Explorations Into Television Journalism
An Honors Thesis (HONRS 499)
by
Terrence S. Miller
Nancy Carlson
r~Dtl-6 C<vJ.o{ll
Ball State University
Muncie.
Indiana
June 23. 1992
Graduation: July 23. 1992
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This thesis was orlginally intended to be a diary of what
goes on within the world of big-time television Journallsm.
I
was hoping it would result
in a greater understanding and
realization of what the
industry itself would offer to me. both
in completion of my long term and short term goals.
The
discussion delves into what happens during the course of certain
days/weeks of my last semester of college and my tenure at KRDO13 television in Colorado Springs.
Colorado.
Not only did it
open my eY'9s to the i ntri cac i es of the industry, but a 1 so to the
complicated aspects of human nature itself.
I left
the overall
outcome of my internship open. for not even I knew what was in
store for me.
However. though it dIdn't prove to be the most
enjoyable of experiences. I can truly say that it was one of the
most educa'Cing experiences of my college career.
-
1/10/92;
Act I, Scene I:
Picture a
embark
175
young and impressionable college
a journey
upo~
Ibs. enters the
into the unknown.
Our
"adult arena" with
and lofty
E~xpectations.
interest
In
senior about to
hero, about 6'2".
aspirations of grandeur
He is a teleconununications major with an
news-gather1ng
and his
isn't some class. nor is it an exam.
last
No.
academic requirement
the last obstacle Terry
Miller has to overcome is the dreaded internship.
mention
of the
word
strikes
conununIcations major.
Perhaps I
fear
into
the
have glamorized the
of
every
during my
of
me in good stead
How wrong
internship.
begin to give
the sake
left school thinkIng
learned at college wIll serve
or
far off.
I
that everything I
School cannot even
heart
experIence for
I am not too
I graduate
the mere
There seems so much to learn.
this thesis. but
after
Just
a student an
I
idea of how
was.
the
"real world" is beyond those hallowed walls.
My
fIrst. decision
school itself.
and since
an internship
was influenced
by
I didn't want another semester of actual classes.
all of
internship.
to do
my
friends strongly
I thought that would be
suggested that
I do
an
the right way to go. So far.
my dec is ion heiS been a good one. The next quest ion I asked myse 1 f
was.
"Where do
decision was
~o
I travel to go
on my internship?"
go to Tucson. Arizona. maInly because I
area and it isn't nearly as cold down there as
-,
the
winter.
At
As a
downright tropical
matter
of
in comparison!
fact.
lIked the
Indiana is during
it could
However.
first. my
be
consIdered
my thoughts changed
-
drastlcally""hen
I examined
Therefore.
nothing.
col_ege
age-old
wi 11 ing to
my pocketbook and
found absolutely
diverted to the
my thinking quickly became
standby ... home.
house me for
And since
this. my last
my
parents
were
semester of school.
the
Colorado Springs. Colorado was
logical choice presented itself:
the place for me.
Next. a
choice must be made
television stations
as to which of
should I work
for: KRDO.
the three main
KKTV or KOAA.
A
However. through thorough examinatlon
tough decision lay ahead.
and scientific processes.
I finally
arrived at a
decision.
I
liked watching KRDO. so I decided that was the one for me.
ACT 1. SCENE II:
January 7.
1992: The First Day on the Job:
Yikes ... doomsday has arrlved.
director
for KRDO. Paul Unwin. was scheduled for 9:00 o'clock in
the morning.
making a
The blg meeting with the news
Hmmm ... How
was a college kid supposed
good lmpression?
Should
to go about
I wear my cut-offs
with long
underwear hanging out like the Colorado College kids. or should I
wear a double-breasted
would
if I
suit?
were going to
shirt and penny loafers.
trick it did.
I was struck as
lofty
classes at
Ball State.
Jeans. nice
do the
into the station for the first time.
to how small it actually
of
go just as I
That ought to do the trick. and
Upon walking
impressions
buildings
I finally decided to
stations
with marble floors and
and
was.
figured
gold fixtures.
I had
they
all these
were
huge
It was rather
like seeing your elementary school teachers outside the classroom
-,
for the fir:3t time ... 1 couldn't believe what I was seeing.
The
news
department
was
downstairs from
all
the
upper
-
management
offices. and
suppose
I
separated from the generals.
that is
to keep
the grunts
Overall. I was quite impressed with
the compact efficiency of the station. Mr. Unwin escorted me into
his office
and after a
few brief pleasantries.
we got down
to
bus i ne::;s.
The first
thing he said
become available and if
to me was
that a job
opening had
did my internship correctly
I
and well.
then the job would be mIne after the internship
was over.
overjoyed. for steady
unheard of thing
employment was an almost
to me a college student.
photo-journalist
job.
He explained further that the job was a
with
occasionally report them
the
job
1 was
duties
as well.
description.
I
was
to
videotape
Editing was
understandably
stories
and
a big factor in
excited
at
the
prospect. and explained some of the things we had done In school.
My
Electronic
News
GatherIng
class
apparently
IS
the
most
important class I could use for this job (if only I would've paid
more
atte~tion!).
mirror
the other
cameras.
how to
Ahem ... anyway.
the main duties I had
photOjournalists and
set
up
shots. and
learn how
what
sort
were to
to use
their
of things
are
pleasing to the eye.
ACT I.
SCENE III:
That very day I
went out on a couple of
shoots with a photographer named Eric and we shot some video of a
firechief
here in the
interview. and then a
Springs.
Eric was really
features of the camera. for
are
comp~etely
feature story on
a COIn museum
helpful in pointing
the cameras they use at the
different than the ones here at school.
out
station
However.
the basic concepts are still the same. and therefore I understood
-
what he was doing for the most part.
