When I used to think of an internship, I thought about a job that is at the bottom of the food chain. The person who is running around taking lunch orders or making copies. When I started the hunt for an internship, I was searching for one that would be more than those little tasks. I wanted hands on experience with cameras and opportunities to practice stand-ups in a newsroom and out in the field.
When I had my phone interview with Mike Booth, I had a feeling that WAVY was where I would get the most out of a summer internship. He emphasized that I would not only get to shadow reporters, such as Symone Davis, but that I would also get to use the equipment, editing software, and create actual content that I could show in my portfolio.
After my first week here, I am beyond surprised by how much experience and knowledge I have already gained. Just on my first day I had the opportunity to go out with On The Scene reporter, Symone Davis. I filmed an interview for her “What’s Happening” segment that airs on The Hampton Roads Show. I felt like I was apart of the WAVY team and not just being a shadow.
I have also had the opportunity to sit in the editing booths and watch packages, topicals, and POPs (proof of performances) be created and edited. I have even had the opportunity to edit a topical using the editing software AVID.
On Thursday, I spent the day traveling around Suffolk with Symone to film. She was filming for “Discovering Hampton Roads in 60 Seconds” a segment highlighting unique places in Hampton Roads. This episode was about Planter’s Peanuts originating in Suffolk, Virginia. Symone gave me the opportunity to film and get B-roll of the different places we visited. She guided me by telling me what kind of shots she wanted and showing me how she wanted her stand-ups framed.
I am excited to see what the rest of the summer holds for me and all the opportunities that are yet to come.I can tell this is the beginning of a journey full of unforgettable experiences.
