Summertime is about fun and games. Well, that’s what warm weather and a break from school meant in elementary and high schools. As college graduation moves closer, I realize that summer is just an extension of the school year. Last summer included setting an alarm for 6:30 a.m., so I could report to WCCO-TV by 9 a.m. for an internship.
The experience put me in the station’s special projects unit, which produces in depth pieces, including consumer reports and investigations. Much of my time was spent answering viewer calls on news-tip lines, logging video, and conducting story research.
Every morning, I joined the staff for the morning meeting. Being at that meeting put me in contact with the news director, assignment desk managers, producers, and reporters. This meeting is where story ideas are pitched, news perspectives discussed, and content decisions made. After attending a couple of meetings, I decided to speak up. I pitched numerous ideas, including one that resulted in a story about a local artist who designed a spiritual medal for U.S. troops overseas. At those meetings, I learned that good stories don’t always get covered because reporters sometimes don’t do a good job of selling ideas.
When I wasn’t transcribing interviews or taking viewers’ calls, I was in the field. I went out often with consumer reporter/weekend anchor Terri Gruca, who taught me the importance of enterprising stories. It’s easy to put pictures and audio to a newspaper report, but it’s more rewarding to break news. Enterprising requires having a network of good sources and an inquisitive mind. Terri also helped me with my on-camera performance. When in the field with reporters, I would practice “stand-ups” and “tags.” I learned to be more animated on camera in order to keep viewers’ attention. I learned that incorporating action, environment, and props into stand-ups serve better than the basic point-and-shoot.
Other times I went out with field producer Sonya Goins. Sonya loves to use natural sound in her work. Doing so allows viewers to feel like they’re in the story’s surroundings. Sonya taught me how to write words that complement natural sound, strategically pairing words and phrases with subjects’ sound bites.
Covering breaking news
My most exciting time was working with Jason DeRusha, ’CCO’s night-side reporter and Internet blogger. Jason and I were sent to cover a breaking news – an accident where a light rail train in south Minneapolis hit and killed a bicyclist. It was enlightening to see how fast Jason and the crew worked to go LIVE, just minutes after getting to the scene. I even jumped in at the onsite news conference to ask Metro Transit officials about the accident.
Being at WCCO-TV put me in contact with some of the best journalists in the business. The experience allowed me to use and build upon what I’ve learned in college.
At WCCO, stories are turned in hours. At college stories are turned in days. Both places stress reporting fresh, relevant facts and perspective. But last summer, I learned the importance of truly understanding stories and being able to ad lib. Logging video made me realize that asking concise questions is essential, given broadcast’s time constraints. Taking viewers’ calls made it evident that reporters need to spend time fact-checking and investigating information they’re given. I am a better reporter because of my time at ‘CCO.
People at the station gave me an open invitation to listen, learn and continue to do good work that ultimately affects lives. It takes a team of dedicated individuals to provide four hours of news each day to Twin Citians. Viewers see anchors and reporters, but rarely see technicians, producers, photojournalists, directors and managers who make it all happen.
I’ve walked away with insights, memories, stand-ups and the chance to rewrite and produce video reports. I’ve built relationships that will help shape my future as a broadcast journalist.
Waking up early instead of sleeping in last summer wasn’t all that bad.
Damon Maloney is junior majoring in broadcast journalism at Columbia College Chicago. He was part of ThreeSixty’s summer program in 2001.
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