We
then
returned to
the statlon
interview for the 5:30 news. and
for me
to follow exactly what
really
stressed out about
to
edit the
fire chief
Eric edited so fast it was hard
he was doing.
anything. for
These guys aren't
Eric edited
the plece
about 30 minutes before It was supposed to go on.
A
lot
of
the day
however.
between
the
two stories
videotaped. there wa.s
a lot of sitting around with
anything.
HI
Apparently.
a market the size of
we
no one doing
Colorado Springs
(450.000 including suburbs). there are some pretty slow days
and
there
and
are
some
good news
days.
a package
afternoon (such as the
COlrl
the photographers
game shows. or if the
reporters sat around watching
lucky. he/she has
So.
to put together
reporter is
and edit that
all
museum piece) .
ACT I. SCENE VI:
01/08/92
This day started
out with
a meeting with
took well over an hour and a half
Paul Unwin
that
while he explained some of the
lntrIcacies of the equipment. and he explained different shots to
use Hhen
filming a story.
All this was pretty much a review for
me. because basically the classes I took at BSU explained
anyway.
He had
different terms
for things
that
it all
threw me
at
first. but after further query the knots untied and understandlng
was
reached.
took me on
At about
a shoot to interview a lady
Chamber of Commerce about
Dave
is
11:00 a.m .. the
easily the
actually explained
chief photographer Dave
from the Manitou Springs
the increase in tourism in
most helpful
thlngs to me as
person I
have
that town.
met yet.
he was doina them.
He
and then
-
allowed
me to look
setup,
and told
through the viewfinder
me why
he set
to show me
things up
In
his shot
their particular
fashion.
That shoot only took
maybe an hour. and upon
return to the
studio Dave showed me a lot of his older stuff and explained shot
As we were vlewing stuff on the editor. Deb
selection there too.
(a reporter)
told us
that
there was
a fire
that
covered (or at least examined) and we were it.
car and went
to the fire scene. but it
so we didn't shoot
anythlng.
need to
We loaded up the
was really nothing much.
Deb explained that
reporters have
to make a decision as to what is newsworthy and what's not.
kind of
morbid. but
windows
or a
if there were
death.
then the
fire
be
flames shooting
would be
out of
worth
It's
the
covering.
SeeIng there was no "action". we went back to the station.
Later. at about 4:00
p.m .. Dave was supposed to
go out and
tape the weather shots for the weather segment of the program, so
I
went with him and he let me film the weather spots.
the spots were going to
stuff r.e wanted
for another day.
Of course.
be used. but the weatherman
shown. and therefore my shots will
How close to glory!
already had
have to wait
Small accomplishments In a
world of great achievements.
ACT 1. SCENE V:
This was the most
-,
01/09/92
unproductive day yet.
photojournalist (Pete)
and he's
shoot with him. and he
never said word one
day I
was
televi~:ion
bored
out of
my
kind of
skull. for
I
met this
a jerk.
to me.
sitting
I
went
Most of
and
other
on a
the
watching
isn't exactly my idea of an internship. but tomorrow I
-
will ask for
film some
access to my
own camera (the
old tube type).
of my own stuff to get some hands-on experience.
met most of
the anchors
and reporters and
even though
and
I've
they're
pretty cocky. they seem to be a pretty nice bunch.
ACT I. SCENE VI:
Seeing
as
misunderstood
I
was supposed
to
work
the time I was to come
off for me (as well
regular
01/14/92
and it turned out to
However.
Saturday but
had
in. January 11th was a day
as Sunday and Monday.
days off ... ).
on
for those are my
on Tuesday I
two
returned to work.
be one of the best days I've had
as of yet
on my internship.
So far I've basically had no "real" experiences.
other than
simply going out with other reporters and photogs to see how they
do their Jobs.
I
Monarch.
But today. things were different ...
first asked to have
some raw footage
Colo. to practice editing
of snowboarding In
on the machines.
Dave. the
chief photographer. also dubbed some music for me. so I spent the
whole morning editing my own "musical package" and It didn't turn
out teo bad.
Later.
was
I wanted to
asked if
Tape) and just a
edit a
VO for the
chance and it turned
was ir.,formed that
(after readIng magazines all
VO-SOT (Voice-Over.
5:30 news.
Well.
quick edit ora frame between
edits).
productive.
-..
01/19/92
Sound On
I jumped at
out pretty good (except the next
there was one "flash edit".
ACT I. SCENE VII:
after'noon). I
the
morning 1
which is a really
Overall. the day was very
-
~ast
night. a Friday night.
being bored and waiting
I was sitting around the station
for something to happen. when
started.
Friday
nights are
guys:l.ll
had high school
hot sports nights.
basketball games to
my career
and the
cover.
sports
And
thIS
nIght the Colorado College Tigers hockey team was taking on rival
North
Dakota State Sioux. and the sports team was getting strung
out.
I
Therefore. seeing as I was waiting for this opportunity.
suggested that even though
the station wouldn't
let me drive
their cars. perhaps I could take some equIpment and someone could
drop me
off at the Broadmoor
World Ice Arena to
tape the game.
Brian Jerman (the sports anchor/dIrector) was at first leery. for
the CC
hockey game was
the lead story
that night on
the news.
But he relented. and I filmed the whole game and edited it when I
got back to the station.
a "live shot" from
and did that as
shot.
out
In addition. I was instructed to set up
the sports office downstairs In
well.
The story went off great
and Brian and Vince
with them
intern!
for a
(the other sports
beer.
Wow. only
as did the live
anchor) invited me
the second
I edited a package for
reporter Deb gave me her script and raw footage)
pretty
needed to
week
as an
Hey. I'm earning my keep!
The next day (Saturday)
out
the station.
good.
go out
Then
later. Mark
on a shoot
Austin
about baseball
practice (a
and that turned
(sports reporter)
trading cards
and
needed a photographer. and the logical choice was ... you know who!
