For a recent story, I got to revisit a childhood favorite: American Girl dolls. Each of historically-themed dolls comes with its own book series and "my-size" clothing, and each year the Camden Ronald McDonald house partners with the doll company to put on a fashion show fundraiser.
One of the original models from the fundraiser's inception 16 years ago is Sammi-Jo Danze, the reigning Miss New Jersey United States. I visited the Ronald McDonald House in downtown Camden to interview Danze, talk to the people at the House and meet a current model and her parents. It was fun to see how excited the younger "model"was to walk down runway dressed in her Julie doll outfit.
Tuesday, April 3, 2012
Black History in the Barbershop
At the close of Black History Month, I covered a storytelling/sing-a-long event at RC's Tonsorial Barbershop in downtown Camden. It was the kind of event story I live for. The kind where, but for my notepad and pen, I would be so utterly out of place.
Civil War re-enactors, members of the Buffalo Soldier motorcycle team and dozens from the community crowded in the small corner barbershop to sing freedom hymns and share stories about their history. The highlight was speaking with RC himself, a very wise man with an incredible beard. He told me about growing up in Camden during the Civil Rights movement and raising his children in the same neighborhood.
I'm enjoying getting to know Camden as something other than "that place over the bridge where I'm not to get lost."
Civil War re-enactors, members of the Buffalo Soldier motorcycle team and dozens from the community crowded in the small corner barbershop to sing freedom hymns and share stories about their history. The highlight was speaking with RC himself, a very wise man with an incredible beard. He told me about growing up in Camden during the Civil Rights movement and raising his children in the same neighborhood.
I'm enjoying getting to know Camden as something other than "that place over the bridge where I'm not to get lost."
A Camden Legend
Midway through my internship, I was assigned to help out with a article memorializing Melvin "Randy" Primas, former Camden mayor and a pillar of the community. I was given a list of names to call to get a better picture of who he was, what he stood for, what his legacy will be. It's always tough talking to people about death--let alone complete strangers--but everyone I talked to was willing to share their memories of Primas with me.
I got to work with a pretty senior reporter on this story, which was neat. Though S. Jersey is a bit slower, I'm liking how the smaller newsroom makes approaching other reporters less scary. In the vast newsroom at 400 N. Broad, I'd have to allot 30-45 seconds of deep, yogic breathing before I said hi to anyone.
I got to work with a pretty senior reporter on this story, which was neat. Though S. Jersey is a bit slower, I'm liking how the smaller newsroom makes approaching other reporters less scary. In the vast newsroom at 400 N. Broad, I'd have to allot 30-45 seconds of deep, yogic breathing before I said hi to anyone.
Tuesday, March 20, 2012
A funny thing happened on the way to the scene...
In my second week at the South Jersey Bureau I covered a tragic school bus accident in Burlington county that led to the death of an 11-year-old girl and the severe injuries of her twin sister and another young boy on the bus. Because New Jersey is one of the few states that requires seat belts in its school buses, the National Transportation Safety Board was called in to investigate the cause of the accident.
The school supposedly held grief counseling sessions for students, parents and community members the morning after the accident. It was my job to hang outside the school and interview those exiting the meetings, hoping to find out details about the young girl's personality, interests, etc. After driving 45 minutes to the school, I arrived to an empty parking lot.
But it paid to make the trip. The NTSB was giving a press conference later that afternoon and the local police station, and I was expected to report back to newsroom on what was said.
I stuck around the school for 15 minutes for the off chance that someone might emerge from the building. That never happened, but I did spot several news trucks circling the sleepy country town and proceeded to follow one headed toward the scene of the accident: a flashing yellow light intersection between two sleepy country roads. As I was headed there, ANOTHER accident occurred. It was a minor fender bender, but still a little unsettling.
This second accident created a huge backup at the intersection, so I couldn't pull over to talk to the police officers at the intersection for an additional 15 minutes. When I was finally able to park on the shoulder, I got out and spoke to a few police officers at the scene. Sure enough, the cops had no knowledge of the previous day's accident or the one that took place less than an hour before.
Just shy of defeated, I walked back to my car, put the key in the ignition....and it didn't start. My trusty wheels (which are two years my senior) failed on me. And I was stranded in Burlington County. With 45 minutes to get to the press conference.
Fortunately I was saved by one of the news trucks who let me hitch a ride to the police station. I stayed for the press conference and made arrangements with my Dad (another savior) to rescue me and have my car towed (back to Wilmington).
In the interim, I looked for a quiet place to organize my notes and dictate them back to another reporter in the newsroom. What I found was happy hour at the Chesterfield Inn. Over a cacophony of country music and unhinged conversation, I managed to dictate my notes to my colleague over the phone. By my second visit to the complimentary pizza buffet (a weekly ritual for Chesterfieldians), my Dad had arrived.
Though myaccounting major friends roll their eyes at the endless series of bizarre situations that is a career in journalism, I'm still game for the adventure. Especially when there's free pizza.
The school supposedly held grief counseling sessions for students, parents and community members the morning after the accident. It was my job to hang outside the school and interview those exiting the meetings, hoping to find out details about the young girl's personality, interests, etc. After driving 45 minutes to the school, I arrived to an empty parking lot.
