Day In the Life of a Reporter

A few weeks back, I was interviewing Jennifer Deng, valedictorian of Sylvania's Southview High School, at Chandler Cafe downtown. After I asked her many questions about graduation and future plans, she asked me a question.

 “Is this what you do all day?” she said.

For a moment, I didn't know how to reply. But then I explained that as a reporter, every day is kind of different, but yes, interviewing people and hearing their stories really is what I do every day. I feel like there are some days where I talk al day long and after the work day is over, I seek nothing but silence. Other days, I'm staring at my computer screen, typing away and researching facts, barely speaking to anyone except my co-workers and editors.

(Welcome to the newsroom.)

 In case you're wondering, here's what my days are like...

This was my schedule for Wednesday, July 11:

 

8:30-9:00 a.m. Finishing up compiling the crime log

 

10:00 a.m. Writing interview questions for my afternoon interviews

 

11:00 a.m. Writing a short news brief for the Web site

 

12:30-1:10 p.m. Interview at Lourdes University with instructors who started an art camp

 

1:10-1:40 p.m. Meeting with the new Lourdes interim president, Janet Robinson

 

1:40-2:00 p.m. Viewing the art camp at the university firsthand, as they work on their afternoon projects

 

2:15 p.m. Phone call with my editor about what I'm working on

 

2:45-3:45 p.m. Re-reading my notes and writing the story about Janet Robinson

 

4:00 p.m. Sending “budget lines” and other information to my editor

 

4:15 p.m. Checking out the Our Town Sylvania website

 

4:45-5:00 p.m. Confirming interviews for the following day

Busy, huh?

 

Comments

[Bell and Ross]

good post!wow!I seek nothing but silence. Other days, I'm staring at my computer screen, typing away and researching facts, barely speaking to anyone except my co-workers and editors.