There will be a moment in your first internship where it hits you. You start out knowing a decent amount of what you are doing, but not quite all of it. You ask questions and nod to show your understanding (even if you really don't understand it that well). After awhile, you ask less and less questions. You begin to start trying to figure out how software or equipment works. You soon are actually able to figure out how everything works.
And then eventually you stop having to try to figure things out. You know how the things work. You can handles doing tasks that once seemed impossible. You even begin to speak the lingo.
That moment, though I think was achieved weeks ago, has finally hit me. I don't ask a question about how to upload a new graphic or splice and cut away footage to use later. Those things have been pounded into my brain. I can even have a normal conversation with a photographer or videographer from another publication about technical aspects of the job.
The moment hit me when I was converting files to be uploaded to one of our sister video players. We couldn't find one of the files so I told my superiors I'd check archives and then do a reverse ingest of the file and convert it to the correct format. I then would drop the new file into a program called "Cyber Duck" and go to "Maven" to upload the new files. Yeah, two months ago my head would be spinning trying to remember each and every step. Now, it takes five minutes to do all of that.
My video editing skills have improved immensely. We use Avid video software at the Enquirer, and it can be a harrowing program to use at first. It would take me an hour to correctly lay an audio track when I first started. Now it takes a matter of minutes. They've told me I have natural ability to tell a story, but my technical side had to catch up. I think it finally has and I've been able to produce some great material.
Let me just tell you, when that moment finally hits you when you realize you actually know what the hell you're actually doing -- there's no better feeling in the world!
Thursday, February 26, 2009
Monday, February 23, 2009
Tip of the Week: Be Positive
We all dream of going into an internship to get opportunities to be treated as a staff member immediately. This may not always happen right away, if at all. The important thing is to not get discouraged because this could bring your morale down. The people that work around you may see this and remember that in the future when they need someone to step up and produce.
We are trained to be professional journalists and we should carry ourselves as such, whether we are fetching coffee or covering a big story. Even if your internship is not all that you are hoping it to be, make sure to stay positive. Your colleagues will remember that about you when they are writing recommendations for you in the future.
I have been lucky to have worked with a publication that has given me the opportunity to step up on more than one occasion to get my own stories. But there are days when I'm doing things that most journalists would not be enthusiastic to complete. I still treat it as I do everything. I give my all and complete the project as I am told and ask for more work. I am never negative about the work I am given because they know they can count on me to finish a variety of tasks.
I know it's an old motto but it's true: don't bite the hand that is feeding you.
We are trained to be professional journalists and we should carry ourselves as such, whether we are fetching coffee or covering a big story. Even if your internship is not all that you are hoping it to be, make sure to stay positive. Your colleagues will remember that about you when they are writing recommendations for you in the future.
I have been lucky to have worked with a publication that has given me the opportunity to step up on more than one occasion to get my own stories. But there are days when I'm doing things that most journalists would not be enthusiastic to complete. I still treat it as I do everything. I give my all and complete the project as I am told and ask for more work. I am never negative about the work I am given because they know they can count on me to finish a variety of tasks.
I know it's an old motto but it's true: don't bite the hand that is feeding you.
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
The best type of days
So, I know I was going to blog yesterday about my day but it was one of those days where I couldn't really find the free time to write. And those type of days are, in fact, the best kind of days. I love having one thing to do after another. It keeps my mind in the game and it keeps my creative juices flowing.
We began shooting the "Women of the Year" videos yesterday which has been pretty interesting. You really meet some great women that have done a lot of good things to help out the community. It took a lot of preparation to set up these, overall, very simple little pieces. You have to set up the proper background, sound and lighting. I'll tell you what, lighting is truly the most important piece to a video. You would not believe how much time we spend fussing over the lighting when we are in the studio. They also make a big deal about the way in which the cables are put on the floor. They want them wrapped in a certain fashion. They told me, "If you can wrap a cable correctly, you'll always have a job somewhere." I find it hard to believe that if that is my only talent, though, that the job I have will be very prosperous.
After setting up the studio, I was put on an assignment to get video of the Cincinnati Bengals stadium, Paul Brown Stadium. So I got my gear and headed out to different parts of the city to get as many different views and angles of the structure that I could get. I went to an area called Devou Park, which is an absolutely breathtaking part of the city. It's elevated thousands of feet over the city and you get the best view of Cincinnati that you will find anywhere (I guarantee it). When you go out on a video shoot on your own, make sure to get more than one shot from every angle just to give yourself or the editor a little freedom to pick from a selection. After my distance shots, I pulled up next to the stadium and got shots all around the place. As somewhat of a novice to video I find it hard sometimes to picture what I want to get from my shots but I think I have gotten better at it.
