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Interns learn the ropes at newspapers across the state (Editor’s note: Through the Kentucky Journalism Foundation, internships were awarded this summer to 19 college students. These students worked at various newspapers across Kentucky for a 10-week period and were paid $3,000. We asked the students to submit a photo and comment on their internships, specifically if the experience had affected their career choice. The intern’s name is listed first, followed by the newspaper where they completed the internship and the school they attend.) Amanda White Writing for The Springfield Sun, Lebanon Enterprise and The Casey County News as a summer intern was certainly the most interesting summer job I’ve ever had. In what other profession could I go to the homes of colorful people such as actor George Clooney’s uncle, a rabbit farmer, a Survivor III contestant hopeful or a 96-year-old Sunday school superintendent? For brief moments, I was invited into the lives of a variety of interesting people, and was intrigued by the stories I was allowed to share with the community. Although my father, Anderson News publisher Don White, has been in this business for 30 years, he never told me how interesting it can be to answer the phone at a newspaper office. From a lady who told me her daughter had “dug up” the biggest potato she’d ever seen to subscribers lamenting that they had not received their weekly paper, the person on the other end of the conversation rarely had a dull story to tell. The staff of each newspaper I worked with also helped make my experience memorable. Springfield Sun publisher Janie Bowen has been supervising me since I was a 16-year-old, part-time, temporary, composition assistant at The Anderson News. While I was at the Sun, she made sure that every story I was assigned was interesting, and helped me learn to take better pictures for newspaper use. Janie is an excellent photographer and I appreciated her guidance. Chris Hamilton at The Lebanon Enterprise provided a clear example of what it’s like to be a journalist working in your hometown. From allowing me to shadow him during city council meetings to grabbing me to ride along on accident calls broadcast on the police scanner, Chris made sure I experienced every aspect of small-town journalism. And no matter where we went, there was hardly anyone who didn’t call Chris by name. Teresa Rice, Lebanon Enterprise publisher, gave me useful feedback on everything I wrote. She was quick to compliment a well-written story, and also gave constructive criticism when needed. Teresa was great to work with, and I appreciated her guidance as well. Although I only spent eight days of my internship in Casey County, I was there long enough to realize what a great publication the Casey staff produces. From my interaction with members of the community, I could tell that editor Donna Carman was another respected hometown journalist with excellent writing skills, who is well-known in her community. Now that my internship is over, I’m preparing to complete my senior year at UK, where I’m majoring in public relations. Although I’m unsure about whether my first job out of college will be in journalism or public relations, one thing is for certain. My summer spent as a Kentucky Press Association intern has shown me that although the life of a community journalist has its ups and downs, the portfolio of stories I’ve written gives me a pride that people in few other professions are able to feel. Donny R. Geralds My expectations of a career in journalism were fulfilled by my internship at my local newspaper. I was able to experience for myself how the world of journalism works and I couldn’t have asked for a better place to see it for myself. I had to make a few adjustments as with any job. My writing did have to be “toned down” a bit from what KERA had drilled into my head for the past years; but learning to write well did make my job a bit easier. Learning to deal with people was also a big help to me. If any career requires excellent communication skills, journalism is that career. The way in which people convey what they want to say is one of the things that impressed me the most during this internship. You can take anything that a person says and rearrange it a hundred different ways to give their statement a completely new meaning. This just proves that it takes a special kind of person to be the voice of many different people at the same time. People may tell you that working at a newspaper in a small town would be boring — these people have obviously never done it. Covering a town about to go broke, a methamphetamine lab bust, and a visit from the governor, I always had plenty to write about. There was always plenty to learn as well. The best lessons though, were the ones I could apply to every aspect of my life. I have a good feeling in knowing that I came out of this experience with something, aside from the large dent in my editor’s car door after a small accident. Amanda Richardson From shoot-outs to swine shows, my Kentucky Press Association internship has been a memorable one. Initially I didn’t expect to become such an integral part of the newspaper to which I was assigned. However, at both The Pioneer News in Shepherdsville and The Spencer Magnet in Taylorsville I was quickly absorbed into the everyday operations. Through this internship I have reported on county fairs, drug busts, confrontational commission meetings and local bingo. I’ve developed new insight on the intraworkings of small towns. I had no idea what went on behind the scenes in the open, yet poorly attended town meetings. I am very appreciative of the experience and the knowledge I gained in the last 10 weeks. I am looking forward to bringing back all I’ve learned to Centre