End of the line

Well, last Thursday was my last day of work. I had to finish up on Thursday because I went to Philadelphia for the Phillies College Media Day and I needed a few days off (this week) before the semester started up. I had so much fun doing this internship because I was able to write pregame stories, interview players and most importantly, get on air. I now have a cd with all of my pieces on it that I can add to my resume. Not only do I have newspaper writing experience, I have a little radio background, too. I think it was very important to get that because it, as my Mom says, "opens a new can of worms"...in this case, a good thing. I'm planning on contacting some of the students at WVUD or someone at The River and see if they have an opening. Even if it's just interviewing players and cutting clips, it'll make me better at it and it's another thing to add to my resume.

On my last day at WCTC, I sat through the weekly Big East coaches teleconference. Unfortunately, there were no crank calls this week. The station has some sort of relationship with ABC radio (I'm not exactly clear on the specifics) but I went on their site and got clips from Super Bowl Media Day regarding the Giants. After collecting these clips, I wrote little 30 second blurbs to go along with them and they would air Saturday and Sunday of Super Bowl weekend. How fitting that my last assignment was on my favorite sports team? I did all of the other work they had for me and left an hour before I was scheduled to because they didn't have anything else for me to do. It was good to hear that I did a good job from both my boss and coworkers becasue I had ZERO radio experience a month ago and they took a chance with me. My boss told me to keep in touch with him, which I plan on doing, and hopefully after I graduate, they'll consider bringing me back.

Last week

So today was the first day of my last week at WCTC. I had hoped the week would go smoothly, but so far, it's been very frustrating. I was attempting to voice my final on-air pregame piece (for the big rivalry game against Seton Hall on Wednesday night), but it took longer than I had expected or wanted. I've voiced at least 4 pieces while being here and figured it would get easier...you know, practice makes perfect. In my first attempt, I was told I was "singing the words too much." On try # 2, I was told that I sounded like I was being secretive with my words and it sounded like I was "broadcasting from the back of my parents car."-- What does that mean?! Try #3 didn't work because I cut out my mic too quickly so ".... huge" sounded like "...hugg." Finally, #4 was perfect. I sounded much better and didn't cut out too quickly. Good thing because I would have needed to take a break and maybe get some air because I was getting very irritated.

I'm waiting to get back into the booth to get the 4:40 weather feed and then head over to the RAC and watch men's practice. I get to interview J.R. Inman so I'm excited because he actually plays and is the best player on the the team. I'd rather interview him than some guy from Senegal or a walk-on freshman who doesn't play.

I've started brining my iPod to practice because I have to sit there for at least an hour and it's not like I need to hear Fred Hill yelling at the players, so I make it a little more enjoyable. If only I could get a portable tv or laptop, I'd be good. Maybe some food...

Crank Calls

Today was hands down the best day of work...in terms of humor. I got in this morning at 10am and connected to the women's Big East basketball teleconference like I do every Thursday morning. So after listening to that for an hour, I had to disconnected and jump to the men's call that began at 11.

Everything seemed according to plan and normal until one "member of the media" asked Marquette men's coach Tom Crean (and I quote), "If [he's] ever put his balls in his players' faces and if so, did they like it?" I was floored! The coached had no clue what was going on and replied, "I don't understand." The caller hung up. We all figured one person had called up and pretended to be a media member to mess around...we were wrong. Throughout the entire conference call, which lasted a little more than an hour, countless crank callers dialed in asking coaches inappropriate comments. They started out blatantly asking these disgusting questions, then decided to cover them up with a serious question like the following cranker:

"Coach, you guys played against Georgetown's Roy Hibbert last week. He's been playing very well this year. How excited does that make all of the white bitches on campus?"

Again, these are direct quotes from these crankers. The moderator of the teleconference personally said 'yes' or 'no' to those media members in que to ask a question. I found it very strange that a "reporter" from the Sacramento Bee would care about the Big East on the other coast. These (what I'm assuming are kids) pretended to be reporters from newspapers or radio stations. The best is when one of them gave a fake name for a paper like the Hartford Courant, was denied his question, only to be followed by the REAL reporter from the Courant!

So after that hoopla was complete and I got at least a solid hour of laughing in, I buckled down to business. I cut tape from Seton Hall coach Bobby Gonzalez and wrote a story for it. Unfortunately, the Pirates have two games between now and next Wednesday when they play Rutgers, so I can't voice my piece until Monday.

