I'm On My Own

Imagine reading that title to the tune from the song "On My Own" from Teen Beach Movie. Anyways, I cannot believe that this week marked halfway of my internship. It feels like I started yesterday, but when I look back, I have experienced so much.

Monday was an interesting day, as I worked from home on Thursday and do not work during the weekend, which left me with several papers on my desk and phone calls and emails to respond to. I could only image how much work there is to come back to for full-time reporters when they are not in the office for a few days. I had my first experience with a pushy caller. I started on a story last week about a local theater company being created and dedicated to doing historical theater, which we picked up from the owner calling in. I got handed this assignment and conduced an interview last Wednesday, ending the conversation with the interviewee going to send me a list and of upcoming shows and details, giving her my email. However, she kept calling me, the office and the paper's affiliated networks all weekend. I called her back as soon as I got into the office, and she wanted to have a phone interview, which we already had. I practiced patience, as the conversation was the same, but almost lost it when she asked for free copies of the paper when it is put in, which she also insisted be as soon as possible. All this being said, I was then able to get onto my other duties of the day, calling to get information on a story about a child burn victim attending a local burn camp and went with one of the reporters to collect recent police and court information. We also held a staff meeting to go over responsibilities for the week, as the editor is on vacation.

On Tuesday, it was employee appreciation day. We had some pizza and sweets in the office for staff to grab when they could, but the majority of the staff was there when the food was first put out. It was great for me to introduce myself to some of the staff that I have not met yet, mainly the magazine staff. In terms of work, I touched base with the contact for the burn camp story, still waiting for information on a local boy attending. I also tagged along with a reporter and the digital team for a story about a new owner for a local food and candy company, getting to see the behind the scenes of a feature interview.

On Wednesday, I finally was able to get in contact with the mother of a local child who attended a camp for those with current or past burn injuries. We had a phone interview, and I wrote and edited an article about her child's story. Check it out here! I also prepared for a press conference on the anniversary of the country at the county courthouse that covered the following day, doing some background research on the event and doing some prewriting, as the article needed to be finished as soon as possible.

I had my first longer drive out to an assignment on Thursday. I drove to our county courthouse, which is about a half hour from the newspaper's office, for a press conference on the state's celebration of the county's 250th anniversary. I took photos at the event as well, which was a first for me. I then wrote and edited a story. Check it out here!

Local officials gather at announcement of 250 PA celebration director. Photo by me.