College in the fall where I’ll be the co-editor of Cento, our college newspaper. Andy Olsen Carnies don’t advise riding the Scrambler backwards with a camera to your face to get a good angle on the other speeding passengers. When I did it, I was sick for the rest of the day. But the picture was cool. And why not try something new? As my internship fades, I’ve seen there are as many ways to approach a story as there are stories to write. Every reporter’s day is a grab bag of unforeseen circumstances that require quick thinking, fresh ideas and genuine concern — even empathy. To be sure, I have a lot to learn. A sophomore at Asbury College, I have plenty of time to keep practicing journalism. That’s good. Because in this field, class work alone cannot prepare someone for the melee of a real newsroom. Luckily for me, I was able to spend 10 weeks with one of Kentucky’s most amiable news staffs. They let me try many new things, only laughing occasionally at my expense. If the nature of reporting is always dealing with something unique, then I hope for more papers with open minds. Beside some clips, I took something else from the Journal: a greater respect for the people who read it. For 70 days, I was at the mercy of annoyed police officers, nervous illegal immigrants, excited soccer moms and all types of “officials.” Without their cooperation there would be no quotes or photo essays. They are the news, and to them I owe the most thanks. Davy Rupsch What an awesome experience this has been! My summer here at The Gleaner was truly a wonderful opportunity to explore a career in journalism. Being from Henderson, I thought that I had seen all it had to offer, but in covering various community-oriented stories, I have come to appreciate many of the town’s good-hearted citizens, especially the younger generations, and their efforts to make this area a better place. Providing the community with news coverage, like that of a coffee plant opening, was a unique experience, but it was perhaps the stories I wrote for our Features and Gleaner Jr. sections that I enjoyed most. One story that stands out was about an 81-year-old gardener, who is out of bed by 4 a.m. and didn’t see his pillow until at least midnight every day. Having gone to his garden to interview him, it struck me that he was giving me more than just answers to questions for my story — he answered a few questions about life as well. Perhaps there is some truth to that saying that says people grow old but never grow up. He exemplified someone living life to its fullest and loving every minute of it. Whether journalism is the field for me, I have yet to determine. One thing is for sure though — I have the utmost respect for journalists, especially those at The Gleaner. To get up and do what they do each day is something I admire, and I cannot think of another group of people I would have liked to share this experience with. They were each inspiring in their own way, and they made my time here a great one. Thank you KPA and The Gleaner for the chance of a lifetime. Allison May As I prepare to enter my senior year at Georgetown College, I am realizing more than ever I am about to take that dreaded step into the “real world” of work, bills, rent and the beginning of the rest of my life. My internship with the Appalachian News-Express has given me a taste of that world — and I like what I see. The world of journalism is something I feel most people take for granted. As a journalist, the rest of the world, or at least the community you serve, expects correct, informative, interesting and prompt news from you. And that type of excellence is what I have had the opportunity to be a part of this summer. While I watched and learned from some of the best journalists in the state, I was also given the opportunity to increase my knowledge of the profession by covering everything from breaking news to features and staff reports. One of my favorite experiences during the summer was meeting Rodger Bingham — after all I am his biggest “surviving” fan. Meeting him played a big role in my decision to apply for “Survivor 4.” The friends I made at the newspaper made that application process a breeze by doing such things as proofreading my application, starring in the video, performing the role of cameraman and editing the tape. They went above the role of co-workers to make me feel at home in Pike County. I feel I now have new friends across the state. I also had the privilege of meeting and interviewing Patty Loveless, as well as writing a series of articles on influential women in Pike County. The News-Express special section, “Progress,” taught me many lessons about the world of the media. I learned how to manage my time in order to get stories for the regular paper finished in time, as well as complete special section stories. I also had the opportunity to discover new ways of investigative reporting and how to deal with the public in general. I had two stories picked up by The Associated Press — just imagine my excitement! I called everyone I knew and told them to check their local papers because my stories might be in there. When I opened the Lexington Herald-Leader and The Courier-Journal and saw the story I had written earlier, it was one of the biggest thrills of my life! One of the most important lessons I learned through my internship experience was that Eastern Kentuckians are some of the best people I have ever met. People went out of their way to make me feel at home in Pike County — everywhere from the wonderful people I rented a house from to strangers I met when I needed directions. I could not have asked for a better newspaper, better people or a better place to spend my summer. Emily Blaser I knelt on the soft, dirt floor of the barn. This shot of the boy brushing his cow would be great. I was admiring