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?
