The NJ is going really well. On my first day, I got right to work. I was assigned a little clip for an event going on in Arden, Delaware that will run in the Sunday 55 Hours section of the paper. Then, I was assigned my first big story. This being features, it was all about the restoration and renovation of a historic site in Delaware called the Read House. I was immediately sent to check out the house, and while I was there, I got a great interview with the director, Michele. I just happened to be in the garden of the house at the same time as she was! I was on deadline for the next day at noon, so for the rest of my first day and through half of my second, I was busy with that story-- calling people, researching, and fact-checking. My supervisor, Betsy, helped me a lot with the story because my lede was too "bogged down." I feel like that's one of my biggest weaknesses as a journalism student; I tend to write and embellish way too much. It's hard to go from English-major detail and voice to such clipped, concise writing in a newspaper, even in features. It's hard for me to get used to, even after three years of learning it in college. I'm supposed to be getting another story assignment sometime this week. My mom came into my room with today's paper with my Read House story in it, and it was on the first page of my section with some great pictures. Very exciting stuff.
The people here are helping me out a lot. The guy in the desk behind me, Peter, is my hero. He seems like he really cares that the interns feel welcome, especially because we kind of get thrown right into the lion's den the first day (not knowing how to use the systems on the computer, not having a key to the building, etc). I finally got my own badge with my photo on it that lets me into the building. I feel so official. I met two other interns yesterday in a little interns meeting one of the staff members ran. He was talking about breaking-news and the prevention of libel. It's nice to get advice from them and be treated like adults here.
Can't wait for my next story...
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