Slacker

I have been such a slacker on this blog.

Sorry- I’m trying to remember to blog more, but I always seem to forget because I’ve been doing so many things. Many of my friends have informed me that Ryan is much better at blogging than me. But hey, I might be better if I only had photos to put on a blog. 🙂 (I mean that in the best way possible, Ryan.)

OK anyway, I’m still doing well in NYC. I’m slowly running out of money, which was to be expected but is still no fun either way. Nevertheless, I just want to make sure that I’m doing everything I can be while I’m here. Which reminds me, I need to try to find more journalism-y lectures while here! Ryan and I have already gone to listen to a NY Times multimedia producer give a lecture at B&H. That was awesome.

What to do, what to do

The most recent highlights of my time here: Bryant Park (every Monday for free movies), Museum of Natural History, Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre (we saw an improv show there- Mo Rocca, Bobby Moynihan, and John Lutz were some of the comedians there),  Metropolitan Museum of Art, Coney Island/Hudson River for the 4th, American Ballet Theatre’s Romeo and Juliet, etc. You can check out my Facebook album that has photos I’ve taken so far while here.

Work it

Work is still going well. Today I went to a News Practices & Standards session where I learned about policies and such. Basically, I’m not allowed to blog in detail about what I’m doing before it is published/broadcasted. But I will say that I’m working more on original stuff that I’ve written, recorded and started to edit.

I went to an intern meeting yesterday, too, where a group of us could meet with HR interns and speak candidly about our internships. There I found out how lucky I’ve been with NBC Mobile. I can actually get my hands on whatever really- editing, writing, shooting- and do what I want with footage I find. Some people in this HR session definitely didn’t sound like they were too happy with what they were doing. Thank goodness I’m actually getting to spend valuable time on projects.

I just can’t believe I have like three weeks left at NBC and in New York! It feels like there’s still so much to do in the city before I go.

I am excited for Mom and Dad to come the weekend before my birthday! And hopefully Leah and Justin can come, too. Then Sachi and Michelle are here, and then I’m basically home. Yikes!

New York state of mind

I think I better understand the general New Yorker’s state of mind. Everyone here is just busy. Plain and simple. There are millions of people here with millions of schedules and probably billions of things to worry about. I get it.

But sometimes, I just want to shake some of the people I see on the street here and say, “You’re in New York City! You can do whatever you want to do tonight!” I just think that so many natives here are so busy and so cynical that they don’t always appreciate the amazing city in which they live.

It’s so easy to get tense and upset about the littlest things here. I catch myself becoming a bit tense at times over dumb things like slow walkers or the grammar of people on the streets, so I can’t even imagine the kind of tension that New Yorkers have.

But then again, I find myself asking if they even have tension. New Yorkers, in general, seem to be so oblivious to their surroundings that even a man in a costume shouting absurdities down the street wouldn’t faze them. So it could be that no one cares enough about the people around them or surroundings to have that much tension here.

Like I said, I’m only beginning to somewhat understand the mindset here. I don’t think I get it. And wouldn’t be able to until I live here for a good year. But who knows if that will ever happen.

I love New York, but I do miss my family and friends back in Kansas. Hope all is well with everyone reading this.

Much, much love.

Week 1: Done

So sorry I haven’t blogged in a while.

I’ve been adjusting to my new schedule and sightseeing and walking all over the city, etc. Anyway,  I’ve added new photos to my Picasa album, if you haven’t checked it out.

NBC (so far)

Last Thursday was my first day with NBC. Basically, they showed me how to operate an Avid, which was pretty overwhelming, and explained how and where they upload the video clips. My head was pretty full of information, but luckily they told me that I should feel like my brain was about to explode.

My supervisor, Kim, is really nice along with everyone else in NBC Mobile. From what I’ve learned, NBC Mobile is relatively new (maybe about four or five years old) and therefore, still kind of under the radar. But it is getting more attention especially with this new focus on digital media. I feel great to be a part of something like it.