But it paid to make the trip. The NTSB was giving a press conference later that afternoon and the local police station, and I was expected to report back to newsroom on what was said.
I stuck around the school for 15 minutes for the off chance that someone might emerge from the building. That never happened, but I did spot several news trucks circling the sleepy country town and proceeded to follow one headed toward the scene of the accident: a flashing yellow light intersection between two sleepy country roads. As I was headed there, ANOTHER accident occurred. It was a minor fender bender, but still a little unsettling.
This second accident created a huge backup at the intersection, so I couldn't pull over to talk to the police officers at the intersection for an additional 15 minutes. When I was finally able to park on the shoulder, I got out and spoke to a few police officers at the scene. Sure enough, the cops had no knowledge of the previous day's accident or the one that took place less than an hour before.
Just shy of defeated, I walked back to my car, put the key in the ignition....and it didn't start. My trusty wheels (which are two years my senior) failed on me. And I was stranded in Burlington County. With 45 minutes to get to the press conference.
Fortunately I was saved by one of the news trucks who let me hitch a ride to the police station. I stayed for the press conference and made arrangements with my Dad (another savior) to rescue me and have my car towed (back to Wilmington).
In the interim, I looked for a quiet place to organize my notes and dictate them back to another reporter in the newsroom. What I found was happy hour at the Chesterfield Inn. Over a cacophony of country music and unhinged conversation, I managed to dictate my notes to my colleague over the phone. By my second visit to the complimentary pizza buffet (a weekly ritual for Chesterfieldians), my Dad had arrived.
Though my
Wednesday, February 15, 2012
New semester, new bureau
I've had the great fortune of continuing my experience at the Inquirer into the spring semester, this time at the paper's South Jersey Bureau in Cherry Hill.
My first day back was last Wednesday, Feb. 8, and I started at the Center City newsroom to sort out some administrative business before starting in Jersey. With a few obstacles (traffic circle mishaps), I arrived at the Cherry Hill office where I met my editor, Cindy Henry who showed me around the newsroom. The pace and general ambiance in Jersery is much more relaxed than at the Broad Street newsroom--I think I'll miss the excitement, but enjoy the more intimate atmosphere here in Cherry Hill.
My first assignment is the retirement of the NJ state librarian, Norma Blake. I spoke with her and some of her colleagues last week, and the story should run sometime this week.
Today, I'll be visiting Overbrook High School to interview an art teacher her student who is a contestant in a rather peculiar art competition. In a contest put on by the Lucerne Dairy company, this 10th grader has been tasked with decorating a full-sized likeness of an adult cow. I've begun racking my brain for funny cow jokes for the lede...
My first day back was last Wednesday, Feb. 8, and I started at the Center City newsroom to sort out some administrative business before starting in Jersey. With a few obstacles (traffic circle mishaps), I arrived at the Cherry Hill office where I met my editor, Cindy Henry who showed me around the newsroom. The pace and general ambiance in Jersery is much more relaxed than at the Broad Street newsroom--I think I'll miss the excitement, but enjoy the more intimate atmosphere here in Cherry Hill.
My first assignment is the retirement of the NJ state librarian, Norma Blake. I spoke with her and some of her colleagues last week, and the story should run sometime this week.
Today, I'll be visiting Overbrook High School to interview an art teacher her student who is a contestant in a rather peculiar art competition. In a contest put on by the Lucerne Dairy company, this 10th grader has been tasked with decorating a full-sized likeness of an adult cow. I've begun racking my brain for funny cow jokes for the lede...
Sunday, December 4, 2011
Week 12: Occupy/In Education
This past Wednesday I contributed to a story about Occupy Philly's demonstration in front of police headquarters. They were awaiting the release of more than 50 fellow protesters who were arrested Tuesday with charges of failure to disperse, criminal conspiracy and obstructing the highway. I first went to police HQ to check out the scene as Occupiers arrived in droves to protest the arrests, then quickly made my way to the Criminal Justice Center to watch the arraignments of the protestors. My first experience court reporting was about as boring as my editors promised it would be.
I spent this Friday, my last day at the Inky, working on an education feature that will go in the paper in a few weeks. I'm writing about a community service organization called Build On that provides after-school community service programs to high school kids in several US cities. I went into two Philly schools that participate in the program and also interviewed BuildOn's development director over the phone. It was a fun assignment; though interviewing younger people is sometimes a challenge, I've really enjoyed all the stories that have brought me into schools.
I spent this Friday, my last day at the Inky, working on an education feature that will go in the paper in a few weeks. I'm writing about a community service organization called Build On that provides after-school community service programs to high school kids in several US cities. I went into two Philly schools that participate in the program and also interviewed BuildOn's development director over the phone. It was a fun assignment; though interviewing younger people is sometimes a challenge, I've really enjoyed all the stories that have brought me into schools.
Week 11
In my 11th week at The Inquirer, I wrote a short story about tips to avoid consumer-related crime on Black Friday. The assignment was pretty straightforward. The District Attorney and deputy Police Commissioner held a short press conference alerting the public on internet and in-store scams expected this holiday season, and I tapped out the story in 20-30 minutes. Got to leave early and beat the Wednesday before Thanksgiving traffic!
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