I
-,
also
videotaped
the
Air
Force
basketball game for the 5:30 news.
got on the news this weekend
Academy
vs.
UCCS
women's
All In all. more of my stuff
than all the other regular photogs!
-
If things keep
progressing like they
prove to be pretty excIting.
Unwin.
the
news director.
are. thIS internshIp
Not to mention the fact
wants me
to
take home
will
that Paul
scripts and
practice reading them so that when the time comes for me to be on
the air. I'll be somewhat ready.
01/24/92
ACT I. SCENE VIII:
Things
have been
past week.
somewhat boring
partly due
OCCUl:TIng. and also
To be continued ...
to the
fact that
because that
intern" a second thought.
around the
station this
there's not
no one has
really given
studio if I wanted to report a
the
Naturally.
the
thou~rh
station
that
of January.
story i tse 1 f
was a
didn't care too
I had
to wake
photographer
thIngs put
wasn't about
was pretty
"grunt" story.
Not to
earlier than
to Denver to cover
aside.
I
much about).
up
"the
However. two days ago Paul Unwin asked
me as I was leaving the
23rd
much news
the opportunity
had
to complain about it
excited (even
or one that
the
mention the fact
usual. and
the story.
story on
drive with
a
However. all these
finally arisen.
(until later).
and
I
So Eric (the
photographer) and I went up to Denver to cover a press conference
that General Studds. a Marine recruiter. was holding.
a mIlitary reporter
folks there.
from the Denver Post. we were the only media
And throughout the press conference. I was the only
one asking questions!
noteE:. while I
reporters
-,
The
Sarge in
The other reporter just sat there and took
asked the
handle
Contrary to
Except for
the
the fact.
charge
questions!
conferences.
I
Perhaps
so
that's how
I wasn't
mad
press
at
all.
was happy with the way I handled things.
asked Eric
and
I
later
if
we would
be
-
interested In going to San Diego to do a story on the Marine Boot
Camp there.
In
Of course we said
yes. but 1 am not counting on It.
any case. Eric and I wasted some
while.
time in Denver for a little
and then returned to Colorado Springs.
rough
footage and
story.
I said
he then
yes. but
asked me
if I
wanted to know
wanted to take in regard to it.
I wrote and edited my verSIon
He said.
1 showed Paul the
wanted to
the angle
write the
the statIon
"You tell me ... " and so
of the story and took it
to Paul.
He Selld overall I was correct. but certain changes had to be made
(like
my lead
sentence. for example.
that Paul wanted.
Talk about
stated a
different angle
strange ... he asks
with an angle and then he comes up with hIS
me to come
up
own whjch could have
saved me a lot of writing tIme).
I rewrote the story. and edited
it again.
a lot
national
What we
However. KRDO
of
its footage
from
a
feed. and we asked them to send us some Marine footage.
got In return
Hmmm ... I had to make
it.
gets
was ten
seconds of guys
the best of what
I then took my scri pt to
dOIng pull-ups.
I was given. so
I wi nged
the anchor. Carl a Siege I. a.nd she
was going to then re-write it (the anchors always do that. to fIt
their own style).
Carla
re-wrote it the way I baSIcally
dId on
my original script. and I told her that Paul said that wasn't the
way he wanted it to go.
and then
I'll deal
realized that
following at
intern!
She said.
with him."
It
Paul UnWIn doesn't
this station.
Therefore.
"Well. I'll put it on the all"
was at that
exactly have a
But what
can I
do.
moment that
I
very favorable
I'm only
an
later that night. on the 10:00 news there was
the first story I ever covered
for a statIon. and they re-edIted
-
Such
the first part of It WIth better Marine footage.
IS
llfe In
the big city. but overall it came across pretty cool.
Today.
Ton~ght.
I'll go in and
I'm
see how the
gOIng to cover
Minnesota. so it's
a big
aftermath comes around.
and CC plays
some more hockey.
story.
Much.
much more
:11=2
later ... Stay
tuned.
ACT II. SCENE I:
Well.
time
01/31/92
has come
essentially means the
for the
second
second month).
act to
A lot
begin (WhICh
has happened
this
past week that really needs to be put down in this journal.
First of all,
be a pretty
1 ast Saturday. January 25th.
good day for me on my internship.
statI:m and was informed
today
(for the most
that I would be
part).
one reporter during weekend
KRDO only
was supposed to
I went In to the
coverIng my own
stuff
has one photographer and
days. and with me being
sUPPo:3ed to help out with the "action."
there.
it's
Alexa. the one reporter.
and Thomash. the photog. and I were supposed to cover a story out
at the
Air Force Academy. and then Alexa
and I were gOIng to go
out and cover more storIes.
Well. first off. there wasn't enough
eqUipment
to
All
eqUipment
and we
didn't have
enough
matters worse. we
didn't have
the keys
units
go
around.
the
Therefore. all three of
one story.
other
photogs took
tor us.
for any
us were going to
Then. to
of the
their
make
mobile
have to cover
Once we got out to AFA. Thomash took so long shootIng
that we had to skip a couple of stories because he wasted so much
-
time out there.
that
some of
Upon
the
arrival back at the statIon. we
eqUIpment was
bogus.
and that
found out
didn't
make
matters any better.
I was always under
cameras
indestructible. but
were almost
truth.
the assumption that CCD
that is
far from
the
So for most of the day. I sat around the station. readIng
newspapers. and
thinking
about how
disorganized
thls
statIon
really is (more on thIs concept later ... ).
A few
chlef
days later.
photographer).
conference
on the
and
he
regarding the
instructions as
me
out wlth
shoot
what to shoot.
my
on the
way
press
Association.
He gave
how long to
hold the
anchor). and I went out to
and
Dave (the
first
All in all it went pretty well.
he. Curt Goff (weekend
press conference.
let
American Heart
far as to
shot. and so forth.