the way the light shone through the chinks of the wooden planks on the walls, when I noticed something nibbling on my back. A horse had decided to taste-test my t-shirt. I didn’t mind. This was all part of my internship experience at The Kentucky Standard. My name is Emily Blaser. An English major, with a journalism emphasis, I’m entering my third year at Lindsey Wilson College. I’m from Louisville, but this summer I spent most of my time getting to know Bardstown and Nelson County. During my time in the newsroom of the Standard, I sat at many different desks and tried doing the work of many different reporters. I did hard news, dealing with the city police department and the chamber of commerce. I did soft news, writing features about everything from a woman losing 100 pounds, to a local girl modeling in New York City. I wrote obituaries and wedding announcements. I wrote a weekly column and took photos. During my internship, I went to my first county fair, stepped inside a factory for the first time and learned my way to Nelson County places I didn’t even know existed until a few months ago. The most lasting impression I will take from my 10 weeks in the “real” world of journalism is that newspaper reporters make a lot of friends — and a lot of enemies. I learned that, though no one is perfect, journalists must try to be, and on a tight deadline, too. Most importantly, I discovered that, even if I don’t pursue a career in newspaper journalism, I will definitely continue telling people’s stories, through words and pictures. Jennifer Sue Brown I don’t think I can sum up my internship experience in just a few paragraphs. When I thought about working at the Cynthiana Democrat, I was terrified. I knew I would have to write news stories, but I’ve only written two or three during my college career. I will be a senior at Morehead State University this fall and I will also be giving up my Sports Editor position. I have written sports all three years of college and have been Sports Editor for a year and a half. So, coming into this internship, I knew I was going to be doing many things I’ve never done before. I’ve always had my heart set on writing sports after I graduate, but I think that has changed now. After working at the Cynthiana Democrat, I am considering a career in news writing. My self confidence has never been that great, but the people in the community and the Democrat staff have improved that a great deal. I have enjoyed every moment this summer and I couldn’t have asked for a better staff to learn from. They have been absolutely wonderful to me and have taught me many new and exciting things I will take with me forever. I’ve learned about the many legal aspects of a newspaper, how a professional newspaper is actually run, how much work is involved and much more. I surprised myself, actually. I had a negative attitude walking into this, but after these last 10 weeks, I now know what I want to do with the rest of my life. I can’t wait to get out there in the real world of reporting! I’ve been able to cover many different things during my time at the Cynthiana Democrat. I’ve was born and raised in Cynthiana, and knowing everyone made it much easier for me to adjust. However, I soon found out that I didn’t actually know as much as I thought I did about this town. I covered Fiscal Court meetings, wrote features on police officers and firefighters, covered many school activities, but probably the best part was meeting and having lunch with Lt. Gov. Stephen Henry. I was also able to cover an arraignment of a woman who kidnapped a 6-day old infant. I thought the whole court experience was really interesting. I can’t say enough about my experience and the staff I worked with. I’m so thankful the Kentucky Press Association gave me the opportunity to get out in the real world and learn more about the newspaper business. I will graduate in May 2002, and I will take this experience with me to whatever newspaper I work for. This experience has strengthened my attitude about a career in journalism and I thank everyone involved for helping me with this internship. Jennifer Rogers I am a junior at Eastern Kentucky University. My internship at The Advocate-Messenger in Danville has helped me more than I ever expected. The staff here has been helpful, and I always felt comfortable asking questions. I’ve met a lot of wonderful people and done some very exciting and very funny things — seeing my first ever dump truck rodeo, watching the Mother Calling Contest at the county fair, talking to a 100-year-old man who still drives his car and mows his own lawn. My entire internship has been wonderful – and entertaining! Jennifer Sewell While interning at The Daily Independent in Ashland, I gained a great deal of hands-on reporting experience — more than I could ever list on paper. The transition from a college weekly newspaper to a daily newspaper proved to be a challenge at first. Producing an article or two per day caused me to worry at times. But with the encouragement and patience of other reporters and the local news editor, I learned to adjust. For a feature story, I interviewed four sets of twins who were all graduating from the same school. Keeping their names and faces straight made this the most interesting interview I conducted. I also adjusted to working late and early. I learned covering city council meetings has the potential of being both entertaining and unbearable. I learned the people of Ashland and surrounding areas really enjoy reading the Independent. Some of the calls and e-mails I received certainly reflected this. I realized reporters here have a passion for their product and the people they are informing. And I believe some of their passion and enthusiasm has rubbed off on this college student. Kevin Martin My experience at the