Week 10 of Internship

Well unfortunately I was not able to go into the Bulletin last week because I was sick, but I mostly made up for that this week. Over the weekend I worked on a feature article for Savvy titled "Naturopathy vs Modern Medicine." I had conducted an interview with a Naturopath last year for writing assignment, so I was so happy that I was able to use that material and actually get it published! The interview had been taped, so I did a re-transcript (because I lost the last one) and then went from there. To ensure that the piece was balanced, I also decided to interview on of my friends who is studying medicine. As she is a busy girl, I had to email her the questions. Usually I would never do this - but my questions were quiet complex and the did need a little digesting time before being answered. I knew that if I were to ask her the questions in a typical interview I would have received far less articulate and thoughtful answers. Fortunately, she answered my questions brilliantly - the next challenge however was piecing it all together.

It is very easy to form a solid story when you have only interviewed one person and the theme of the story is obvious. In this instance however, I had two voices to work with and a number or subjects to explore. I also knew that I could not favour one for of medical treatment over another, so I had to end the story on neutral terms. I got the basic crux of the story done on Monday, and I decided not to look at it again until I was in the office on Friday. Fortunately that break had allowed me to return with fresh eyes. I was able to re-arrange the paragraphs and rewrite the ending so that the story flowed better.

Isis has also given me two 'filler' stories that will most likely be used during the Nov/Dec period when "all stories just dry up and this isn't much happening" as Isis said. I got most of one story done, but still need to contact another performer for some quotes to through in. Both articles are about open mic nights - just held at different venues - one is at the Riverside Tavern and the other is hosted by the folk club at the Bellview hotel. So I will just be working on these pieces over my last few weeks.

Isis was absolutely loaded with stories on Friday, so at 1:15pm she asked me if I could do one of her interviews which was slotted in at 2pm. The story was on a hip-hop duo Koolism, who are headlining at the Full Noise festival next weekend. I quickly read through the media release, myspace page and bio. I scribbled down my questions as they came to me and then re-wrote them in a more cronilogical - linear order. I continued chipping away at another story until 2pm hit and then I rang Dan - the Dj behind Koolism. The interview went great - 15 minutes which is more then enough for a 600 word article. Once I produced the transcript I had the age old predicument or "Where the hell do I start?" In these instances, I find that you just need to start writing - you can change the lead and structure later - but you need to just start forming the body of the story. I found that the article came together quiet easy once I begun.

Linda informed me two weeks ago that a one of the requirments of my internship is to produce three news articles, so next week I will be in the newsroom. Now, I am not going to lie - I am not looking forward to next week! News really isn't my passion at all, but since I am there...and since I have to do it anyway....I will....and hopefully I will do it well. Until next week fellow bloggers!