I arrived back at the Enquirer Building after my shoot just in time to assist with two "WOTY" video shoots. It truly is fun to be able to listen to these women talk about what they do and why they do it. The videos have looked great so far as well.
The next assignment involved having to ingest and begin editing raw video of the Cincinnati Reds' first day of spring training. One of our photographers is down in Florida covering the event and has been sending us tape after tape for us to put videos together. It's really cool to see how close of access the team gives our photographer. He is one of the more known in the field in Cincinnati so they really give him free reign to do his work.
Finally, I was sent four videos to convert from .wmv files to .flv files to be put on the Cincinnati.com Web site. So I did that and put together thumbnails and descriptions of each video.
By that time, it was already 6 p.m. and ready to head out. Like I said, it is amazing to be able to work all day and have nine hours fly by in the blink of an eye. Those are the type of days I hope to have when I finally find my "real job" after college.
We began shooting the "Women of the Year" videos yesterday which has been pretty interesting. You really meet some great women that have done a lot of good things to help out the community. It took a lot of preparation to set up these, overall, very simple little pieces. You have to set up the proper background, sound and lighting. I'll tell you what, lighting is truly the most important piece to a video. You would not believe how much time we spend fussing over the lighting when we are in the studio. They also make a big deal about the way in which the cables are put on the floor. They want them wrapped in a certain fashion. They told me, "If you can wrap a cable correctly, you'll always have a job somewhere." I find it hard to believe that if that is my only talent, though, that the job I have will be very prosperous.
After setting up the studio, I was put on an assignment to get video of the Cincinnati Bengals stadium, Paul Brown Stadium. So I got my gear and headed out to different parts of the city to get as many different views and angles of the structure that I could get. I went to an area called Devou Park, which is an absolutely breathtaking part of the city. It's elevated thousands of feet over the city and you get the best view of Cincinnati that you will find anywhere (I guarantee it). When you go out on a video shoot on your own, make sure to get more than one shot from every angle just to give yourself or the editor a little freedom to pick from a selection. After my distance shots, I pulled up next to the stadium and got shots all around the place. As somewhat of a novice to video I find it hard sometimes to picture what I want to get from my shots but I think I have gotten better at it.
I arrived back at the Enquirer Building after my shoot just in time to assist with two "WOTY" video shoots. It truly is fun to be able to listen to these women talk about what they do and why they do it. The videos have looked great so far as well.
The next assignment involved having to ingest and begin editing raw video of the Cincinnati Reds' first day of spring training. One of our photographers is down in Florida covering the event and has been sending us tape after tape for us to put videos together. It's really cool to see how close of access the team gives our photographer. He is one of the more known in the field in Cincinnati so they really give him free reign to do his work.
Finally, I was sent four videos to convert from .wmv files to .flv files to be put on the Cincinnati.com Web site. So I did that and put together thumbnails and descriptions of each video.
By that time, it was already 6 p.m. and ready to head out. Like I said, it is amazing to be able to work all day and have nine hours fly by in the blink of an eye. Those are the type of days I hope to have when I finally find my "real job" after college.
Monday, February 16, 2009
Keeping Statistics
So today was one of those days when there wasn't a great deal of news stories going on in Cincinnati. When these kind of days come around, there are plenty of things to do to catch up on other work. One thing that always seems to never end: keeping statistics for the Web site.
Yes, that is one great thing about the Internet. We can analyze the stories people are most interested in reading about and make an attempt to increase stories of that type. Of course, since we are a news publication we can't just make the news but we can come out with feature stories or focus on other news stories that increase interest. It isn't quite an exact science yet, but some day it will be.
Well, like I said, today was one of those statistic days. I had to put together a portfolio compiling every video watched since 2006. I then had to put together total views for each year as well as views per video. Yeah, exciting stuff. But they have to get done and that's what the intern is there for. We complete the stuff that no one else has any interest doing.
So, nothing too exciting today but that happens. I did help set up the studio for the "Women of the Year" shoot that takes place tomorrow. So I should have a pretty interesting post to provide tomorrow. I must be getting to bed because the life of an intern at a news publication begins pretty early in the morning.
Yes, that is one great thing about the Internet. We can analyze the stories people are most interested in reading about and make an attempt to increase stories of that type. Of course, since we are a news publication we can't just make the news but we can come out with feature stories or focus on other news stories that increase interest. It isn't quite an exact science yet, but some day it will be.
