Feature story gives insight

My first feature package gave me the chance to express myself and be a little creative. Although I would rather do hard news it was nice doing something a little light for a change. Doing the feature package gave me a chance to explore my creativity and try some new techniques. In addition I got the chance to meet a really nice family. They didn’t have much but they were happy just the same. My feature package is on the Walker Ford center helping a needy family for the holidays. I interviewed the Knight family which consists of 9 people in a 3 bedroom home, and the primary care giver is a 64 year old women living from her social security check. Although she does not have much she still offers people in her community food and welcomes every one with open arms. The most enjoyable part of doing my feature is meeting the Knight family and seeing how they lived despite their lack of financial stability.

If you would like to view my package it's on you tube the address is below

You Tube address: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0ncooZUQnnQ

                                  

True Importance

Every story is important. In order to get the full story on anything a reporter must get involved in all aspects of the story to truly tell it. An audience can tell if you are truly passionate about what you’re reporting, but if the reporter isn’t interested in the story how can anyone else be. For example when I first received my assigned story about a house that was in the community for 13 years and was being reclaimed by the state my first reaction was so what. It’s just a house and it’s going to save the state and tax payers money. It wasn’t until I visited the house to conduct an interview that I saw the beauty of the house. The next person I interviewed used the house regularly and a member of the community. She spoke so highly of the house and what the house meant to her and the school that it really made me see the importance of the story.  It also made me realize the true importance of reporting. Journalism isn’t about looking good for the camera it’s about telling the community’s stories and giving the community a voice.

Trial and Error

During the making of my first package I learned many things, but the one I will say was the most important is being flexible. I thought I could just call on the day I wanted to set up an interview and my interviewee would accommodate me. I soon found out I was wrong. I wanted city commissioner Bill Proctor to be my official interview. So I call his office the morning I wanted to interview him and soon realized that he was unavailable. He had classes all day that day, the next day he had a meeting all day, and the next few days he was going to be out of town on a conference. After hearing that my first thoughts were how can I find him today to get my interview before he leaves town. I did some research and found out where his classes where and waited outside until he was done teaching. I then politely asked him for a moment of his time. I ended up having to do the interview right in front of the building. This situation taught me to always be ready because things can and will change and I have to be ready to adjust in order to get the job done.

Trees

In Living Color

Final Project

Seeing it as a whole.




 Shallow depth of field

       Depth of field

                                                                         Shallow

                                                                           

Depth