Next week I am going to investigative journalism camp. I was one in 25 students accepted in the nation. I keep telling myself if will be good to take the time off, but in reality it will probably be more work-- though, work I am passionate about.
I realized that change is never painless. Maybe this job is just causing writer growing pains. I know my writing now is more interesting, colorful and engaging than it was three weeks ago. Furthermore, it has a better flow. Structure has never been a problem for me, but getting a flow of storytelling has been and I feel I'm getting the hang of it. It isnt always fun and its not exactly what I want, but I think most things that are good for you are not things we crave.
I am asking better questions and thinking about stories from different angles I wouldnt have thought of before.
Wednesday, June 4, 2008
Sunday, June 1, 2008
Ethnography
My editor told me I have been putting out more than twice as many stories as the other newsroom reporters and to chill out. So she gave me one assignment for the week, as opposed to the 10 I did last week, and told me to focus on just this one thing.
It is an ethnography of sorts. All the kids in this town hang out in the "P-Lot" so I am going to habg out with them for the next week and write about it. I introduced myself on Friday. Although I wore a joke T-shirt my sister bought me -- black with skull and crossbones -- and jeans, they could tell I wasnt one of them from a mile away. I watched them smoke and make vulgar jokes with each other. It will be ... interesting.
The new intern is here. She is having difficulty structuring her stories. I want to jump in and be the editor since structure is my thing. I haven't. She went to Columbia, which I thought was my dream grad school, but she said it wasnt very good, that the investigative journalism program is new and the students are guinea pigs. Downer.
It is an ethnography of sorts. All the kids in this town hang out in the "P-Lot" so I am going to habg out with them for the next week and write about it. I introduced myself on Friday. Although I wore a joke T-shirt my sister bought me -- black with skull and crossbones -- and jeans, they could tell I wasnt one of them from a mile away. I watched them smoke and make vulgar jokes with each other. It will be ... interesting.
The new intern is here. She is having difficulty structuring her stories. I want to jump in and be the editor since structure is my thing. I haven't. She went to Columbia, which I thought was my dream grad school, but she said it wasnt very good, that the investigative journalism program is new and the students are guinea pigs. Downer.
Tuesday, May 27, 2008
New girl, news cover
Not only did I own the front page of Lifestyle, I also took the front page (news) photo. It is of a WWII vet in front of a WWII memorial.
The new intern came in today, Madeline. She seems nice enough, but I find it bothersome when someone spends so much money on a college education-- she did five years at Columbia-- but somehow misses the newsroom experience. Why dont people realize that that is the most important part-- clips? By the time I graduate from UMaine I will have worked in five different news rooms as a writer.
My writing has gotten better. It takes me about two hours of reporting time and one hour of writing to get out a good story. My editor no longer has meetings with me about what she wants, though she edited a bunch of my articles recently. I know what she wants and I know how to do it well and quickly.
It isnt exactly what I want and I'll admit it has shaken my ambitions a bit, but it is getting better.
The new intern came in today, Madeline. She seems nice enough, but I find it bothersome when someone spends so much money on a college education-- she did five years at Columbia-- but somehow misses the newsroom experience. Why dont people realize that that is the most important part-- clips? By the time I graduate from UMaine I will have worked in five different news rooms as a writer.
My writing has gotten better. It takes me about two hours of reporting time and one hour of writing to get out a good story. My editor no longer has meetings with me about what she wants, though she edited a bunch of my articles recently. I know what she wants and I know how to do it well and quickly.
It isnt exactly what I want and I'll admit it has shaken my ambitions a bit, but it is getting better.
Saturday, May 24, 2008
warming up
OK, I'll admit it. I'm starting to like my job. It may be because this, my first published issue, will be a Heather-only front page of my section. Maybe. A new intern will be coming in on Tuesday and I found a friend in this nothing town.
I did the math. Right now, if I do not eat or buy gas this summer I will make $280 from this internship. My job is about to start reimbursing me for gas, so that may help.
My pigeon story came out well: front page. And my newsy projector story came out well: front page. Though my editors give me mixed advise. The lifestyle editor tells me to make things fun and flowery, but the managing editor said he doesnt like the floral crap. Now that I know that I cant make both parties happy, I think I'm just going to do it my way.
