Be A Field Reporter, But Have A Producer's Mind
I went into this producing class with an understanding that we would - surpise - learn how to produce a newscast.
Although it has always been my plan (for the most part) to go into field reporting after graduating from the University of Southern California (USC), I also understood just how important it was for me to be a versatile journalist.
I firmly believe that in order to be a quality reporter, one must have an in-depth understanding of what it means to be in front of the camera, as well as what it means to be behind one.
In my junior and senior year of high school, I had an internship in the production department of a public relations firm in New York called, MultiVu PR Newswire.
During my time at MultiVu, I learned how to write direct TV (DTV) scripts and audio news release (ANR) scripts; edit b-roll and interviews for packages and press kits; and, transcribe and log interviews and footage the cameramen and producers would bring back to the office.
In short, a lot of what I did at MultiVu is pretty much everything I am doing here with J403 and then some.
What I really appreciate about J403 is just how in-depth we go into producing. I know now without a single doubt in my mind that what I have learned in this class will make me a better journalist and a better reporter.
I am more aware of what my future producers will expect of me once I go off into the "real world."
For example, I know what a 2-shot or 3-shot looks like; I understand that each story in a single rundown has importance relative to the other stories we include; and, most importantly, I know how to work under pressure and meet tight deadlines.
I still know that I want to tell people's stories and I want to be able to go out into the community and find stories I think need to be told.
Not to mention, this course has reminded me that I cannot stay still or inside for a very long time. So, while producing has been a pleasure, every day I longed to go out to Gardina or Santa Monica the way our repoerters did to cover a story.
To me, there is nothing like reporting.
However, I can confidently say that I have a better idea of what producers are looking for from my stories, who they will want me to talk to and any special graphics or elements I can add.
This course has shown me that at the end of the day, reporters are producers in their own right.
They are shooting content, writing context and in theory creating the story from its inception during our morning meetings.
Reporters are responsibile for making sure their stories come together and, this course has taught me all of the many ways that I can make that happen when I am a reporter one day.