Well, like I said, today was one of those statistic days. I had to put together a portfolio compiling every video watched since 2006. I then had to put together total views for each year as well as views per video. Yeah, exciting stuff. But they have to get done and that's what the intern is there for. We complete the stuff that no one else has any interest doing.
So, nothing too exciting today but that happens. I did help set up the studio for the "Women of the Year" shoot that takes place tomorrow. So I should have a pretty interesting post to provide tomorrow. I must be getting to bed because the life of an intern at a news publication begins pretty early in the morning.
Sunday, February 15, 2009
Tip of the Week: Be humble.
As we all know, we are very lucky to get such a great journalistic education at the E.W. Scripps School of Journalism at Ohio University. We will come out of school with a great education that could put us at an advantage among other schools. It could. But it does not mean we have the experience to flaunt anything we have done during our college years. This is my first installment of "Tip of the Week," and I feel this may be the most important as you are working an internship.
Going into your first internship can be intimidating. You may also feel as if you are overqualified for an internship depending on the size and popularity of the publication you are working with. Let me tell you this to bring you down from cloud nine: you are not overqualified for any publication during your first internship. Do not go into your internship as if they should be throwing rose petals at your feet or bowing as you walk by.
In fact, expect them to not really treat you any different than anyone else. They may not even treat you that well. There could be a chance, depending on your internship, that you will be the lowest level of life in the building. So don't go around tooting your horn, so to speak.
Go in with an open mind and an open heart. Be ready to take on any project, even if that project involves just making copies and getting coffee. The internship is THE most important part of your college education. It is the best type of education you will get. Don't blow it by acting like you run the place.
Going into your first internship can be intimidating. You may also feel as if you are overqualified for an internship depending on the size and popularity of the publication you are working with. Let me tell you this to bring you down from cloud nine: you are not overqualified for any publication during your first internship. Do not go into your internship as if they should be throwing rose petals at your feet or bowing as you walk by.
In fact, expect them to not really treat you any different than anyone else. They may not even treat you that well. There could be a chance, depending on your internship, that you will be the lowest level of life in the building. So don't go around tooting your horn, so to speak.
Go in with an open mind and an open heart. Be ready to take on any project, even if that project involves just making copies and getting coffee. The internship is THE most important part of your college education. It is the best type of education you will get. Don't blow it by acting like you run the place.
Thursday, February 12, 2009
Remember... YOU'RE the intern
When you get to work for a place that treats you as if you are a staff member and not an intern, you begin to get used to acting like a staff member. But of course, every now and then, they will give you a couple assignments that bring you right back to earth. That is when it dons on you: you are the intern; the bottom rung; lower than low.
That happened yesterday for me. I worked my normal shift, getting into work around nine and working until five. I shot a video and helped with the editing and cataloging of videos for most of the rest of the day. Normal work, right?
Well, this is where the official internship role showed up. From six till nine last night, I had to record a board meeting for "Enquirer Media." Lets just say I went into journalism because business and board meetings were not my cup of tea. But, as the intern, these are the kind of things you have to do. I even went back to the Enquirer last night to edit the audio cast and email it to all the board members. I didn't get out of there until midnight.
But hey, these are the things you have to do to stand out. I've already received emails from five of the board members thanking me for the effort. They said they really admired my work. That's why I do those things. Getting the attention of the board is something that could really be beneficial in the future.
So, if you are still griping about all the grunt work you have to do as an intern, relax. It'll all be worth it once we are working our dream jobs.
That happened yesterday for me. I worked my normal shift, getting into work around nine and working until five. I shot a video and helped with the editing and cataloging of videos for most of the rest of the day. Normal work, right?
Well, this is where the official internship role showed up. From six till nine last night, I had to record a board meeting for "Enquirer Media." Lets just say I went into journalism because business and board meetings were not my cup of tea. But, as the intern, these are the kind of things you have to do. I even went back to the Enquirer last night to edit the audio cast and email it to all the board members. I didn't get out of there until midnight.
But hey, these are the things you have to do to stand out. I've already received emails from five of the board members thanking me for the effort. They said they really admired my work. That's why I do those things. Getting the attention of the board is something that could really be beneficial in the future.
So, if you are still griping about all the grunt work you have to do as an intern, relax. It'll all be worth it once we are working our dream jobs.
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
Man on the Street Interviews
As promised, I want to discuss a little thing called the "man on the street" interview. These can be some of the easiest, or hardest, interviews to do. This basically involves having to randomly go up to someone and ask them a question. These can prove to be very difficult if the videographer is shy or hesitant to go up to random people. It is important to be able to get over that fear because a majority of the interviews that take place in this field are usually "man on the street" interviews.