To be honest, I was very intimidated to learn all of this video editing stuff. I’ve shot and edited some video before in my reporting classes, but not to this extent,  AND it was done using the Final Cut Pro/Express software on Macs. The Avid is much more keyboard-oriented than what I’m used to, but I think already I’m adjusting.

Besides editing on my first day, I also went down to a small studio a couple floors down called the Nook. It’s in the same hallway as the studios for Nightly News (pretty sweet). Anyway, down there we film short “buzzes,” like an entertainment buzz, weird news buzz, etc. Basically, it’s either a short update, or an interview with someone of importance, or a small newscast- you get the idea. When I go down there, I help set up the camera and lights.

Coincidentally, also on my first day, the guy in Mobile who does most of the interview/buzz updates asked me to go along with him on an interview so I’d see what they were like. Well, that day he walked down to the NBC Experience Store to interview Moby. So, it was pretty cool to meet a celeb/singer on my first day. I don’t think I’ll mind that part of this internship.

The second day definitely gave me a better sense of what my shifts are going to be. In the morning, I’ll cut and upload Today show updates – one at 8 a.m. and one at 9 p.m. and send it out to our mobile carriers. Then, I scan MSNBC for interesting stories, speeches, anything really to be also cut and sent out to our carriers. (The first day I felt pretty cool- I sent out Obama’s speech in Cairo, Egypt and his speech the second day after he had visited concentration camps in Germany). Also throughout the day, I help with whatever else. At 9 a.m., 12 p.m., and 3 p.m., I set up the Nook for updates.

I know it’s normal, but I felt annoying because I was asking so many questions on Friday. Of course, everyone was very helpful and nice. I was feeling a bit more comfortable using the Avid by the end of the day, but still, I hope I get the hang of it soon.

Oh, apparently I can go up to see the SNL set! One of the guys in the Mobile department asked if I had done that yet and then said I could go up there as long as I had my ID . . . and if I didn’t steal anything. I can’t wait. I don’t know when I’ll do it, but hopefully it’ll be soon.

First weekend of a summer in the city

After I got off on Friday, Megan, Ryan and I went to the MoMA (free admission on Fridays- whoo hoo!). We met up with a friend from KU. He just graduated from KU and worked on the Kansan with Ryan and I. Right now he’s living in Brooklyn and is interning for his brother’s art gallery.

The museum was amazing – of course! My favorite part was the Jackson Pollock gallery, but we definitely didn’t see the whole museum. I can’t wait to go back. Maybe I won’t go on a Friday though. There were a TON of people, which is just weird to me in a museum. Strangely enough, it’s not as enjoyable to me. *You can check out some pics from the museum in my Picasa album*

Other events of the weekend included a tram ride to Roosevelt Island, a trip to Brooklyn (and walking over the Brooklyn Bridge), a visit to Dylan’s Candy Bar, a trip to Ground Zero, Trinity Church and Wall Street. Also, tonight we went to the Taste of Times Square, which was fun. You could buy tickets and then use them at different tents where various restaurants were serving food. I had ribs (surprise, surprise) and banana fosters cheesecake. Yummmmmy.

Also, I should mention that we met up with our *before-mentioned* friend, Tyler, in Brooklyn. His brother’s art gallery was showing some short films produced by artists. It was fun. They showed the films in a parking lot on some semi-trucks’ trailors. It’s strange how different Brooklyn is from Manhattan, but I loved it. It was quiet and quaint. I definitely want to go back.

Most, if not all, of the things that we did can be found in the Picasa album. Also, if you’re interested. You can get Ryan’s photographic perspective on NYC from his blog. Check it out. It’s pretty great.

I think that’s all for now. I’ve got NBC tomorrow from 1-7 p.m. I’ll be there Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays from now until August 6. My next task is to find a PAYING job. Bath & Body Works isn’t looking so bad right now. I’ve talked to them some. Tomorrow I think I’ll go by. Wish me luck.

Anyway, love to all. Leave comments or email me or call me anytime. 🙂