29th. I was
back I
was
Then later.
cover another
told some
very
InterestIng Information regardIng KRDO.
It
with
seems that Paul
a whole lot of
UnwIn. my
superior.
Isn't
respect at the station.
Not only Dave and
Curt. but the rest of the staff of reporters and
though
Paul
IS
management.
over
hIS
quota
They resent the
of
us on stories
about
the
honesty
and
the guy.
They want
In
the
them the
In other words. he
wants. and then
the stories.
respect from
wIth
fact that he doesn't tell
that the owner
importance of
photogs feel as
"butt-kissIng"
truth about stories that don't mean too much.
sends
looked upon
lies to us
some simple
additIon. they
say he
should get a backbone and tell the owner that some stories aren't
as
important as
embellishing.
-
Unwin.
for
other ones
every day
we
could be
coverIng.
I am
I
hear new
complaInts
about Mr.
not
I predict he won't last more than another year.
Yesterday. January 30th. was
easily my most Interesting day
yet on
prepare you so far
day
It seems
this internship.
Lfe.
as though
college can
for experiences that happen
Yesterday
I was
"baptized" Into
to you In
the real
only
every
world ot
photojournalism. and what a baptism it was!
I got to work. and Mark
I wouldn't want to
said that.
go shoot a
yes. I would. but
with station policy.
some simple
really SImple story
someone else must
put on the
rudely.
moment (this
drive to comply
from U.S. West dIggIng up
get my footage.
dIggIng and asked if they wouldn't
really
I
When we got there. Curt SaId he would sUty in
while I go and
them to
for him.
so we were to get
Curt Goff said he would.
video of a telephone crew
some pbone lines.
the car
(the assignment editor) asked me If
to the crew
mind if I got some footage of
news that night at
"I'd rather
I went up
5:30.
you dIdn't."
I
1he
foreman said
stood there
for a
was a situatJon I wasn't prepared for) contemplated
this new development. and then went back to the car and told Curt
what had happened.
Well.
needless to say. Curt was more
than a
little pIssed. and he walked up to the foreman and asked the same
queBtion I did.
like
I
The foreman got really hostile
told your
cameraman
there ... I
don't want
pictures here."
Curt asked him why. and the
and-bull
story
of how
violated
the
law.
we
Curt
"pleasantries" and the guy
We
beat him to
U.S. West
broke
and
through
the
guy
and saId. "It's
you
guy gave us a cockthe
barricades
exchanged
some
threatened to call the police
the punch and
called the
and
more
on us.
police ourselves. and
Communications and received clearance
While we were doing all this.
takJng
from them both.
a pIzza delivery car rolled up and
delivered pizza
through the
to
(And It
the workers!
barriers!)
When I
was
us that
got back over to
broke
get footage ot
these guys working. the foreman instructed the workers out of the
hole and
stop working.
Therefore
trucks and the hole itself.
back.
all I got footage
of was the
Curt and I were laughing all the way
I showed the footage to Paul Unwin. and Curt and I wanted
to show the
guys eating pizza
wouldn't let us.
Curt and I were
for the
He said.
to make them
Paul
"We don't want to look like assholes."
a little mad. but I edited
newscast.
look bad. but
What a bummer.
the "pizza guys" out
but yet what
an experIence!
Curt said he wasn't surprlsed by Paul's reaction. because he said
that Paul doesn't have
a backbone.
Another example
of frIction
between the reporters and the management.
Later that day I reported
50th Space
very
well.
Wing at Falcon
a story about the opening of
AIr Force Base.
I was complimented
by the
folks out
profess 1 ona lIsm and qua 11 ty quest ions. wh i I e
(who have
been in thIS business
and that turned
the
out
there for my
the other t'eporters
for a whIle) were
lax In theIr
dutie's.
Tonlght I will tape
will
get a chance to
more CC hockey. and tomorrow
go on my own shoots
agaIn.
perhaps 1
Like any good
soap opera. this saga IS to be continued ....
ACT II. SCENE II:
As
you can
02/07/92
probably tell
by now.
my Journal
entries are
being wrItten WIth more tIme In between them. and that's
due to
the fact that I've been pretty busy at work (InternshIp) and when
I come home I'm too tired to write In It.
However. every week I
will
give a synopsis of what went
on the previous week In hopes
that I will somehow analyze the semester for better or for worse.
r truly believe that space alIens have come down and invaded
KRDO-TV and have taken over the upper management positions.
The CC hockey
games are my "beat". and every
that my footage gets better and better.
took on
Cloud State
S~.
myself in
Arena getting footage.
to take my own
other mobiles were
FrIday. the Tigers
College In Minnesota. and again
the Broadmoor
time I had
Last
week It seems
I round
However.
vehicJe due to the fact
thls
that all the
gone and we needed it covered (not to mentlon
that I and other fellow co-workers are getting lrritated that I'm
not on the
station insurance policy, so I'm
of f of the
closest reporter).
gear and f::hot the game.
In
having to bum rides
any case. I went
out wi th my
then zipped back to the station
where I
had to qUIckly put together a VO and give it to BrIan .Jerman (the
sports anchor) so
he could write
his script for
It.
nIght back at the station. but It turned out very well.
complimented me on
the footage
seen of hockey in a long time.
On Saturday, Mark
went
to the
Air
saylng it was
a story on
Austin (the thlrd sports
Force Academy
to
-
the event itself.
of the wrestlers.
on
tape.
Unwin)
and he
things wrong
I showed
said overall
with It.
In
they've
That's why it's my "beat!"
package on one
my resume'
hectic
Everyone
the best
cover a
reporter) and I
college
tourney. and I got excellent footage of that too.
did
A
but an "athlete
I will use
It to
it was
other words.
