The Interns

Considering this is my first post, and we are well into the summer, I'll try to contain myself.

I'm one of six interns for NBC Action News (KSHB41) in KCMO. So far, I'm having a blast (besides the fact that I'm a block from the plaza). My instincts about becoming a producer are right on. My reporting skills are developing, too - I'm just much more production-minded. Hence, I write ALL the time. After the morning meeting, we cruise the wires or go out and shoot VO/VOSOTs until the early afternoon. Then I writewritewritewritewrite for Brooke and Paul (our 5 and 6 p.m. producers). I've had about 20 stories on-air so far - two more tonight. It's like I'm an employee, not an intern.

Today we've been SUPER BUSY with BTK/Dennis Rader stuff. We didn't even have a morning meeting. Everyone is back from vacation and the newsroom is loud and crazy again (last week was SILENT. Almost everyone was away).

I won't lie - the perks of being part of the media are amazing. Did you know most hotels offer media discounts? Just say "I'm with this station." Bam. 30 percent off.

More than anything I'm excited to come back to KU and produce - - I want to apply everything I've learned here to my own work on campus. I'm learning the politics of news, too. The golden rule definitely applies in this business - especially with public officials. For example: we've been good to a police department in the past, so in return they're giving us an exclusive on a HUGE story coming out in the next couple days.

I'd give you the scoop, but then...

Back to "action" for me.