them for taking me away. I will have been here for 2 months exactly by the time I leave. It really flew by. I think I'll wind up with 10-15 big Life stories (most of which ran front-page of the section) and a bunch of little clips from 55 hours as well.
I have to say, I'm very proud of myself. I worked really hard all summer, and it wasn't easy between the NJ and Summer College. I learned so much here.
Only a few more posts left on the old blog before I'm outta here!
Friday, July 30, 2010
Getting There
Only 2 weeks left here at the NJ!
All the stories I've been talking about for the past week or so are finished (wallpaper story finally ran today...gel manicures ran a few days ago...) and I FINALLY found someone for the fedora story to talk to, and today I'm finishing up my volunteerism story. Next, Betsy wants me to pitch something to her.
I'm thinking of asking to write a story about authors in Delaware who self-publish. I've always been curious about how people do that. I think it would be interesting to talk to people and follow their journey from idea to publication. We'll see what she thinks.
I did a great interview for my volunteer story with a 95-year old named Molly who has been volunteering since the 50s. She was adorable, and her family is so excited to see her story in the paper. She must have felt a little famous; I went to see her while she was on the job at Christiana Care, and a photographer and a videographer came too--all eyes were on her!
One of the guys here is having a dinner for all the interns next week so we can talk about our experiences here. It seems weird that it's almost over. I have so many clips from interning here, and that's my tangible proof of all my hard work, but without them it feels like I just breezed in and out of this office for an hour. I'll have worked here for 2 months by the time I leave. Seems short, but I learned so much in a short amount of time.
All the stories I've been talking about for the past week or so are finished (wallpaper story finally ran today...gel manicures ran a few days ago...) and I FINALLY found someone for the fedora story to talk to, and today I'm finishing up my volunteerism story. Next, Betsy wants me to pitch something to her.
I'm thinking of asking to write a story about authors in Delaware who self-publish. I've always been curious about how people do that. I think it would be interesting to talk to people and follow their journey from idea to publication. We'll see what she thinks.
I did a great interview for my volunteer story with a 95-year old named Molly who has been volunteering since the 50s. She was adorable, and her family is so excited to see her story in the paper. She must have felt a little famous; I went to see her while she was on the job at Christiana Care, and a photographer and a videographer came too--all eyes were on her!
One of the guys here is having a dinner for all the interns next week so we can talk about our experiences here. It seems weird that it's almost over. I have so many clips from interning here, and that's my tangible proof of all my hard work, but without them it feels like I just breezed in and out of this office for an hour. I'll have worked here for 2 months by the time I leave. Seems short, but I learned so much in a short amount of time.
Tuesday, July 20, 2010
Keeping it Going...
Had my interview with the great Paula Deen yesterday! I was so starstruck talking to her. She was GREAT-so friendly, funny, charming and fabulous. She has a laugh that's about two thousand times louder than normal, and she loves to curse, which I think is hilarious. She kept calling me "darlin'" and saying "ya'll," and her whole personality just made me want to go out on the town with her. She is so excited to come to Delaware, and I really got the impression that she loves what she does. Why wouldn't she--she gets to play around with buttery deliciousness all day. The story is going to run tomorrow or Thursday.
My Forgotten Cats story ran today, and I've already gotten 2 calls from people who want to use their services because they read my story. It's nice to feel like what I've written influences people, even in some small way.
A bunch of other stories I've finished are going to run at different points this and next week, so I'm getting plenty of clips.
Right now I'm working on the longtime volunteers story. It's hard to find people that have been volunteering for 20 years or more, but two of the places that I've found sources are The Grand and a program called Foster Grandparents. I called one woman from Habitat for Humanity who has been volunteering for six years, but Betsy told me that's not long enough for this story. I called back and apologized for not being able to use her interview--sometimes it's tough spending time talking to a source and then not being able to use them. She was very understanding, though. I've left messages with tons of people, and I've been making phone calls all morning--no one seems to want to answer their phones today. Also, three of the organizations I've called have directors named Kevin. Weird!
I'm sure the volunteer story will take me all week to work on, and after that I might be working on one about moms who use online forums to ask questions about motherhood--still have to talk to Betsy about that one.
It's business as usual here at TNJ.
My Forgotten Cats story ran today, and I've already gotten 2 calls from people who want to use their services because they read my story. It's nice to feel like what I've written influences people, even in some small way.
A bunch of other stories I've finished are going to run at different points this and next week, so I'm getting plenty of clips.
Right now I'm working on the longtime volunteers story. It's hard to find people that have been volunteering for 20 years or more, but two of the places that I've found sources are The Grand and a program called Foster Grandparents. I called one woman from Habitat for Humanity who has been volunteering for six years, but Betsy told me that's not long enough for this story. I called back and apologized for not being able to use her interview--sometimes it's tough spending time talking to a source and then not being able to use them. She was very understanding, though. I've left messages with tons of people, and I've been making phone calls all morning--no one seems to want to answer their phones today. Also, three of the organizations I've called have directors named Kevin. Weird!