Mark not only
of the week"
the footage to put
the news
good but
wrestling
director (Paul
there were
he butchered
a few
my pIece
I later showed It to some of the other photogs,
frame by frame.
and
they said it
Hmm ... 1 t
~;eems
was great
and not to
as though another
record has been added.
but
edited it
story was
for the 10:00
footage came
on. so
event out
promoted "buckling up."
put together
news.
agaIn I
night than anyone else.
Wednesday.
s late of Unwin's
I went out to cover an
Widefield High School that
meaningful
notch on the
it at all.
Oh well ...
On Tuesday. Curt Goff and
at
worry about
with
my footage
Plus. that night
had more things
A small
and I
the wrestl1ng
on the
news that
Things are 10ok1ng up.
February
5th.
was
national
letter of
intent
signing day, when all the prospective college football teams sign
their top
sports
recruits.
~o
other words.
told me
Jerman
and Mark
later that
Goff
recommended to
assignment editor)
is over because of the quality
both Brian
to hire
that my work
(the weekend
the afternoon.
anchor) and
shot
I went
out with
some footage
of ITT
Corporation to do a story on a big contract they're getting
the
me
"A very pos i t i ve sign.
Yesterday was boring until
Curt
for the
The weekend sports anchor VInce
he highly
Rosenberg (the
after my internship
has been.
a big day
cover some of the signing, and then later came back
and ed1ted some of it together.
Greco
it was
I went out wIth the sports guys later in the
depa~tment.
afternoon
In
government.
I had
that
story
edited
by
2:00
1n
from
the
afternoon, and then nothing to do for the rest of the afternoon.
Mark
_,
coach of
Austin asked if
CC hockey for
I would like
a package he
to go out
and tape the
was put t i ng together.
Of
course I said yes. even though it was after the time 1 was to get
':~he
off work.
shooting in the Air Force Academy Field House was
just short of maddening. due
on the
camera kept dimmlng
to the fact that the Fresnel
(due to lack
thus I had
to irIS for the lIghts
Ice.
this
All
created havoc
of battery power)
from the roof and off
with
the white
camera. and thus when 1 took the footage back to
came out somewhat blue.
It was o.k. and
enough so it
happen.
I felt really bad
especially when
pretty bad.
Oh well.
the air.
of the
balance on
no light.
It happens to
the
the station.
It
editor and fix It
Everyone said those
there was
and
for Mark. but he said
that he could flddle with the
could go on
lIght
but I
thIngs
stIll felt
everyone. and I'm surprIsed
it dIdn't happen to me earlier.
TonIght I will go and
cover the CC hockey game. and
again.
my footage will be great (a touch of cockiness here).
Now on to more polItical and
mentioned the
because
worse.
the
space alien thlng
management at
It seems
relevant issues.
at the start
this station
IS
The reason I
of this
entry IS
gOIng from
as though everyone. reporters and
bad to
photogs. are
disgruntled w:Lth the way things are run and are lookIng elsewhere
for
jobs.
her
notice and is leaving
Carla Siegel
trend
at this station
town.
People
come. get
tell us In school that
(the main co-anchor)
at the end
that is worse
has already gIven
of the month.
This is a
than any other
station in
treated badly. and
leave.
They
management in TV is horr]ble. and
don't
people
go from
station to station in hopes of finding the rIght one for
them.
Curt Goff. Dave
Boersch (the chief photog).
and others
are looking for
different stations to work at.
bef~re
get worse
it gets better.
co-anchor. Tamera Banks (who is
the station so far).
And things will
It seems as though the weekend
the nIcest person I have met
at
IS getting passed up for Carla's job because
the station Isn't promoting from within.
Word around the offIce
is that because Tamera is black. the owners don't want to promote
her.
As
I
they've been
seems
understand
taken to court before
that they
debating
it. they're
will resurface
ctbout whether or not
offered one.
somewhat
I guess
racist.
on such charges. and
again.
to take a
Hmmm ... 1 am
now it
serIously
job here even
if 1 am
Yeah. it's a start. but am 1 willing to compromIse
the way 1 look at things for a susplcious news dIrector?
ACT II. SCENE III:
Well.
it
02/14/92
can easily be said
strangest weeks of my Internship.
things have
happened.
I should
that this has been
one of the
Mainly because. a lot of "bad"
be getting used to
all this by
now. but 1 suppose tolerance will only come with time.
For most of the t1me I really did nothing but sit around and
watch television or
read magaz1nes.
Tuesday was
one of
those
days.
However.
because 1
I was
Instructed
was to cover some
great. due to
the fact that I
to come
1n early
press conferences.
To
was bored. and if I
on Wednesday
this 1 said
was to cover
leaves blcrwing in the wind I would have been excited.
The
repcrter Deb and I went out
presentation. and
'-,
all
was going
well
to this school for a check
except when
the
actual
presentation took place. my deck ceased to roll and thus I got no
footage of the actual event.
something
must
nave been
started rolling again.
the
rest of
to Deb
all
~he
out
As
place as
the deck
and I got
all
these things happen. and all in
rIght.
Frustratlng.
there was a
but
decent
short in the
rather than BetaCam) and so
roll
englneerIng took
But the real story occurred .... yesterday.
care of it.
was
usual in
nothing, when
Return a
She said
it turns out.
cable (we use 3/4"
As
into
footage and went back to the station apologIzIng
tur~ed
nevertheless.
jarred back
batteries.
Well. by then it was too late.
the whole way.
it
However. upon switching
I
the morning
was sittjng
I
around doing
was asked to help out on a shoot about "National
Shopping Cart Week."
should have known
I
was going to be frustrating right from the start.
that my day
However.
I
was
given the keys to this truck (which belonged to our director) and
asked to
drIve around with thlS
different location.
Overall.
and afternoon.
radio
In
the station
shopping cart in the
a fairly easy thing
Well.
