The Blog of Productivity

My internship experience

Technically, this blog should be for the American University career center. They sent me and my fellow recent American University grad school alums an email two weeks ago, asking if we would blog about our internship experience. I immediately responded with an affirmative, thinking this would be just another task to tackle. I am quickly coming around to the realization that a collection of small tasks can quickly become a mountain of mayhem under which I am crushed.

I finished more of my classes a little over two weeks ago, but somehow I think my true lessons come during my four-day work week. I intern at the AARP Bulletin, one of the biggest publications in the United States. I think the people are great — professional, accepting, tolerant and helpful.

When I come in to work, I always have a steady stream of work but none of it seems overwhelming. It could be just a great choice of internship, or my personality, or maybe a combination of the two. But I feel that I am accomplishing so much.

I have already written two small, but significant nonetheless, pieces for the website, and am hoping to contribute much more in my oh so short stay. With any luck, I can make as many connections as I can am see what happens from there.

Working at XM radio for a stretch I understood the importance of making the proper contacts. Learning for the sake of your own edification is fine, but having the ability to showoff my skill set is most important to me. And meeting people who can help me show my talent is my goal.

My first AARP Bulletin story

This is my first AARP Bulletin story. I put in a lot of work on these 300 words. Enjoy!
http://bulletin.aarp.org/yourhealth/medicare/articles/prices_for_brand_name_drugs_most_used_by_medicare_patients_jump_almost_10_percent.html

Unfulfilled promises in Largo

The Boulevard at the Capital Centre arrived in Prince George’s County with much fanfare and promise, but has yet to deliver on anything but attracting negative attention. As a county resident, I remember coming to the Capital Centre in Landover, to see Michael Jordan play against our lowly Washington Bullets. I remember concerts, circus acts, and WWF fake wrestling events. Those were the good days.

Today, at the same spot where Randy “Macho Man” Savage once stood in a wrestling ring, there sits a Golden Corral. And the area is no longer called Landover, its Largo. A small detail to some but not so much if you dig a little deeper.

Since the ’80s, Landover has been synonymous with high crime and urban blight. So when the Capital Centre was finally imploded, there was a sense of starting anew was a good thing. So the name changed from Landover to Largo.

Now the Boulevard, for all of the hope people put behind it, seeks to continue the same tradition. The shopping centre is has a Magic Johnson movie theater as its anchor. I go here often. But I can’t help but notice all the empty store fronts that were once flooded with people. “For lease” signs are everywhere in this place, and there is no sign that things are slowing.

The Gladys Knight Chicken and Waffle joint that I’d been to a year and a half ago has vanished. “The Sideline” once owned by former Washington Redskins linebacker is history too. The parking lot that was once filled with cars, in front of the old Uno Pizza, is now populated by tumbleweed.

What does all of this mean? It would be easy to say we all need to do better but that would be a waste of my time. Unfortunately, the mall needs a makeover. The stores need an upgrade and the security needs to be replaces.

Walking around this place doesn’t exactly inspire a sense of safety at night. But why can’t it?

I never feel unsafe on U Street. Downtown, near Penn Quarter, or in Dupont Circle and there is a Metro near all of these places. So walking around the Boulevard, I should have the same feeling as well.

There are really nice people walking around here. Many of whom seem to be out for nothing but fun. Why the heck should they have to leave before sunset for fear of their safety.

Perhaps, more needs to be changed in this area than just the name.

Buffalo Billiards Blitzkrieg

I love a good boxing match. I am a sucker for the big fights though. I know any pay-per-view bout will be available, for free, at Buffalo Billiard in Dupont Circle. Right?

Not so fast.

When I arrived today at 7:45 pm, I was shocked to find out fans were being charged $10 a head to view the event. I got the rug pulled from under me — again.

This is nothing new. You hook people with something they are use to: free pay-per-view. Then, when expectations are high, you tell people they came all this way to pay. No one will turn away. They came all that way. This fight is too hot not to see. So they hooked boxing fans like me with the bait and switch.

The last Mayweather fight I saw was here. This place was packed at 9:00 pm, and they main event wasn’t even until 11:00 pm. Things are getting strange. My only solace is that game one of the Cavalier/Celtics series is on at the same time. But how rude of them to do this.

Next time, it pays to make a phone call before I waste my time.

I.F. Stone, Maverick Journalist

Today the boot camp students got a lecture from Jeremy Stone, on the subject of his father legendary journalist, I.F. Stone. I.F. Stone lived a productive, yet sometimes, tumultuous life, as a journalist for such publications as The Nation, The New York Post and his own upstart publication, The Weekly.

Jeremy Stone recounting his father's career

Born in 1907, Stone began his became a journalist at the early age of 14 and had a deep knowledge of history. According to a poll administered by experts in the field, The Weekly ranked 16th most influential work of journalism in the U.S.. People saw Stone as an unbiased reporter, who would not hold back warranted criticism, even of his own friends.

