WEEK #1
This week, my internship responsibilities were very minimal, as my position as a Newsroom Intern with the Pittsburgh Media Partnership has not yet officially begun. To stay engaged, I focused on communicating, via email, with my Director, Kimberly Palmiero, and Assistant Director, Jeanna Sybert, to complete the hiring paperwork needed and to ensure that I am fully prepared to begin in February!
INTERNSHIP
WEEK #2
This week, was also very minimal, as I start on February 1st, with our first group meeting! This is where I will be assigned stories, my duties and tasks, and any other responsibilities they see fit that goes towards my role as a Newsroom Intern.
WEEK #3
I finally started at my internship!!! It is located downtown at the Pittsburgh Media Hub, on the 10th floor of the Benedum-Trees Building. On Monday, we had our weekly in-person meeting to discuss our plans for the week, what stories are being covered, plans for the future, etc. Wednesday was definitely my busiest day, and it was such a great learning experience. At 9 AM, I drove with one of the reporters for the PMP, Erin Yudt, to Whisker Wonderland in Bellevue. I shadowed an interview, captured b-roll, provided my own questions, and got to help with a professional interview in the field. Around 11:30 AM, we left, and headed back to the office. Erin and I then discussed future plans of whom to contact for more sources in the story, possible future story ideas, and then I worked and used Erin’s experience to help me write my own stories for U-View Television, with her critiquing and providing insight on how I can better my writing. At 2 PM, Erin had another interview she had to tend to, and I had to leave, so we parted ways, and that was Wednesday! Friday, I met with Erin on FaceTime to discuss future plans and tasks she would like me to complete in my position.
WEEK #4
This was a very busy week for my internship and I. As always, or what will soon be an always, I went to our weekly Monday meeting at 9 a.m., where we discuss the stories we are working on, plans for the week, and what needs to be completed, posted, and when. After the meeting, I went with one of the reporters with the PMP, Erin, and did a follow up on the Cat story by visitng the clinic and the another location involved with the impasse. After, we went and filmed some content/b-roll for a draft story/to prepare on upcoming content. On Wednesday, Erin and I went and filmed her stand-ups and an interview at the Draft Clock outside Acrisure Stadium. This was a simple mission and did not take too long. On Thursday, I started edited together the interview we captured on Wednesday and drafted the Silly Goose PKG b-roll. On Friday, was when I actually took the time to work on, edit, and export the Silly Goose Reel, which will be uploaded on Monday, to the official PMP social pages. Saturday, which was impromptu, Erin and I traveled to Carnegie for a fun, but sad story, about a local service finally getting live-find dogs. Attached above is one of the cute pups!
WEEK #5
This week for my internship, it is starting to feel like my schedule is more solidified and set. On Monday, I went to the typical weekly newsroom meeting, discussing our plans/goals for the week, as well as my tasks/duties. On Tuesday, I started editing the USAR live-find dog story for social media and also completed my own personal assignment for the company to use, about the history of the NFL Draft in Pittsburgh. Wednesday, was also very simple, continuing the editing and shooting of extra b-roll when needed. On Friday, I went with one of the PMP’s other reporters, Hannah, to capture video/content for the first Fish Fry Friday at a local church. We talked to people, interviewed some, and got a tour of the kitchen and location(s). On Sunday, was when I focused and finished editing the USAR reel, which will be uploaded Monday, Feb. 24th. I also continued to edit the couple interview we got at the Draft Clock near Acrisure Stadium. Overall, this week was very simple and my tasks as starting to become second-nature or apart of my regular schedule!
WEEK #6
This was a pretty simple week when it came to work and tasks. On Monday, we had our typical weekly meeting, discussing current projects. I also continued working on some draft content, including the interview we recorded a couple of weeks ago, but minimal work was put in as it is a smaller project. On Wednesday, Erin and I went to the official draft release/media party with other major networks like KDKA, WTAE, etc. to see the debut of “The Football Town,” a film about the history of football in Pittsburgh. Friday and Saturday were just editing days, except Friday was when Erin and I went to visit a location called Brave Bean, and I worked on a lot of projects and turned in two reels for the company to use on social media.
WEEK #7
This week, as it was nearing towards spring break, I did very minimal work and have nothing to upload right now as we are currently just working on projects. So, to explain my week, on Monday, it was the typical meeting. Then, throughout the week, I just worked on the two videos I was tasked with, one being about Lent and the local fish fry(s)! That was it! Very bland!
WEEK #8
This week, because of Spring Break, was slow and pretty minimal when it came to my work and duties. On Monday, we had our weekly meeting, where I was assigned a new project that is in the works, about draft coverage. Throughout the week, I also communicated with the Director and Assistant Director, about meeting with the other intern, Sydney, to work on continuity items for our pages, like L3s, fonts, colors, etc. This is a task that was very lightly introduced, but will be something we work on next week! This week, I also completed the Fish Fry story, and it has yet to be uploaded to the official social media pages.
WEEK #9
This week was fun! Although there wasn’t much content that we produced, a decent amount of stuff happened! On Monday, our weekly meeting occurred, and I was assigned a new story idea; Local businesses you coming to PGH to look out for during the Draft. So, throughout this week, I reached out and spoke to local business that are coming to PGH because of the Draft. The first company, which Erin and I had already spoke to, was Brave Bean Coffee, a veteran-based and owned local business on the North Side. We went and toured the location on Wednesday, and the day prior, I went and checked out PairPGH, a new all Black woman-owned charcuterie company and based charcuterie company. Erin and I also went to Point State Park, to work on a project of hers, about the safety and stability of the Point and the Draft. Thursday, was pretty boring and just editing the content, with a lot of that content/old-backlogged content being uploaded throughout the week. Friday, Saturday and Sunday pretty much were the same as Thursday. Next week, should be decently busy in the beginning, as I have to make up hours for the NYC Communication’s trip.