Bored

I am sooo bored at work today- which is half the reason why I'm posting this at 3pm instead of later in the day. I thought I'd have a decent amount of work to do, but I was wrong. I got the 2:40 weather like I do every day and now I'm killing time until I go to the men's practice to watch and get my interview.

I get to talk to freshman Earl Pettis today. My boss said "I'd be lucky to get a minute" of clip from Earl... sounds like this kid is a great interview... So since I didn't have work yesterday, I get to come in tomorrow instead and cut my Pettis tape and write the feature story on him. It's too bad I can't voice those, but that goes to the pregame host. He's taking my credit again, but when I listen to him, I know I wrote his material. I prefer being on air instead of behind the scenes, but oh well...the life of an intern.

MLK Day

On the most important note (even more than not having work today), the New York Giants beat the Packers last night and are going to the Super Bowl. So not only did that make my weekend, but getting a call from my boss and telling me not to work today added on to it.

He said he contacted the men's basketball contact on Friday to have me go to practice today to get my weekly interview, but the SID wasn't returning his calls. My boss said there was no point in me coming in today since I couldn't go to practice, so I'll go tomorrow.

My mom did a good job spreading the word of my two, count em, two on-air stories this weekend to family and friends. I didn't like who I sounded on Saturday for the men's game, but I had my best piece air on Sunday afternoon. I felt like a local celebrity receiving emails, texts and calls after my bit was over. I was told I "sounded very professional". Let's hope so. It's what I want to hopefully do with my life...

Alright. I think this is good enough for today. Work 2-7 tomorrow and sitting in on another Big East teleconference Thursday morning. GO GIANTS!

Two Times the Fun

Not only will I be on air before the women's game against Louisville on Sunday, today at work I did a piece for the men's pregame show on Saturday. Looks like my on-air stories are growing exponetially week by week! I sat in on the second part of the Big East men's basketball coach teleconference today and cut clips from DePaul's head coach. Looks like I'll be doing that every Thursday morning for the men's and women's teleconferences and cutting clips for RU's upcoming opponents. Not a bad deal.

I've started to call up and record the weather segments on a daily basis. Today I got a little frustrated when I forget, again, to press a button to reach the weather service. My supervisor got on my case a little, but I think I impressed everyone with the stories I recorded later that day. I think I should have my title changed to Sports & Weather intern. I won't put that on my resume...just the sports part.

My boss said my piece on the Louisville women's head coach was the best he's heard me since I've been working there. I've only cut three stories... I sat around before I recorded and spoke into the mic and messed around with my levels and speed. I'm getting more comfortable with the headset on and microphone in front of my face. They say practice makes perfect.

Anyways, no work tomorrow so I get a nice three day weekend. Yes, unfortunately, I have to work on MLK Day. I'll be going to a men's practice and interviewing a player like I usually do. I can't wait to hear myself on the radio Saturday AND Sunday afternoon!!!

First post

So I figured it would be a good idea to get this blog underway even though I have been working at WCTC since before Christmas. The first few days were a little tough having to learn all of the ins and outs with the radio equipment. I've only had to deal with a laptop and voice recorder in my years of journalism, but now I have to learn how to record, transfer and edit sound clips. At first it was hard and now, I can do it in my sleep.

After learning the equipment, I learned how a sports broadcast was done. I sat between my boss (the voice of Rutgers basketball) and his color commentator during a men's and women's basketball broadcast. I got to see first hand how things were done and how involved the commentators were during the game. There were so many things I saw that went on that a listener wouldn't have the slightest clue about unless they were there.

I finally got my first assignment and had to go to a men's basketball practice and conduct an interview. It was easy because I've been interviewing people for 4 years now. I was more worried about my microphone not working more than anything. Luckily, everything went smoothly and I'm going to practice at least once a week and conducting an interview for a pregame show.

I made my radio debut on the men's basketball pregame show this past Sunday. I sat in on a Big East coaches' teleconference during the week and pulled clips from Louisville head coach Rick Pitino and wrote a story around it. I recorded my story and dubbed in the clips and it aired before the game!

Today, I'm doing the same thing for the women's game against Louisville this weekend.