Mt. Sterling Advocate was the most fulfilling opportunity I’ve ever had. I never thought that I would enjoy working in my hometown, but there’s a lot more to the eye when you are a photographer. Being a photographer, I had the chance to meet many people that I would have never met as a lawyer, a teacher or even an athlete. Throughout the past 10 weeks, I have met and photographed Gov. Paul Patton, Lt. Gov. Steve Henry and more than 200 members of the Rolling Thunder biker tour. The main goal of my internship was to learn more about the newsroom atmosphere and polish up on my photojournalism skills. Shortly after I started this summer, I was informed that the sports editor would be taking a three week vacation and that the publisher wanted me to fill in for that time. So, for the last three weeks of my internship I designed the sports section, wrote stories and, most importantly, communicated with people who I had never had contact with before. Overall, my time here at the Advocate has given me a broader view of the newspaper business. I have seen the pros and cons of working for a newspaper, and I know after 10 weeks of doing the real thing that this is my calling in life. Marci Owen I am currently a junior at Murray State University. During my internship at The Fulton Leader, I have learned many new skills and sharpened those already acquired. Being at a weekly paper has given me the opportunity to do a variety of things that might be limited at a larger paper, including taking my own photos, which I had never done. Being in a small town, I have realized how important the newspaper is to the community, which has strengthened my belief in the importance of my work. The most interesting experience I had at The Fulton Leader came with coverage of the Fulton-South Fulton Relay for Life, which is a big event in the area. As a lead in to the event, I was assigned to do a profile of a cancer survivor. David Beach, the survivor, had the most interesting story I have ever heard. I believe it will stay with me for years to come. The Fulton Leader staff as well as the Fulton-South Fulton community were very welcoming. That, and the experiences I have had while there have made this internship far exceed my expectations. Melissa Stoneberger It wasn’t easy getting up a 7 a.m or establishing a bedtime for myself knowing that all my friends could sleep in, but I have to say that my internship was a summer worth spending. I interned at the Murray Ledger & Times as a special sections reporter. It was my job, along with my editor Eric Walker, to dig into the nooks and crannies of Calloway County. I went all over the area, allowing me to meet new people and see places I didn’t even know existed. I am now able to quote random Calloway County facts to all my friends and family at the drop of a hat. And believe me, there’s nothing that makes them happier. This summer, along with enhancing my photography skills, I learned that journalism was a profession of extremes. Extreme excitement or extreme boredom. Some days I would do three interviews and numerous phone calls and throw in a few extra chores along the way, while others would seem to drag by, with a few phone calls to make and plenty of time to read other newspapers or check headlines on the internet. (Fortunately, or unfortunately, those slow days were few and far between.) If there’s one thing I take back from this internship it is a new view of the community. I’ve seen a different side of the area working here rather than just being a student. Micheal Compton I interned for eight weeks at my hometown paper, the Daily News, in Bowling Green. I chose to stay close to home because I plan to work there once I graduate and my first child was born on May 8, 2001. I normally write sports and movie reviews at the College Heights Herald at Western Kentucky University, so this internship gave me a chance to branch out and work the news desk. I'll admit I was nervous at first, but I found that, as the internship wore on, the more I wrote the more confidence I had in my abilities. I’m not sure how many stories I wrote this summer, but I would say between 50 and 60. I have copy that I am truly proud of, and I think I have more than proven my ability as a newspaper man. While looking for an internship for the summer, I found that a lot of papers told me I needed more experience on the news side. Well, after this summer I more than have that experience. I still plan on starting in sports someday, but I know now that I can start anywhere needed. I think I am valuable to any section of the newspaper, and for that reason alone I have KPA to thank. Patrick Avery I never would have thought I could go from one place to another so quickly when I heard a call over the scanner just after lunch one Friday afternoon. It took just five minutes for me to get from my cozy cubbyhole desk to a blazing fire at the corner of Triplett and Third streets in Owensboro. Without any warning, Dan, the editor, said to go out there. So I grabbed my pen and pad and ran down the hallway to the exit door. I jumped in the car with a photographer and we jetted to the scene. I got there and had no clue of what to do. So I just talked to whomever was standing outside. I eventually got to the lady who had just moved into the apartment upstairs in the building that was on fire. The first floor was an auto paint store so the fire department was trying to keep the area clear in case of an explosion. But I had to stay there and get the story. I stayed close to the girl who was watching most of her stuff go up in flames from the side of the street. It was only two days ago that she and her boyfriend moved into an upstairs apartment after she got a job at the paint store. She was crushed and her tears flowed from her reddened eyes. A little phased by her emotion, I