WEEK #10
Since I was traveling this week, specifically Wednesday through Friday, for the School of Communications NYC trip, I tried to space out my work as I had to focus on school and other priorities a little differently. On Monday, we had our typical weekly meeting. However, instead of following a journalist on a story, I had a meeting later in the day with the director, assistant director, and the editorial intern to be assigned a new project. Now, I am not allowed to speak publicly about this project as it is contracted/organized outside our organization. Once the first part of the project gets approved/publicly posted, then I can share it! So, after that meeting, I worked a little on what was asked of me. I then worked on it during the drive up to NYC on Wednesday, on the drive back on Friday, and then continued working throughout the weekend whenever I was available!
WEEK #11
This week was a simple week when it came to work as my main goal has been this new project! So, since we are still in the workshop faze, I don’t believe I can speak about it much, however, I can share that the only process we are on currently is the introduction video on our first community highlight. Throughout the week, I created multiple version, changing the fonts, colors, design, and much more to appeal to my Director and Assistant Director at the PMP. Since the Director, Kim, was unavailable all week, I believe, I only got input from the Assistant Director and can not move forward until I hear from her/get her approval! Hopefully, this week, the first video can be uploaded and we can produce more content/work on content way faster, moving forward!
WEEK #12
This week was a fun and productive week, I would say, and I believe I can finally show you a product for the project I’ve been working on! To start, chronologically, on Monday, we had our typical weekly meeting, however, after the meeting, Kim and Jeanna, the Directors, wanted to meet with me to discuss further goals with this project. They even offered me freelance gig until the end of August, post graduation, that I am looking further into, relating to this project. On Wednesday, I revamped the intro video we will be using, following the corrections/alterations the PMP wanted changed. On Thursday, I completed the first video of our series, which focuses on the Butler Eagle’s Choice Awards. The series is supposed to engage our audience in why local news is important. We also want to see where coverage needs to shift'/change to gain the audience’s attention back. This series will be multiple videos long, with each location changing around the Pittsburgh area, as we gauge opinions from all across southwest Pennsylvania. This video had a lot of content as there were over 10+ interviews that had to be siphoned through. On Friday, I touched based the with PMP and on Saturday, I continued my editing process, working on the other locations we have already filmed. Overall, this was a fun and busy week, and I can not believe we are so close towards the end of the semester and my internship being complete!
WEEK #13
This week is right before the Draft week, which means I was tasked with getting media accreditation for the NFL Draft in Pittsburgh. Once approved, I began communicating with our Director, Kim, to see what the outlets would like me to capture, content-wise. For WTAJ, they will be using my NFL Draft package during their live broadcast and The Latrobe Bulletin and PGH Post Gazette, have each shared their wants/needs for content, that I will be capturing! However, besides that for this week, I also went out with Hannah, one of our reporters, on Monday, to capture content of how sushi is made, where it comes from, and more, plus, I got to try authentic sashimi and nygumi for the first time! On Wednesday, I edited the photos/content and it has since been official published! On Friday, I recorded content for the personal project that I finally shared with you (which is now live on YouTube) on Point Park’s campus with the other intern, Sydney. We were out for a little bit, interviewing students, however due to strong winds and such, we had to cancel a little early. All in all, this week was pretty busy, however, the work was spaced out so it was not too bad! With the Draft, next week, I am very nervous and excited to see what I am able to get!
WEEK #14
IT IS DRAFT WEEK!! And boy, was it crazy. However, I can not lie, it was definitely not as crazy as I thought it would be. To start, on Monday, I had my typical weekly meeting. However, again, this one was a little different as we were preparing all the content our partners wanted us to capture. On Wednesday, draft content began. My first job was to capture photos and b-roll of the ribbon cutting at Market Square, with Corey O’Connor and Josh Shapiro. After editing and submitting the content, it was extremely cool to see my photos on the official Instagram of NEXTPittsburgh, with the post garnering over 1000+ interactions! On Thursday, the real stuff began. I captured the content of the red carpet, the Draft Experience at Point State Park, the Main Stage outside Acrisure Stadium, and the second stage outside Stage AE. All in all, this entire weekend I had over 600+ photos and videos to look over, deducing this number to 45 total edited works used/submitted for posting/sharing. Friday was the same. However, I only had one assignment from the Latrobe Bulletin, which I don’t believe they used, making Friday very easy/light! On Sunday, the Latrobe Bulletin asked me to cover another assignment, capturing the content of the Banana Split Princess Pageant at the Robindale Auditorium. Overall, this entire week was extremely busy for me, but was very fun and experience building, so I am extremely grateful for these experiences!
WEEK #15
This was an extremely busy week for me, but not in the way of internship work. This week was finals week for me as a senior, meaning I had to present three capstones, one for my broadcasting degree, one for my multimedia degree, and one for my honor's capstone, combining both capstones for one research study. This means that I unfortunately was not able to focus a ton on my internship. However, it did allow me to catch up on work for the small side project that my internship has me working on (The Listening Posts). Once again, since the two videos I worked on this week are not posted to social media yet, I am unable to share them at this time. I can explain them though, with the first video focusing on higher-titled professionals in the area and the second being a man-on-the-street style interview from the monthly trivia night held at the Heinz History Center. Each video not only further enhanced my editing skills and Adobe Suite knowledge, but it is slowly contributing towards my timeliness when turning over projects, which is one of the biggest skills you need when working in news.