I
mobile . and
got a call
was
to pre-occupy
on the
instructed to
assignment editor on the phone at my convenience.
final
location. and
car. the
you
lot.
I called.
It seems as
one I drive to work every day
playing at home ... ). got hit by
Not
it's not
a lot of damage.
really my car,
We
two-way
call the
got to our
though my
personal
(a '74 Saab for those of
a truck in the KRDO parking
but enough.
but it belonged
As
back to a
all this
Well. as
it turns out,
to my mom's
happens to
be my lawyer!
phone. the
Ehoot was nearing an end. and I told the reporter and
photographer I'll meet them back at
was going
boss. who
the station.
on over
the
The story gets
even better from
it be ironic to get
the
way
I mentioned before
here.
back.
pulled over for stealing a shoppIng
Well.
at
a
stoplight
policeman/state trooper
was talking
towards the truck I was
drivIng.
came on and
he pulled me
an intern at KRDO."
ticket.
So now I
noticed
on hIS radio
It seems
a
and motioning
My car got
I was
I told the officer.
hit today and I'm only
No dice ... Officer Friendly had
have to go to court on the 15th
the owner of the truck to
that
that the truck
It wasn't mIne!
slack will you?
~>ome
1
cart on
I made the turn and his lights
over.
driving had expired plates!
"Cut me
I left that wouldn't
try to clear It.
already the
of April with
Larry. the
owner of
the truck says he'll pay the ticket. and there were no pOInts off
of
my l:lcense.
What made it
even funnier was that upon arrival
at the station. Larry told me he had the stickers. but hadn't put
them on yet.
They were in the glove compartment ..
Hrrunmm ... thIn<;rs are now just beginning to
get interesting.
I get chewed out for two thIngs: parking
my car In the front lot
(which
was B.S.)
activity (i.e.
story heats up.
another
and for driving
I'm not
asked if
hearted. I
agreed.
o'clock II
was off at
indicating
there had
So.
on a KRDO
covered under KRDO Insurance).
Then the
go home and cite a bad day.
he needed
night and
closest to the scene.
-.
a personal vehicle
I was gOIng to
photog said
I
Then.
help during
couldn't go
and dId
the
with him.
live shot.
six). we received
been a
the live
double homicide.
shot that
BeIng so
However. at
a calIon
but
softSIX
the two-way
and we
were the
Well. there went my plans for the evening.
I got home from a very
traumatic day at 7:00 at night. went
out to dinner. and
curled up and went to
How was
bed at 9:00.
your day?
Well,
it seems that my
mercy on me.
for on Friday night I
and I managed to get
be
bad day made my fellow workers
was allowed to go home early,
Saturday off.
pretty eventful. for my
have
This week should turn out to
birthday IS tomorrow
(Feb. 18th for
all of you who want to get me a late present ... ) and I have to go
out
during the
tournament.
evenIng to
cover the
I think I'll ask
high school
state hockey
for next Saturday off as well. and
therefore go to a volleyball tournament.
We shall see ...
02/23/92
ACT II. SCENE IV:
Working on my birthday didn't turn out to be quite that bad.
It
seems ttat
my alma
matter. Palmer
High School
was playing
arch-rival Cheyenne Mountain High School for a berth In the state
hockey finals to be held on Thursday of the same week.
I arrived
late. and er.ded up miSSIng the first game (which was that one ... )
but taped tr.e second game.
be
for the
best.
morning. but
On
in the
leaving for the day.
ablaze
and was
interrupt
home,
we
photojournalists were
beat the
shoot
Wednesday,
I
mostly sat
broke out
around in
iust as
It seems as though a huge resort
making enough
had
all. that night turned out to
afternoon action
"Star Trek."
but
All In
news to
use a special
(Now that's news!)
really
good
the
I was
was fully
report to
In any case, I went
footage
as
my
fellow
the first ones on the scene (they actually
fIremen there!).
On
Thursday night,
I went
on a live
before I went and covered the state hockey finals, and the
shoot was from the resort site.
I think everyone at the station
me around dnd
to having
is getting used
supplying.
help that I am
then went to cover
I
that turned out even better
really appreciate
the hockey. and
than could be expected.
the game 9-2. and I got some excellent footage of
then reported
Palmer.
the game with some
When
I
returned
Palmer
station. everyone
coach of
was lndeed
lmpressed with the footage I did get. and they told me so.
that on
sports anchor.
doing a
of muslcal tribute for Palmer to be on the news. and
to pick out some inSpIrational mUSlC.
Well. when I
got to
anchor Vince helped me
could
work on
Friday I
Brian
Jerman. the
~ind
told me
won
the scores and
sound bites from the
to the
the
Great news tor me.
Friday. Brian
and the
out with some specialized editing
indeed!
other
that I
never learn at school w/o the right class (i.e. slo-motion
and still
couple
frame
of
years
instrumental for.
my name was
Miller .... ".
editing).
I
ago that
chose
Emerson.
Friday at 5:30.
mentloned) wi
I
the Olympic
Lake.
and
BrIan saying.
my internship
is
an
" ... and
our own
Terry
Well.
game.
of
only
two
highlights. as that night
my
Vince went as
and ask them again to hire me
over (Paul
about it ... typical.).
but
Palmer did
a
My package got hIgh marks from not only the sports
as to go to the news director
after
Theme from
made my news debut (meaning
diVIsion. but also from the main anchors as well.
far
would be
replied that
he's thinking
that night I went to the
hockey
goals
were
CC hockey
shown
on the
was a hot sports nIght in other areas.
But all in all. this week has been a very good one for me. for it
finally
seems as though my
people are noticing.
actual worth IS
comIng through. and
On another note. my applicatlon
for grad.
school was sent in too late for approval. mainly due
that I never took
this. you
the GRE tests.
might want
to take
So if any
to the fact
seniors are readIng
the time to
take those
tests It
you're thinklng of applying to grad. school.