I did the math. Right now, if I do not eat or buy gas this summer I will make $280 from this internship. My job is about to start reimbursing me for gas, so that may help.
My pigeon story came out well: front page. And my newsy projector story came out well: front page. Though my editors give me mixed advise. The lifestyle editor tells me to make things fun and flowery, but the managing editor said he doesnt like the floral crap. Now that I know that I cant make both parties happy, I think I'm just going to do it my way.
Wednesday, May 21, 2008
pigeon man
My editor said "I think theres a man in this town who has pigeons." With only this information I found the exact person she was talking about. I spent two hours with him and his birds today. It was amazing. One of those interviews you dont have to force. Sometimes I can just feel a story, this could be good.
I got more praise for my photography. I get the loudest ooohs and ahhhhs. Too bad my writing commands nothing but edits. The managing editor liked my photos so much he asked if I would work on Memorial Day to go to all the parades and record them. I think this is overtime pay and it will win me major brownie points with the head honcho, so I said yes.
Real interns dont get days off.
I got more praise for my photography. I get the loudest ooohs and ahhhhs. Too bad my writing commands nothing but edits. The managing editor liked my photos so much he asked if I would work on Memorial Day to go to all the parades and record them. I think this is overtime pay and it will win me major brownie points with the head honcho, so I said yes.
Real interns dont get days off.
Tuesday, May 20, 2008
Sprouting
I knew this internship would plant little seeds along its way to try to make my writing more flowery and my words more fragrant and colorful. See? proof. Anyway, after trying three different ledes on a story about children's theater I leaned over my editor's desk. As she voiced her carefully phrased disdain for my still-not-pretty lede my leg clenched with frustration. Her point is that you must grab the readers by the balls in the first few words. Make them want more. I dont do foreplay well, I want to get right to it. I'm a news writer.
I tried to explain to my editor that I like being boring and I like telling people exactly what they need to know and turning a sheet of numbers into a story, but she laughed at me. Now I have to go talk to a man who raises homing/messenger pigeons.
I thought print journalism was black and white for a reason. According to my editor, I'm wrong. Just because the press turns my letters black doesnt mean my words have an excuse to be lackluster.
I tried to explain to my editor that I like being boring and I like telling people exactly what they need to know and turning a sheet of numbers into a story, but she laughed at me. Now I have to go talk to a man who raises homing/messenger pigeons.
I thought print journalism was black and white for a reason. According to my editor, I'm wrong. Just because the press turns my letters black doesnt mean my words have an excuse to be lackluster.
Wednesday, May 14, 2008
Day 3
It is my third day at the job. I've written two stories so far and am working on three or four more, plus pictures. It is a lot of work, a lot of driving and a lot of reporting.
So far, this isnt what i thought. I expected to be in a bustling newsroom where I might have to throw some elbows. Instead I'm in a silent space with computers from 1980. Although everyone was welcoming and is willing to answer questions I have, they seem defensive of the way they do things. The managing editor told me I would be a set of fresh eyes. I know that meant for articles, but its hard to do anything new with a paper which is so unwilling to change.
The two pieces I wrote were pretty good, in my opinion. My editor has yet to lend me one compliment. She wants me to be "whimsical" and write about every spec of dirt on the floor of my interviewees. I understand attention to details, but there is a point of excess and my threshold is being pushed.
I hope things get better soon.
So far, this isnt what i thought. I expected to be in a bustling newsroom where I might have to throw some elbows. Instead I'm in a silent space with computers from 1980. Although everyone was welcoming and is willing to answer questions I have, they seem defensive of the way they do things. The managing editor told me I would be a set of fresh eyes. I know that meant for articles, but its hard to do anything new with a paper which is so unwilling to change.
The two pieces I wrote were pretty good, in my opinion. My editor has yet to lend me one compliment. She wants me to be "whimsical" and write about every spec of dirt on the floor of my interviewees. I understand attention to details, but there is a point of excess and my threshold is being pushed.
I hope things get better soon.
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