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...
Wednesday, February 15, 2012
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!
Wednesday, November 23, 2011
Week 10: BalletX
This past Wednesday, I reported on a collaboration between Andrew Jackson Public School in South Philly and BalletX, a contemporary dance company from the Wilma Theater. A composer who works with BalletX recieved a grant to engage in the creative process a community considered underserved in the performing arts. Over a six-month period, the composer and a choreographer worked with students in the school's "rock band" to create a ballet.
I spent the morning at Jackson, interviewing student musicians and sitting in on a band practice. It was my second time at the school; I went there to cover Sandra Day O'Connor's tour of Philadelphia in Semptember. I then went to the Wilma, and talked the choreographer who was gearing up for that night's premiere.
Because I attended the evening performance, my shift was broken up, leaving me with the whole afternoon free. Rather than making an unnessary trip back to Delaware, I poked around South Philly and got some school work done at a cafe before the performance.
The ballet was great--it was my first time covering a performance, and I had a blast.
Friday's shift was dedicated to writing the piece, which went in Monday's installment of "In Education."
I spent the morning at Jackson, interviewing student musicians and sitting in on a band practice. It was my second time at the school; I went there to cover Sandra Day O'Connor's tour of Philadelphia in Semptember. I then went to the Wilma, and talked the choreographer who was gearing up for that night's premiere.
Because I attended the evening performance, my shift was broken up, leaving me with the whole afternoon free. Rather than making an unnessary trip back to Delaware, I poked around South Philly and got some school work done at a cafe before the performance.
The ballet was great--it was my first time covering a performance, and I had a blast.
Friday's shift was dedicated to writing the piece, which went in Monday's installment of "In Education."
Week 9: Election Night
Instead of my normal Wednesday/Friday shift, I was asked to work Tuesday to help out with PA election coverage. As returns came in online, I entered data that would go into the next day's graphics displaying the election results. Sort of a boring shift, but I did take part a time-honored tradition in newspaper journalism--election night pizza!
Because I worked several long shifts over the past few weeks, I get this Wednesday and Friday off.
Because I worked several long shifts over the past few weeks, I get this Wednesday and Friday off.
Week 8: Mitt Romney Protest
That Friday I was assigned to cover Occupy Philly again. The occupiers along with several progressive political action groups (MoveOn.org, Democracy Now) had planned a march from the Dilworth Plaza encampment to Rittenhouse Square Hotel, where GOP nominee and former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney was holding a fundraiser. To get some background and a feel for the Occupy movement, I spent the morning at the encampment, talking to occupants and taking notes on the scene.
To avoid the half mile walk back to the Inky newsroom, I collected my notes and made some phone calls at the paper's City Hall bureau and dictated the story to my editor. I then made my way to the encapment for the march, but not before a calamitous scenario in which I found myself locked in a City Hall bathroom for 15 minutes. When I was finally liberated, I caught up with the protesters at Rittenhouse. They demonstrated for about an hour then marched in a circuitous route around Center City for several more. Next time, I will bring a heavier coat.
The protesters then returned to the encampment, where I stayed for another hour or so to cover the action. At about 7:00, I dictated my notes to an editor and departed for the night. Yet another long, but exciting day!
To avoid the half mile walk back to the Inky newsroom, I collected my notes and made some phone calls at the paper's City Hall bureau and dictated the story to my editor. I then made my way to the encapment for the march, but not before a calamitous scenario in which I found myself locked in a City Hall bathroom for 15 minutes. When I was finally liberated, I caught up with the protesters at Rittenhouse. They demonstrated for about an hour then marched in a circuitous route around Center City for several more. Next time, I will bring a heavier coat.
The protesters then returned to the encampment, where I stayed for another hour or so to cover the action. At about 7:00, I dictated my notes to an editor and departed for the night. Yet another long, but exciting day!
Wednesday, November 9, 2011
Week Seven: From Cheesesteaks to Sit-ins
I spent my morning covering a plaque dedication in front of Geno's Steaks in South Philly honoring its late owner, Joey Vento. Vento was a big supporter of the first responder community, so the city's FOP honored him with the ceremony they typically use for fallen officers.
This was a very fun assignment. Police officers, kids from Annunciation BVM (the neighborhood school) and other community members flanked all sides of the block as visiting Mummers played Sinatra-era hits. Police Commissioner Ramsey made a few comments memorializing Vento. Cheesesteaks, cops and Catholic school kids--how much more Philly can you get? This city can sometimes be a caricature of itself.
I ran into Ramsey later in the day at Occupy Philly protest at the Comcast Center. The occupants were protesting corporate greed and police brutality in solidarity with the violent in Oakland, Ca. that week. It was quite the scene. I stuck around for the whole protest and saw 9 Occupy members get hauled away in police vans.
I spoke with protesters and dictated the story back to my editors for an online update. I'm getting better at that kind of spot coverage. It was initially hard to get past the record-transcribe-contemplate-write model of reporting, but it's essential for newspaper writing. I'm getting the hang of it.
A very interesting day in Philadelphia.
This was a very fun assignment. Police officers, kids from Annunciation BVM (the neighborhood school) and other community members flanked all sides of the block as visiting Mummers played Sinatra-era hits. Police Commissioner Ramsey made a few comments memorializing Vento. Cheesesteaks, cops and Catholic school kids--how much more Philly can you get? This city can sometimes be a caricature of itself.
I ran into Ramsey later in the day at Occupy Philly protest at the Comcast Center. The occupants were protesting corporate greed and police brutality in solidarity with the violent in Oakland, Ca. that week. It was quite the scene. I stuck around for the whole protest and saw 9 Occupy members get hauled away in police vans.
I spoke with protesters and dictated the story back to my editors for an online update. I'm getting better at that kind of spot coverage. It was initially hard to get past the record-transcribe-contemplate-write model of reporting, but it's essential for newspaper writing. I'm getting the hang of it.
A very interesting day in Philadelphia.
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