Next week looks as though its gOIng to be faIrly uneventful.
U.S. Boxing Trials
that.
are at
the training center.
it looks a bit slow.
follow.
but other
As always. they'll be plenty
than
more to
Adios!
03/02/92
ACT II. SCENE V:
The past week was as uneventful as I thought it was going to
be.
lot
f:ure the
of
U.~::;.
actIon
that ... no ... wait ...
Boxing Trials were In town and that brought
for
sports
r take that
this week. but I had
however.
the
offIce.
back.
but
other
than
There was a
lot of
news
very little to do with it.
the third sports guy
a
and myself went
On Friday night
to Canon CIty to
cover the basketball districts that were gOIng on there. and once
we
got there
defective.
was broken.
Pueblo to
we
learned that
for the cable that
We then
get a new cable.
Needless
connected the deck
By then we
I
temperature
hovered around 70
the windows
wide open.
had quite an
had to go
Well. by the
something I
to the camera
the way to
to cover the
shot in the Pueblo
the
could travel WIth
could never do
time I got home it was
to midnight. and I was indeed exhausted.
was
eventful night.
degrees. so we
That's
we had
to go all
then set up for a live
to say.
February in Indiana.
equipment that
got pjssed. and had
basketball there. and
bureau.
the
in
close
I sure hope I get hired
considering all the tree labor I'm giving this station.
WelL
either.
it's like this.
It looks
intern-type work
Oh
well.
the
as though
1 mIght be
like editIng "Kids
it's better than
tIme (which
This week doesn't prove
for
the
dOIng a
event-filled
lot of
News" and other
grunt
fun stuff.
sItting around watching "Geraldo" all
is
most part,
all
I've been
dOlng
lately) .
ACT II. SCENE VI:
03/09/92
As of yet no word on whether or not I will be hIred on after
my i nterm,hi p I S over.
begInning of April.
IS the deal.
If
I don't hear trom
I think I
management by the
will go to them and ask them
After all. what do I
have to lose?
I
what
am already
compiling an impressive resume and air check tape. so soon I WIll
start to send that out as well.
an
air check for radio
It
would be easy for me to make
too and try to get
on the airwaves as a
DJ.
This
past week I have been doing a
as a part of the photojournalist staff.
lot of thIngs on my own
For instance. Pikes Peak
Hill ClImb racer DaVId Donner was at a local elementary school to
reward
some grade schoolers for their good reading habits. and I
had to put together a VO for it.
was do i ng a pClckage on the
to be
the entire
Then. the third sports reporter
"A th I ete of the Week" wh i ch
AFA women's
SWIm team.
I
as chosen
happened
as his
photog. and together we went out and put together a pretty decent
package
for the 5:30 news.
Finally. since CC
hockey IS
So that too WIll go on my air check.
almost over. my
Friday nights
are
spent
following the other sports guys around. watchIng them tape
their
stuff.
This Pdst Friday. Mark
Austin and I were to go to
Boulder and Denver to tape some state basketball and some hockey.
This
was
to be
an all
night experience
Boulder fIrst. which from the SprIngs
for
the both
of us.
IS a 2 hour drive. to tape
two high school basketball games. then to the Denver Coliseum for
some more basketball.
After that. off to the
Ice Arena
vs. DU hockey highlights.
for some CC
10:00 news. Almost
made
up of
the entire
my highl ights.
around there.
are free due
Terry!
weekend for
sports show on
I
Am I
all before the
Friday nIght
am certainly
pull ing my
It also seems that from here
to lack of
Denver UnIversity
was
weight
on out my Saturdays
equipment. and that
means a three
stoked about that?
day
No. I'm seriously
bummed ... I wanted to work on Saturdays ... NOT!
ACT II. SCENE VII:
O.K .... so it's
entry.
My excuse
been
03/20/92
quite a
can't exact 11'
while since
be one of.
mainly because that's the last thing I was.
was busy because
underway. and
my last
"I was
Oh.
CC hockey was on
But as far as news
the way to
was concerned.
too busy!"
sure.
the high school state basketball
journal
last week
pairings were
St. Paul. Minnesota.
it was a pretty slow
week for
me.
With
the state
basketball playoffs
Arena and at the Denver ColIseum. the
of help in regard to taping.
sports
Well.
guys during the evening
at McNichols
sports offIce needed a bit
I jumped and went with the
to help them
As I said jn my past entry. a lot of
during
going on
with their "beat".
the basketball footage used
the newscast was mine. and that made me feel pretty good.
But now thclt that's
over with. there wasn't a whole lot to do in
the afternoons.
Not to mention. my regular beat. CC hockey. was winding down
as
well.
They
took fourth in the
Assoc.) and were
Fina I Four .
on their way
We were supposed
WCHA (Western College Hockey
to St. Paul to
play in the
to send a photog
WCHA
along with them
for a half-hour special. and all the sports guys were pulling for
me to go (~)eeing as I was the only one who followed the team all
camer~
year V1a
... ).
an employee ani I
have been
However. Jeff Server was to go since he was
If I
was only an intern.
the first
Another
to go.
were hired.
turn of the
I would
dime in
the
industry.
Overall. the reason that
there hasn't been an entry
or two
1n the past two weeks is that I really haven't done anything that
amounts to excitement or newsworthiness.
At
the beglnning
getting a
of
April.
job at KRDO with
I
will
Paul Unwin.
start to
Hopes
discuss
my
aren't very h1gh
for that happening. even though he sort of led me to believe that
that's
wha.t would
things
like that
I'm not
happen.
too. so
I'm not
the only
one he
counting on a
job.
compiled some of my stuff that has gotten on the air 1n
of an air check. and have
begun to send them out to
has said
I have
the form
stations in
Louisiana. W. Virginia. and even Indlana!
