Cost of gas is sucking me dry of money

Busy busy busy today at the paper - well not as busy as my co-workers, but much busier than I have been.

Had four interviews today - not including the 10 people I interviewed splashing around a water park. It was a delight to get out of the newsroom and go talk to people face-to-face. It's the spirit of reporting I have again within myself, and I am in love again.

I really want to go to that water park in my own bathing suit and have some fun though. It's fun being in the small town and seeing what people do - or don't do. Had a meeting about the special section today with the ad director, editor and Brett, a fellow reporter. So we'll get that on the ground soon.

Finished two stories, looking forward to seeing my name in print in a professional newspaper!

Next week's agenda: 4-H fairs (I'm covering the beef show for my story and the entire fair all week for the video). Also, finishing up my gas derricks story. I interviewed the mayor of Gas City and he's quite a nice man.

Like the small-town charm. It's been a tad of a culture shock, but hey, I could use a little change of pace :)

I have Friday, Saturday and Sunday off - to relax and job hunt. *joy*

Drive to Marion doesn't get any better and it's really sucking up my funds. Job search continues - if anyone has any ideas, shoot them at me.

Keeping you posted,
Joan

More assignments, interesting interactions with sources

Knocked out the kid camp story - although the last interaction with my source was...interesting...I just hope she talks to me again if I need her, since she was rude on the phone.

Got another assignment to do a story on a water park in town that's kind of a big deal. Doing a walkthrough with the director of the park tomorrow - so it's my first face-to-face source interview of my internship. It'll be really nice to get out of the office and not be glued to the computer all day.

I also did a video for the site today - although not complicated and fairly simple, it gave me a chance to work with the camera. Seen here

They don't put their videos on Youtube...which I think it would reach a much larger audience if they did so...

Met some more people around the newsroom today and everyone is SUPER nice and the reporters can always give me the numbers I need.

I'm enjoying it more everyday - although the drive doesn't get any better.

Keeping you posted,
Joan

More assignments, now we're rolling

Today was nice - came into the office and started working on my story for the local section. It's about this woman who had her son die of leukemia a while ago and in his memory, she's starting a day camp for children with chronic diseases. Sources haven't been too hard to contact, seeing how she's super involved in the community. Sweet cause, fairly easy story - I'm cranking it out.

Tomorrow is the first day I get to work with a professional broadcast-quality camera and I'll be shooting the daily news cast for the web - just to familiarize myself with the system.

Next week I'm covering the fair all week and will be both videoing and writing stories. After that, I start planning my "going green" special section. Should I contact my friend Sarah on these matters? Probably :)

Keeping you posted,
Joan

First official day

First day was kind of boring, just getting ID and getting acquainted. Went to dinner with one of the editors and her husband. Was nice to get to chat with them.

In my future: two stories out of Gas City for the local/our towns section and planning a special section called "going green." - which would be awesome for my portfolio!

Keeping you posted,
Joan

ps-really long drive there:/