You're Watching Your Local News Leader.

I can't ever spell the words chief meteorologist correctly. That's unfortunate because I'm now helping to write the 10:00 news. For my last two weeks of my internship, I've was given the opportunity to sit with Eric Gardner and produce in the evenings. It kind of messed up my schedule, because I don't go into the station until 1:30. I am still doing some stories. Most of them are online and/or kickers for the 10, but it's still nice to get out and do a story or two of my own. So...about producing. This is what my day looks like now: 1:30 get to KOTA See if I have assignments, check emails, update fire stuff...etc. Then, once that is done, I start making the 10:00 rundown. A lot of the stories are from the 5:30, so I just have to tweak the ins and outs and make sure none of the information changes. It normally does. So I change it. The hardest part for this is trying to place like stories together. Normally Eric changes it for me. After that, I look for SD News and National news. We try to have three of each, time permitting. Most of the time these stories come from the wires. We try to do West river stories, so sometimes we have them already done and I don't need to write anymore, I just need to take what we have and tweak it. The stories that I write from the wire, I have to see if we have file footage of people or places or events and then put together a clip for that. The National news is in a different program. Friday, for example, we used a two minute package instead of doing three individual stories. The hardest part is trying to know what's interesting to this region, opposed to what is interesting for me. Next, I start looking at the teases. What do I need to tease. The hardest part is finding words to use, without them repeating or being cliche. It's a struggle, ask Eric. Normally, I write them, he laughs and I take his ideas...BUT I'm learning! The whole time, I have to make sure that the times are correct and if we're heavy or light. There are lots of little details to being a producer. However, it's given me a better insight into what it's like to work with a team of people. The reporters write/shoot the stories (which is a team effort in and of itself) and then the producer puts it all together and then the directors print the scripts, check the video clips, make the graphics and put it on air. I've really enjoyed learning and I feel like I have a better understanding of how this industry works...which is the point, right? Two more days of my internship left. Pretty unbelievable. Can't wait to keep learning and get back to school so I can apply what I learned this summer.

Two Week Notice

Wednesday was my two week notice. With that, I got to start shadowing the producer. I've already learned a lot from the one day. He explained that you had to look at details when you do this (I do like detail) and that each producer is different. So, my goal in the next couple weeks is to find my way of how I like to produce. Eric sounds promising that I'll get to do a lot of hands on and get to write a lot of the teasers and make a lot of the graphics. That's exciting. On the other side, I'm still reporting. Wednesday, I went out with the Sheridan, WY reporter to talk to more firemen and do a story on the fire ban. I basically just went with him to shoot, because when I got back I had to go to the meeting and start helping Eric. Anyway, I really learned a lot from Chris. He used headphones...that was a first. And, he took time to think about what shots he wanted. He was quick and efficient and used what resources he had. I've also learned to improve my interviewing skills. Lately, I've been going on stories of my own, so I've had to ask my own questions. I always forget how hard it is until you're standing there with, what you thought was a good story, and your producer hates it. There's still a lot to learn and I'm really looking forward to getting to produce the next few days. As always, if you check daily, you'll probably see more of my stories. Visit kotatv.com. Here are some of my stories that I've put together the last few weeks: http://www.kotatv.com/story/18984509/rapid-city-faces-nation-wide-dns-virus http://www.kotatv.com/story/18982827/rapid-city-clock-shop-gives-to-care-and-share-food-drive http://www.kotatv.com/story/18982885/a-new-arbys-comes-to-the-south-side-of-rapid-city http://www.kotatv.com/story/18980625/fire-crews-get-upper-hand-on-wild-fires-in-kota-territory