It's been too long

Ah, it's been much too long since I've last blogged.

Sometimes I get caught up in how many updates this world demands and temporarily lost touch with some; tweets, Facebook status, pic, video and relationship updates, the community update of working in a daily newspaper, my personal archaically hand-written journal, phone conversations with out of state relative and friend updates, and of course this blog.

I apologize for the abeyance.

I have 11 more work days with the Daily Camera. They moved me to the primary night cops reporter in which my duties include following up with the day's police issues and responding to breaking news if it happens.

I also keep up with daily stories that are usually cutesie and relatively easy to do.

Here are a couple of my very newsy stories:

http://www.dailycamera.com/news/2009/jul/21/boulder-man-dies-poppy-pod-tea-overdose/

http://www.dailycamera.com/news/2009/jul/28/sen-rollie-heath-has-cancer-surgery/

http://www.dailycamera.com/news/2009/jul/14/boulder-police-responding-report-helium-leak/

Mexican family moves to Boulder to fight 12-year old girl's cancer

Another thing that I like about the news biz is the fact that I can help people. I can be the voice the voice-lass, and be the story-teller for those without the courage.

"It's a public service," Zak Brown, Daily Camera staff member said about being in the newspaper business.

Here is a story where I was the voice:

http://www.dailycamera.com/news/2009/jun/05/mexican-family-moves-boulder-fight-12-year-olds-ca/

Boulder introduces a new sport

One thing I like about being in the news business is being in the know.

Two Boulder businessmen have crafted Boulder's newest outdoor adventure sport the Motomarathon.

http://www.dailycamera.com/news/2009/jun/05/two-businessmen-put-a-new-sport-in-full-throttle/

fly

A man jumps into a public swimming pool in Duesseldorf, western Germany, on May 25, as an airplane prepares to land. Temperatures rose that day to 86 F.

This picture is from MSNBC.com pictures of the week.

So inspirational. Good photo journalism.

center package

The following link will lead you to the Daily Camera homepage. Right now, and until the page is updated for something more weighty and significant, the page is home to my weather story. The story is about leaky roofs due to spring showers, and was also featured on the front page of the printed edition as well.

http://www.dailycamera.com/

Today is day 11. Third week on the job.

I have established a little space of my own here. I like my desk and the way it is oriented in the newsroom, I feel comfortable here.

Similarly, I think the news staff is getting more comfortable with me. I am getting more responsibility with stories, I am producing better quality work for the publication. I am understanding what my editors expect from me, and am trying to fulfill their expectations as best as I can.

The Daily Camera is different than the Fort Collins Coloradoan. Here, there is more value placed on investigative reporting, getting deep and propelling angles for newsworthy topics. There are only four articles on the front page, and thus there is less of a necessity for quantity as much as quality, and I feel the staff truly embody that message. Do good work.

Today I am working on a local business story about two guys who have started a new sport called motomarathon. They have also established the organization that will sponsor the event from now on. A little money-making scheme to support a sport that they are passionate about....that is the way to make money.

I am also working on a story about Movement Climbing & Fitness, a local gym that is being built in Boulder. It is the first net-zero commercial building in Colorado, the only internationally approved indoor climbing wall in Boulder, and has full cardio, weights and yoga.

Stay tuned for updates.

Ta ta for now.

day three at the Camera

Today is Thursday, day number three of internship number two.

I worked on two projects today, and continued work on a personal story that I took on. First, I drove to Erie to interview a Erie High School graduate for a small student spotlight. Later, I drove to Louisville to write a story on the implementation of two community patios introduced to the downtown area in order to bring a sizzle and ambiance to the area. (Actually one of my editors is reading that story now....I hope he doesn't have too many issues with it....here the editors really tell you when they don't like your story, sentences, verbs, etc.)

The personal story I am working on is one I pitched yesterday and got the OK. It's a story about a guy who is starting a 9 acre farm, and turning to the community for support and volunteer time. I'll weave in statistics about other local community gardens, eating locally, organic food and seeds in general, and how the economy effects it all.

I'm excited about that story.

Hopefully this one that Ryan is reading now makes the cut. I think it may.

New internship

Well, I've slipped to the bottom of the totem pole.

As a fresh intern in a new newsroom I don't have any of the respect or trust I earned with the Coloradoan.

It will take a while to establish myself here, take a while for me to feel comfortable in this environment.

Yesterday I was assigned a petty story on University of Colorado classes available to the public on on weekends dubbed CU on the Weekend (real clever name, eh?). It didn't really have any news value, I didn't think. The classes are already underway, the summer session kicked off last Saturday so we missed the timeliness aspect....etc. Nevertheless I tried to produce something worthwhile, put in some good verbs and catchy sentences. In the end I don't feel too bad about it.

It will be interesting trying to get myself established. A hard road, but an important journey.

Jean