Internship Day 5

On Tuesday morning I went to WHNT's Sand Mountain Bureau in Albertville to work with Robert Richardson who reports for the Sand Mountain area.  We had a pretty interesting story to cover.  It was about an Albertville couple who had crashed into the side of a building in Albertville.  We discovered that they had been arguing at the time of the incident.  The place of business they crashed into provided us with the video surveillance of the crash, which was pretty cool to see how it happened.  We worked on putting that package together, and ready for the five, and six o'clock news. 

Internship Day 4

Before I headed to work on Monday I dropped Blake off at the Huntsville airport.  He, and another guy he works with were leaving from Huntsville, then onto Atlanta Int. airport, then landing in Bogota, Colombia. (Below is a picture of Bogota.  Blake informed me that it is Colombia's equivilant city to our New York City)

  I always worry about him, and his safety when he flies, but thankfully I received an email around 10:00 p.m. Monday night from him saying he had arrived safely.  He isn't able to call, but can communicate via-email.  After I dropped him off I decided to try and navigate my way to Channel 19's studio without the GPS, and I am proud to say I made it! I know that may not sound like a very big feat to some, but to me it is, because I am still trying to find my way around Huntsville.  I came into work and then headed to grab some lunch.  I was in the mood for some Chinese so I found this Chinese bistro called, MEI-WEI, and let me tell you it was the worst $10 I have ever spent!  I ordered Terriyaki Beef, and fried rice, and when I returned back to the studio I realized they had given me sesame chicken, and it was dark meat which I DO NOT eat! Yuck! I threw it away, and decided to eat my fried rice, and unfortunately it had absolutely NO flavor. 

After lunch I was asked if I could run the teleprompter for the five, and six o'clock news.  Now I have run the teleprompter for before in one of my classes at Jacksonville, but never for the "real deal", so I did what any desperate intern would do, and said, "ABSOLUTELY!"  I was very nervous, because you are the one who is controlling what the anchors say, so if your too slow, or too fast they mess up!  I ran a trial run with one of the anchors, and decided I was ready.  Everything went very well for both shows thankfully! Although, I do have a funny moment to share: When they cut to the weather the anchors change the teleprompter screens to where they can see the graphics, and weatherman.  I however, did not know this, and I had been instructed beforehand not to mash a certain button, because it would cut the screen off!  I was panicking thinking I had mashed the button, so I frantically motioned for the camera guy who reassured me that the anchors had mashed the button to clear the screen, and the teleprompter would re-appear as soon as weather was finished! Whew! 

Internship Day 3

On Friday I began my third day at my internship.  I am such a dork,  I had trouble going to sleep the night before because I was so excited about what I was going to do the next day!  On Friday I got to go out with Dion, and cover two stories.  The first story we covered was at Alabama A&M.  The students protested outside of the Presidents office because they were upset about not receiving their scholarship money, and Pell Grants.  It was quite a scene...there was around  200 students gathered holding signs, and chanting: "We want the President!", and "We want our money now!" The President however never emerged from his office to talk with students.  After that we headed to the Space and Rocket Center to cover a story about a woman who entered a contest on Facebook through BBVA Bank.  It was a contest called "What are you saving your money for?" She said that she was saving her money to help buy a plane ticket to help bring her husband home from basic training in Texas.  He had been there for a little over a year, and they had four daughters that really wanted to see their dad.  They surprised their four little girls by him coming up behind them onstage when they were presented with the check.  It was a sweet moment to witness.  When we returned back later that day, Claire who handles all of WHNT's web stuff asked me to write the story about the  A&M protesting since I had went with Dion to cover it.  I wrote it, and proudly have a story on WHNT's website written by me :)  It is small steps, but you have to start somewhere! 

Internship Day 2

DAY 2 of my internship was even more exciting than the first!  On Tuesday they told me that I would get to go out with reporters, and camera guys on Wednesday!  So, when I came in the producers, assignment managers, and reporters met to discuss what stories to cover on that day.  After that I was told I would be going with Dion (camera guy) out to Legacy Elementary School in Madison. Little did I know I would be going, and upon returning writing that story for the 5 o'clock news!  Dion informed of this on the way over, I was nervous,but hey you have to start somewhere!  We filmed Colonel Robert Pastorelli, and the three Superintendents of Huntsville City, Madison City, and Madison County Schools all there speaking to children.  After we returned back to the station I got to meet the Huntsville City Mayor, and Dion then filmed an interview with him in front of the station.  It was time for lunch after that, and then I headed with the Assignment Manager Tim Hall to the Huntsville City Police Department, where they were holding a press conference about their new Communications Relations Officer for the Department.  After that it was back to the station, and it was then time for me to begin writing my story!  I had writers block for a few moments then my brain started working.  I of course had to text my whole family, and say watch the 5 o'clock news, I wrote that story about ....... lol My next day is Friday, and I am ready to jump back in.  Every night before I close my eyes I stop,and take the time to thank the Lord for blessing me with this experience.   Here are a few pictures I have taken so far. I didn't want to look like a tourist taking photos non stop! 

The newsroom

Huntsville City Mayor

The outdoor Weather Garden

Assignment Board

Internship Day 1

 Well as usual, it has been quite a while since I have blogged!  The only time I am able to blog is when I have a day off or am sick.  I wanted to blog about what is currently going on in my life right now!  I as some of you know am majoring in Broadcast Journalism, which ultimately means that when graduate my dream is to become a news reporter, and then work my way to a news anchor!  When I was around  the ages of 9 or 10 years old, I would set up the ironing board, and write some mock news stories then away I would go! lol  By the time I graduate next August I will have officially been in school for six years for a four year degree!  I am so thankful for that though, reason being I knew, and God knew that I would not be happy with the two previous majors-Elementary Education, and Interior Design.  Thankfully he led me to my current major with the help of my cousin Wendy!  Now to what's currently happening in my life!-------------------->  On Tuesday I began my Fall Internship with Huntsville news station WHNT-19 News!  I was so nervous about beginning with new people who I didn't know, and they didn't know me, but I could not be working with, and around the most wonderful people!  I had went to another Huntsville news station about possibly interning, but I just didn't get the same feel from them when I walked in, as I did at 19.  When I arrived on Tuesday one the reporters Venton Blandin met me, and gave me a tour of the office!  I got to see the news studio which is much larger than I expected.  I then got to meet Dan Satterfield, the Meteorologist I have been watching since I was younger! Next he took me to the newsroom where all the producers, cameramen, and anchors all work, and write/edit stories.  I met Jerry Hayes, and Elise Morgan who I watch on the 10 o'clock news every night!  I am not going to lie I was so excited, okay as giddy as a school girl! lol  I am going to try and document this amazing experience daily or weekly! Thanks