KDKA Weekend #4 & #5
Saturday January 31st, was my fourth weekend at KDKA, and things are going very well. At lot of the information I'm learning at the station is helping me in my broadcast writing class and vice-versa. The formatting and different techniques that we're going over in class, I am then actually able to see in action. At the station I'm learning more about the computer system and how the scripts are formatted in the program. I've also used the wire program to read all of the latest news and sports stories and determine if any are worth having on our newscasts. In addition to listening to the police scanners, the station also relies on phone in tips. I answered the phone from two different "scanner heads" (people who have no life other than listening to the scanner). Both gave us information on stories from areas our scanners don't cover. Also, on Saturday I spent most of the evening working with Ron Falvo. He has 20-30 years experience and formally worked at WTAE before moving over to KDKA a few years ago. I shadowed him for the day and helped him with editing decisions for packages and teases.
Sunday February 1st, I didn't go to KDKA. Instead I experienced nipplegate in the privacy of my own home.
Weekend number five was probably the most exciting. On the 7th, I worked in the newsroom for my first few hours then, helped during the 6 and 7 o'clock newscasts. We did a live shot outside with Jessica Borg and I helped to setup the shot. I was fun talking to Jessica seconds before she went on the air live. After the 7, Bryce (a photographer) and I were sent to Bentleyville to tape a "perp walk" (the footage of a suspect walking from a car to a building). When we arrived, I got to play reporter. I had to get information from two different cops, we taped two interviews, and I sat in on the arraignment hearing. It was very interesting to see the justice system at work. The man was accused of four different crimes centering around home invasions, and was held on $75,000 straight cash bond. After the district justice's office, we went to the nearest hill to feed our footage back to the station to be edited in a package. I also talked with the anchor on the phone to give her information on the story. On the ride home, Bryce called Andy Briggs, a former KDKA reporter, now at FOX. It was interesting to see the relationships between the stations.
On Sunday, I was sent out with Brian McGrath, the photographer whom which all of the others at the station warned me about. He was a little strange, but at the same time very informative on how to break into the business and find a job. We were originally sent to Indiana to cover a fatal fire from overnight, but on our way, we were rerouted. Aviva, the assignment editor, sent us to a fatal accident in West Mifflin. After some faulty directions we arrived and walked to the scene with the WTAE cameraman. WPXI's cameraman was also there for a few minutes. The police chief came to give us an interview and I held the microphone for KDKA and WTAE. It was pretty cool, even if it was just holding a microphone. I spent the rest of the day in the newsroom.
Sunday February 1st, I didn't go to KDKA. Instead I experienced nipplegate in the privacy of my own home.
Weekend number five was probably the most exciting. On the 7th, I worked in the newsroom for my first few hours then, helped during the 6 and 7 o'clock newscasts. We did a live shot outside with Jessica Borg and I helped to setup the shot. I was fun talking to Jessica seconds before she went on the air live. After the 7, Bryce (a photographer) and I were sent to Bentleyville to tape a "perp walk" (the footage of a suspect walking from a car to a building). When we arrived, I got to play reporter. I had to get information from two different cops, we taped two interviews, and I sat in on the arraignment hearing. It was very interesting to see the justice system at work. The man was accused of four different crimes centering around home invasions, and was held on $75,000 straight cash bond. After the district justice's office, we went to the nearest hill to feed our footage back to the station to be edited in a package. I also talked with the anchor on the phone to give her information on the story. On the ride home, Bryce called Andy Briggs, a former KDKA reporter, now at FOX. It was interesting to see the relationships between the stations.
On Sunday, I was sent out with Brian McGrath, the photographer whom which all of the others at the station warned me about. He was a little strange, but at the same time very informative on how to break into the business and find a job. We were originally sent to Indiana to cover a fatal fire from overnight, but on our way, we were rerouted. Aviva, the assignment editor, sent us to a fatal accident in West Mifflin. After some faulty directions we arrived and walked to the scene with the WTAE cameraman. WPXI's cameraman was also there for a few minutes. The police chief came to give us an interview and I held the microphone for KDKA and WTAE. It was pretty cool, even if it was just holding a microphone. I spent the rest of the day in the newsroom.