This project took a lot of work. It was a group effort. The three Newsource reporters assigned to cover Madison County for the semester collaborated on this piece. We had to overcome scheduling issues, people refusing to talk to us, confusing websites/data and (it seemed like) everything else that could have possibly gone wrong. But! Eventually, we found an accessible solution to a growing problem. I love solutions journalism, and I would love to keep exploring it in broadcast and print journalism.
A big struggle for this PKG was Daylight Savings. I didn’t realize it would get dark so early, so I was racing against time while I was reporting. Another issue I ran into was my laptop. As mentioned in the Harris Rally post, my computer completely shut down, very unexpectedly. When I was making this PKG, I was on borrowed computers. I didn’t realize (until too late) that I was working in an outdated Premiere Pro. So, I didn’t have any of the tools and tricks I had learned throughout the semester. I loved talking with local voters and hearing their perspectives, though!
I got the opportunity to weather anchor for a second time on Grady Newsource. This time, I had the idea to give a leaf report to let everyone know when the perfect time to see the fall colors was. Turns out– The expert told me the perfect time was that week!
This was a piece I didn’t imagine I would be able to do at all. It literally only came to be because I told Professor Vassileva that I wanted to. She said something like “Well, then why haven’t you pitched it?!” I had no idea she would be open to something like this, but after that conversation, there was no way either of us would let the other end the semester without this segment. I made all of the graphics and drew all of the maps myself. I’m so grateful for Professor V and her encouragement on this!
This was by far the most logistically complex story I have ever done. I tried reaching out to a press contact as soon as I heard that the event was happening. It was a Saturday event, so I wasn’t sure that it would make it in the Monday night Newsource show, but I decided I had to go cover it regardless. When else was I going to have an opportunity like this? So, I borrowed lots of equipment from Grady, not sure exactly what the press set-up would be, and I hauled it all over to Atlanta. After waiting in line for hours and then running into a couple of bag and credential issues, I managed to squeeze myself into the press area– sandwiched between Fox5 and The Associated Press.
I tried my best to report as I would normally, avoiding being too intimidated to move. Everyone else on the broadcast bleachers were still. They got there early, set up and waited. I realized I was the only MMJ there (at least, from what I could tell). I was the only one responsible for gathering video, reporting on-camera, taking notes and getting digital content. The reporters around me were specialists– photogs, anchors, writers.
I was there from about noon to 9pm. Whether wandering around the complex to find good b-roll shots, asking attendees for interviews or recording the speakers, I was truly reporting non-stop that entire time. It was absolutely exilerating.
My only wish for this PKG is that I were able to adjust the audio more precisely. This was the most complicated footage I’d ever had audio-wise because I was dealing with multiple channels. I wasn’t able to focus on the audio editing when making the PKG on Monday for the show, but I planned to readjust later. Unfortunately, about a week after this, my computer completely crashed, and all the data and footage (from almost the entire semester) was wiped. I’m grateful I have the video from the actual newscast, but I wish I could have gone back and fixed those tech issues.
I was very nervous to produce a broadcast. I had already decided I didn’t think it was something I wanted to do after graduating, and I was intimidated. Something about this day, though, made the role a lot more fun than I expected it to be. I did my best to be as open as possible and to let the MMJs/anchors really be creative. Their PKGs really shined, and Melanie was a lovely anchor. They made my job easy!
I almost always love anchoring, so I was excited for the chance to anchor a whole show. The energy in the newsroom was off this day. It seemed like everyone was overwhelmed and stressed out (more so than normal). I would like to think that affected my performance, but there are definitely things I will do differently the next time I anchor.
We also had lots of technical difficulties with this show. Our tech team is run by student volunteers, many of whom are freshman journalism majors. We are so appreciative of their hard work, and it’s worth noting that they sometimes stumble, just like the student reporters/anchors/producers.
This may have been my favorite story I reported on this semester. It was just so fun.
It was announced Monday afternoon that Miles Teller (actor) would be visiting Athens Tuesday night. As a college town, we’ve had promotional visits like this before, and Athenians tend to go all out for them. I knew it would be a huge event worth covering. Because it was so last minute, I struggled to get an interview with the General Manager of Paloma Park. But as soon as I walked in the door at about 4pm (for the 7pm event), I saw Sewell, and he said he had five minutes right then. I dropped everything and interviewed him as quickly as I could, basically in the doorway of the restaurant, while his staff were bustling behind him. I didn’t have the proper mics, and I didn’t frame the shot as carefully as I normally would have, but I got the interview.
After that, I just hung out! I watched the entire place fill up and spoke to as many people as possible. It was such a fun environment, and everyone was happy to be there. Eventually, my camera and my phone died, so I actually went home before Miles Teller did. I just had to hope I had enough footage at that point, and it worked out nicely!
I loved this story! I’ve done lots of mental health/healthcare reporting, so it surrounded an issue I was confident on. The biggest struggle here was time management. The event was happening from 3-5pm, and I had prior commitments at the same time in Athens (the race was held at Madison County High School, about 30 minutes away from UGA). Plus, I was driving in from my hometown earlier that day and hit horrible traffic. I got to my house at about 1:45pm and drove over to the high school as quickly as I could just HOPING they were setting up or that some runners were there already. When I got there, I had about ten minutes to get as much b-roll as possible and talk to runners or volunteers before I had to head back to Athens.
I wish I would have been able to stay for the entire event. I would have loved to get shots of people crossing the finish line or of community members enjoying the festival.
The general chaotic nature of this event made this story difficult for me. Lots of vendors wanted me to promote their businesses or initiatives, there was a live band, music coming from every ride AND a pig show was going on (lots of yelling from the announcers) while I was there. Then, the interview I had lined up said he wasn’t willing to be on camera, which was fine, but meant I had to get more creative and more outgoing – QUICK. Looking back from the end of the semester now, I wish I would have known how to fix some of the tech issues I ran into (camera exposure/lighting, audio levels/clarity, etc).