I'm sure the volunteer story will take me all week to work on, and after that I might be working on one about moms who use online forums to ask questions about motherhood--still have to talk to Betsy about that one.
It's business as usual here at TNJ.
Friday, July 16, 2010
Craziness
It's nearing the end of my first week of working at both Summmer College at UD as well as TNJ. Craziness! It's pretty hard to do both. I work from 9-2 at TNJ and then I have to be back at UD and ready for SC activities by 3. I don't really get much free time on the weekdays. It's just another learning experience about how to balance everything. It's kind of good the way it worked out, because in the morning (when I'm tired) I'm at the paper, sitting inside and not exactly doing physically strenuous stuff; in the afternoon, I go to SC and do outside activities and games all day. At least I don't have to be energized and ready to go in the morning, because I never am!
I took a 5 Hour Energy this morning, and don't feel like I'm slowly slipping into a coma at my desk like I have been feeling the past couple days. So that's a bonus.
Anyway, I finished a story about the group Forgotten Cats, Inc. this week. I talked to the president/founder, a volunteer, and a man who has used the organization's services. It's funny, even if I don't need to, I always try to use 3 sources in a story like I'm used to from journalism classes at school. Once, a story really only needed the two great sources I found, and I was still struggling to find a third, and Betsy told me I didn't need it. It was weird.
So with that story pretty much done, I am trying to work on this story about the popularity of fedora hats. I got a great interview with a professor of apparel studies or accessory studies (can't remember now) at FIT in NYC, but I really need to talk to people that actually buy/wear these. It's tough. We even put a little ad on the site saying "if you wear fedoras, call Kala!" But only one person got back and it wouldn't really have worked. Since I've been in Newark, I've been looking around trying to notice what people are wearing, but I'm not really finding anything. Ugh. Frustrating. I might need to just go to a store that sells them and see if anyone's buying them.
Next week is my interview with Paula Deen! I had to send her PR person some questions I could possibly ask (and I wasn't sure--is that a good idea? Do journalists always have to do that? I didn't want to be a jerk and say no, but it felt sort of like giving them my story before it was even written...) and the PR girl told me there are too many, because the interview is only supposed to be 15 minutes, and apparently, "with the way Paula talks, you won't get through them all." So we'll see. I feel like I could talk to her for hours, I just think she's so funny.
The next story I really want to work on is one about lifelong volunteers, i.e., people who have been volunteering for an organization for years and years. I love stories like this about people's personal experiences. I sort of felt like some of the stories I've been getting (manicures, hats, wallpaper) were fun and interesting, yes, but also lacking a bit in substance. I think a story about actual people who have dedicated their lives to working for others would be great. I'm also just really into volunteering myself, so I'm a little biased.
I want to start pitching stories as soon as I get all these ones I have lined up over with. I obviously want to finish the ones Betsy's assigned to me, but after that I'd like to come up with some of my own. Now I just need to think of some!
I took a 5 Hour Energy this morning, and don't feel like I'm slowly slipping into a coma at my desk like I have been feeling the past couple days. So that's a bonus.
Anyway, I finished a story about the group Forgotten Cats, Inc. this week. I talked to the president/founder, a volunteer, and a man who has used the organization's services. It's funny, even if I don't need to, I always try to use 3 sources in a story like I'm used to from journalism classes at school. Once, a story really only needed the two great sources I found, and I was still struggling to find a third, and Betsy told me I didn't need it. It was weird.
So with that story pretty much done, I am trying to work on this story about the popularity of fedora hats. I got a great interview with a professor of apparel studies or accessory studies (can't remember now) at FIT in NYC, but I really need to talk to people that actually buy/wear these. It's tough. We even put a little ad on the site saying "if you wear fedoras, call Kala!" But only one person got back and it wouldn't really have worked. Since I've been in Newark, I've been looking around trying to notice what people are wearing, but I'm not really finding anything. Ugh. Frustrating. I might need to just go to a store that sells them and see if anyone's buying them.
Next week is my interview with Paula Deen! I had to send her PR person some questions I could possibly ask (and I wasn't sure--is that a good idea? Do journalists always have to do that? I didn't want to be a jerk and say no, but it felt sort of like giving them my story before it was even written...) and the PR girl told me there are too many, because the interview is only supposed to be 15 minutes, and apparently, "with the way Paula talks, you won't get through them all." So we'll see. I feel like I could talk to her for hours, I just think she's so funny.
The next story I really want to work on is one about lifelong volunteers, i.e., people who have been volunteering for an organization for years and years. I love stories like this about people's personal experiences. I sort of felt like some of the stories I've been getting (manicures, hats, wallpaper) were fun and interesting, yes, but also lacking a bit in substance. I think a story about actual people who have dedicated their lives to working for others would be great. I'm also just really into volunteering myself, so I'm a little biased.
I want to start pitching stories as soon as I get all these ones I have lined up over with. I obviously want to finish the ones Betsy's assigned to me, but after that I'd like to come up with some of my own. Now I just need to think of some!
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