The middle of the semester finds me not feeling my best. I got a bit of a cold on Sunday and it lasted through Monday. I felt well enough to go in on Tuesday, but the grogginess in my throat and head persisted. I blame the sudden DC cold fronts with its fits of snow and heavy winds, to random days filled with sunshine. I’ve learned two important truths: DC weather is as unexpected as it is reliable, and that the same can be true when covering a news story.
Woojae, my fellow intern, and I traveled to Woodrow Wilson High School which is only a few metro stops away from Double R. We expected to cover the student walk out that had been announced to take place all across the country. This was our first Double R news package. We were amped to interview students, teachers, and locals during the walk out. I was especially excited to work on my first news package. Unfortunately, the day didn’t go as planned.
First when Woojae tried to white balance the shot, the sunshine was too strong. We didn’t know how to white balance given the apparent brightness of the sun. This meant all our shots had a weird orange tint. Next, an administrator from the school informed us that students would remain inside. They would only walk out of their classes, and not the school. Then the students would have an assembly in the atrium. So all in all our visuals were off and our story took an unexpected turn.
We came back with what footage and interviews we could get but were disappointed in what was supposed to be a great news story. Rosemary Reed and the Double R team encouraged us to stay aggressive and resilient to ensure a great story. They reminded us to always call if we need help or guidance if things aren’t going as planned. Our first news story was a bust, but while we continue to refine our skills, I’m certain we will be able to create an excellent news package one day soon!