Influential people in the United States often shunned Stone for his aggressive style of journalism. There were times people would deny him access because of some of his stances. Once in the 1940′s the National Press Club denied Stone service because he was in the company of a black man. This refusal of service led Stone to resign from the organization.

Jeremy Stone warned students that they should, “Be prepared for hostility and isolation if you want to do anything worth while.” Indeed, it was “hostility” and “isolation” that the elder Stone faced throughout his career. Yet, in a seemingly intrepid and undetered manner, I.F. Stone forged ahead to accomplish many things in his life. So much that he had 4 biographies written about him. I.F. Stone always sought to hold the government accountable and contended that all governments are misleading.

Ultimately, Stone was the epitome of what some might call a no nonsense journalist, something many of the bootcampers might aspire to become one day.

Evolver:Story of a Multimedia Journalist

Learning about online journalism is a new experience, not only to bootcamp students but to veteran journalists as well. Jim Brady, former Executive editor of the Washingtonpost.com, explains that the industry is ever evolving and that journalists have to constantly learn new things. He says many print journalists have an aversion to learning technology, and that mentality can lead to unemployment.

Jim Brady explains entrepeneurial journalism

Brady(left) stressed the entrepeneurial aspect of journalism, and warned that those new to the industry should not rely heavily on the old model of going to work for someone. Part of becoming an entrepeneur journalist is getting involved more on the internet and embracing the communial aspect of the medium. Allowing readers to comment on your blog is the best way to simultaneously get feedback on topics and to make people feel involved in the process.

The bottom line theory of Brady’s lecture was that people budding journalists needed to learn multiple skills, and figure out a way to market yourself in order to get paid. This is a message that many of the boot camp students probably will heed.

Broadcast News:Tales from News Pioneer Susan Zirinsky

In the 1987 James L. Brooks film, Broadcast News, Holly Hunter received praise for her portrayal of a television news producer. Susan Zirinsky, the woman whom Brooks based Hunter’s character on, would garner a lot of compliment from American University bootcampers on Wednesday, during a lecture which gave over the internet via Skype.

Susan Zirinsky talking tough about news

Zirinski(left) managed to keep the audience captivated throughout the entire lecture. She talked about her experiences in news rooms throughout her career and mentioned an recounted an anecdote about other journalists as well. She detailed her experience while walking through a CBS newsroom and seeing two small desks with assigned to Lesley Stahl and Connie Chung. The fact that two well-regarded journalists received such little respect from their bosses, was indicative of how little respect women in the industry received overall.

Zirinsky’s colorful and straightforward style of speaking seemed to grab students attention, and she definately left people with many good stories about life in the newsroom.

Salvation!!!!!!!!!!!

So as my partner and I come get off of the AU shuttle, we can help but speculate as to the price of the camera we left of the train. We realize the camera will cost over $1000 and we shriek at the prospect of having to pay the cost. We get to our final stage, acceptance and make our way to Professor Olmsted’s office to report the tragedy. She informs us that the camera we lost would cost about $1200, but that we shouldn’t worry about paying for it now. That brings a little relief to me but ultimately, I’m way too concerned about the content on the camera to care about money.

Tuesday comes and the despondency that I feel from having lost all of my work becomes a little much to handle. I come to grips with the fact I probably have to go shoot more footage and that I wont ever get that camera back. I walk into the theater, I sit down, and I prepare to take notes as the class begins. Professor Olmsted approaches me with a smile on her face and informs me that someone has found the camera. The feeling of ultimate satisfaction swirls through my brain as I get this news, and I let out a resounding “yes.”

Later in the day, as I walk into the editing lab to begin carving up my video, I walk up to my partner and give her an emphatic high five. Everything is right with the world.

We later went on to produce a pretty good piece of film.

(Click below)

Panic!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

My partner, Brianna Pellicane and I have wrapped up our reporting and videotaping and embarked on our trip back to the American University campus. We recount experiences with the children we taped, we trade stories of past career experiences, we talk about what video shots we really like. I couldn’t wait to get to the lab and edit the footage we captured. As I walk off the train, I stop cold on the platform and drop my head, we left the camera on the train.

The train hasn’t even left the station yet and we dart up the escalator, to the station manager’s booth. We explained what happened and he tells us that this thing happens all the time. We feel encouraged by this news and we decide to wait at the station as the manager called every station between Tenleytown and Shady Grove, 4 times. With each call, we just knew that he’d speak with someone who found our gold. No dice, every attempt at finding our work, rendered nothing but frustration and confusion on our parts. After a little over an hour, and we reluctantly left the Metro station.

Our project and confidence, at that point, were in peril.

To be continued……………