told myself I had to talk to her, and I did. She was open, though not completely coherent. I managed to get the story out of her and several other workers at the paint store, the fire chief and the manager at the tire store across the street. I learned a lot by just going out and doing it that day, after all, my dad always shells out the advice "90 percent of life is just showing up." So I guess you can say I was thrown into the fire that day; no pun intended. Jamie Vinson I will return to Eastern Kentucky University in the fall as a junior journalism major, and resume my duties as managing editor of the student newspaper, The Eastern Progress. My experience as an intern at The Winchester Sun greatly exceeded my expectations. The staff welcomed me with open arms and helped answer any questions I had throughout my 10-week internship. I was very impressed with the atmosphere and work ethic of the newsroom. Sun reporters work diligently each day to bring news to the Winchester community, which will serve as an inspiration for me when I return to school in the fall to report campus news. I was most fascinated by a story I wrote only two or three weeks into my internship regarding a bridge built in Clark County. It was only one of five of its kind in the nation. I was able to actually visit the construction site and learn about the construction of the bridge. I was most impressed with how reporters handle daily work in such a fast-paced environment. Working at a daily newspaper was a big adjustment from a weekly newspaper. I learned how to better manage time and stay on top of things. Overall, my internship has strengthened my attitude in pursuing a career in journalism. I now have a better understanding and appreciation for professional journalists and the work they do. Trysh Lynan Holmes Four inches does not do my internship justice. I learned so much more than I can fill this space with. The most important thing I learned at the Georgetown News-Graphic was the value of a small community. I have been a big city girl all my life, Scott County was a big change for me. Unlike a big city, I found that it didn’t take long to meet people. It seems everyone knows everyone else. Kind of like Cheers, Georgetown is a place where everybody knows your name. It was a nice feeling to be accepted into the community as a regular, not just an intern, reporter. That acceptance I found made the job easier, but also allowed me to make friends I won’t soon forget. Matt Mulcahey During my internship with the Community Recorder in Northern Kentucky I learned that the environment of a small town weekly newspaper is extremely laid back and enjoyable. And that as much time is spent waiting for calls to be returned, looking up fantasy league baseball statistics and discussing the merits of “Get Shorty” as is actually spent on work. But I also learned that it takes a lot of stories to cover all the local happenings of small communities. In fact, I do believe I’m a bit burned out. So the answer to the question “What have I learned during my internship” will have to be answered in the form of a list. 1) It is possible to have an unhealthy obsession with professional wrestling. 2) Girls fast pitch softball is actually pretty entertaining. 3) A story about a man with unusually large radishes is enough to make it into a small newspaper. 4) I’m no good at taking pictures. (Unless you’re definition of a good picture is a bunch of corn with no people or kids making goofy faces.) 5) Mice actually do fall for those sticky traps rather easily. 6) There is no breakfast that stimulates creative writing more than cherry coke and peanut butter crackers. 7) Just because someone is the sports editor doesn’t mean they’re any good at basketball. 8) People at college newspapers are way too uptight. 9) Dress codes are for lawyers and accountants and neckties should be confined to those occupations. 10) Being paid to write sure beats working for a living. Liz Baldi So, what do you want to be when you grow up? A doctor? A lawyer? A journalist? For me, the answer to this burning question was never easy. I had always toyed with the idea of being a writer, but never quite really knew what kind of writer I wanted to be. Did I want to write books? Work for a magazine? Or, did I want to be an investigative reporter, deep in the trenches, fighting for truth and justice? This summer I had an opportunity to do an internship with Landmark Community Newspapers Inc., working at two papers, the News-Democrat in Carrollton, and the Oldham Era, in La Grange. It was an eye-opening experience and I learned many life lessons of Journalism 101. Lesson 1: A mother’s grief is endless when you misspell her deceased son’s name — twice. My professors had always stressed “Get the correct spelling of every name!” Although I had listened intently, this seemed to be one of those mistakes that just had to be learned the hard way. However, it was a lesson well learned, as I never made it again. Lesson 2: Politicians have an incredible propensity for lying to everyone, and an insatiable appetite for infidelity. Lesson 3: There is no such thing as too much detail. Lesson 4: If someone’s child won a pageant, you better run a picture. If someone’s child won a contest, you better run a picture. If someone’s child played little league, you better run a picture. It may seem tedious, but in these small communities, people live to see their kids name make it in the paper. Lesson 5: It takes team work to get a paper out, no matter how large or small the paper is. Everyone plays in integral part. The past 10 weeks were a blast. I made new friends, I was exposed to new experiences and I had fun. Most importantly, I finally figured out what I want to be when I grow up; a doctor.
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