Yesterday I did a "man on the street" interview to gauge people's reactions to President Obama's first address to the country. I went up to about 30 people and was able to get 11 quality answers. This percentage really is not too bad. There have been times when it has taken more than that to get even a few good answers. It really all depends on the people and the question. Some days it just seems that people are not in the mood to answer questions. I was actually chewed out for the first time in a "man on the street" interview about a week ago. I hadn't done anything but approach the man, but he must have been having a bad day. Of course at the time, it really did shake me up, but I know that these kind of things will happen again so I got over it fairly quick.
The only advice I can really give with these types of interviews is to be friendly and engaging. By letting these people know that they can be part of a great video can give them incentive to lend their voice. It is also important to look at a person before you approach them. A lot of the time you can see by their demeanor whether they will even be worth the effort.
These are my thoughts on the "man on the street" interview. They can be a blessing and a curse but always stay optimistic about them.
Yesterday I did a "man on the street" interview to gauge people's reactions to President Obama's first address to the country. I went up to about 30 people and was able to get 11 quality answers. This percentage really is not too bad. There have been times when it has taken more than that to get even a few good answers. It really all depends on the people and the question. Some days it just seems that people are not in the mood to answer questions. I was actually chewed out for the first time in a "man on the street" interview about a week ago. I hadn't done anything but approach the man, but he must have been having a bad day. Of course at the time, it really did shake me up, but I know that these kind of things will happen again so I got over it fairly quick.
The only advice I can really give with these types of interviews is to be friendly and engaging. By letting these people know that they can be part of a great video can give them incentive to lend their voice. It is also important to look at a person before you approach them. A lot of the time you can see by their demeanor whether they will even be worth the effort.
These are my thoughts on the "man on the street" interview. They can be a blessing and a curse but always stay optimistic about them.
Some thoughts of the first half of my internship
This should have been something I should have started earlier. I am aware of that, but I will start from the beginning recapping anything and everything I have done during my internship with The Cincinnati Enquirer. I will attempt to update this every single day in an attempt to make up for lost time. I will catalog everything I have learned and everything that I still need to get better at.
Let me first explain the opening days of my internship. I was very nervous to begin working in a real-world work environment. I didn't think I was ever going to be able to calm down enough to be a productive part of the team. They made sure to get me ready. My very first day there, they gave me a camera and directions to a location where I would be doing my first shoot. Now, to be completely honest, I hadn't had much experience with camera work before this internship. I have learned that there are many more things to know about camera work than just to point and shoot. For example, I have learned that you should always hold your shot for 10 seconds. Always let the motion happen in front of you- don't try to make things happen by overworking the camera. For the most part it is good to have nice, tight shots of people. Always fill the entire screen. These are just a few of the things that I have learned.
Luckily a photographer went along with me on my first shoot or I think I may have come back with a lot less than what I needed. Michael Keating, a photographer for the Enquirer, gave me very blunt, constructive criticism. He told me angles I should be getting and and ways to go about shooting the event. Many people would shy away from constructive criticism, but I revel in it. I know that I am no expert by a long shot. I love being able to work with people that have tons of years of experience to tutor and instruct me.
Well, I need to run but I will be sure to recap more of my internship tonight. I'm about to go do a "man on the street" video at the moment so I will share some of my thoughts on those type of videos later.
Let me first explain the opening days of my internship. I was very nervous to begin working in a real-world work environment. I didn't think I was ever going to be able to calm down enough to be a productive part of the team. They made sure to get me ready. My very first day there, they gave me a camera and directions to a location where I would be doing my first shoot. Now, to be completely honest, I hadn't had much experience with camera work before this internship. I have learned that there are many more things to know about camera work than just to point and shoot. For example, I have learned that you should always hold your shot for 10 seconds. Always let the motion happen in front of you- don't try to make things happen by overworking the camera. For the most part it is good to have nice, tight shots of people. Always fill the entire screen. These are just a few of the things that I have learned.
Luckily a photographer went along with me on my first shoot or I think I may have come back with a lot less than what I needed. Michael Keating, a photographer for the Enquirer, gave me very blunt, constructive criticism. He told me angles I should be getting and and ways to go about shooting the event. Many people would shy away from constructive criticism, but I revel in it. I know that I am no expert by a long shot. I love being able to work with people that have tons of years of experience to tutor and instruct me.
Well, I need to run but I will be sure to recap more of my internship tonight. I'm about to go do a "man on the street" video at the moment so I will share some of my thoughts on those type of videos later.
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