I am also
general.
if
beginning to
have doubts about
the industry
in
I do like what I'm doing. and I feel good about it. but
I'm going to
survive at all.
I
need to get
on at a station
that pays a little better or find another area that will allow me
to support myself at
-
least.
Working for $5 an hour for my first
Job
-,
out of college isn't
reporters at
you
my idea of
KRDO are mak1ng that!
really are into what
pay is
a priority
and
Springs 1S even a top
It seems to
100 market!
me that unless
this business. better
you're doing 1n
you won't
Some of the
a good time.
here.
get it
And
Colorado
As creative and talented as I
- k I am. 1"
"tWl" 11 take years to get
to where I want to be in
th 1n
the industry. and I don't know if I'm willing to wait that long.
especially
considering the fact that I have countless amounts of
student loans to
payoff.
At
$5 an hour. that could
be a long
and dangerous road.
"The Internship:
The Final Act."
04/06/92
This wi I." be my last installment of the semester. and let me
tell you.
it couldn't come at a better t1me.
The past couple of weeks have been the clincher as far as my
choices
for the future.
station.
just sitting
J haven't really
around looking bored
footage for the rest of the reporters.
cool shoots.
done anything at the
and looking up
I've gone on a couple of
1 ike gettlng to play basketball during the middle of
the day for a production shoot. but that's about it.
as
but
file
I can't say
though I didn't expect what all happened during the semester.
my hopes were a
bit too high.
And
now it's time to figure
out what I'll be doing after college graduation.
To sum up what
exactly happened this semester would
take a
great deal of time and space, and to tell you how exactly it make
me think and
feel would be
too much for
take (not to mention. the author!) .
the average layman
to
I can say. however. that the
overall learning experlence was invaluable.
I might have made a mistake doing an internship in the first
place.
-,
tor
thInking that
industry.
easy.
career reasons.
term that
to
:=:eem~3
109 I amor i zed" vi ew of
the reporters
I
was after.
had it
However. the
common
talks. baby."
turned. there was always someone
to put the screws
and that was a problem.
into you.
Nothing
I'm not sayIng
I'm
I
A:3
sa id in
that it was a
earn a livIng
to try to get
~t
doing this.
for the
is horri b Ie.
actually try to
For years some of these people work
a "break" into the big time
(i.e. Denver). but it
They just stay at the same
never amounts to anything.
working
of these people
same wages
they had when
more than $24.000
a year.
station.
they started.
talked to a few people. and not one of the reporters
department makes
complete
changed for
my I ast entry. the money
really surprised that some
there that
was ever right.
disaster, but I think my concept of the industry has
the worse.
the
and anchors
apply to everyone IS "politics
No matter where you
was gOIng
all
lobs were what
TheIr
had a
1
Even
I've
in the news
the anchors .
who are supposed to be the glue that holds it all together, don't
make much more than that!
I'm not prepared for living in poverty
for 5-7 yeaTs before I get my break.
They told me at school that
the pay was low. but I didn't think it was this low!
get a second job just to eat!
Bad
industry,
management
IS
It's not all about money either.
commonplace
and everyone knows it.
bad management
to a new
I'd have to
level of
in
the
However, at
being.
televIsion
news
KRDO we've taken
I have
yet to
meet
someone at the station that can say anything good about the upper
management. or
even have
a day
without complainIng
about some
form of unfair treatment.
day.
-,
constantly
thought
was
when
all
want it done."
the management
friends that
getting badgered
right,
(management)
I couldn't imagine going to work every
for
along
doing
it
something that
wasn't
"the
I
way
we
Not only do the employees feel that
is bad. but the
know the owner
public also knows this,
and his family. and
I have
talk about how
they are complete idiots when it comes to running that station.
It's no wonder that during the past few months. KRDO is dead
last in all time slots for
to pin
blame upon our staff of reporters and anchors. saying
tht~
they're
not doing
their jobs
points in the direction
stories
the news, Our news director is trying
they want
well enough.
However,
evidence
of upper management and their
covered and
Our news
aired.
choice of
looks
circus with a bunch of riff-raff subjects put upon it.
of
reporters and
photographers
buy
not
market.
freedom to
they are
go to the
are some
allowed to
of
more important stories.
puppets under the direction
The staff
the best
exerC1se
1n
the
their creative
They
of poor management.
like a
A
are simply
sad scenario
indeed.
However. what
I didn't learn
learned about human nature.
Never
about the industry
in my life have I met
diverse group of individuals who have come
the
best newscast
peanuts.
possible.
but. their hopes for
1tself. I
These
such a
together to try to do
people
work so
advancement remain high.
hard
for
For the
most part. they all were very supportive of my efforts. and tried
to keep me 1nterested in what
My options
for employment
was doing.
after graduation are
wide open.
The first
tlllng I
am trying
to do
is to
take
the Air
Force
Officers Qualifying Test to try to gain admittance into the AF as
an of f i cer.
Then.
hope
for the best.
some
good.
I
I wi 11
go on to
get my masters degree.
Further study into communicatIons will do me
also
sent resume
tapes to
stations around
country. and am getting responses from them already.
get
In
and
a job In the Alr Force
the
I'd like to
at the Strategic Defense Center here
Colorado Springs as a communications person. but I still have
to go back tor more schooling.
The best advice I
IS to
can gIve to anyone going into the industry
develop some serIOUS patIence.
going to a
can get.
God knows.
station like KRDO. you're going to
And.
any money.
don't go into the industry if
I guarantee
years before you
if
you end up
need all that you
you expect to make
least 3-5
that you'll be waiting for at
will be
able to support
yourself wlo
another
job.
I'm not trying to be negative about my internship. quite the
contrary.
It's just
didn't develop.
that I
set mysel f up
for something
and that's the disappointing part.
that
However.
if
you have the creativity. the patience. and the determination. ENG
is for you.
Hmmm ..... .