For my advanced broadcast journalism class, we have to shoot and edit our own packages. Although I was a little apprehensive regarding the shooting my own video part, it has really grown on me and I have developed a pretty good eye for shooting...if I do say so myself.
Well, I always have good ideas for my packages, especially feature stories--last semester I did one on the installation of the Share the Road signs in Baton Rouge and on LSU's Rowing Team that builds and pays for everything on its own since it is not funded by the University.
I usually have good ideas for hard news stories too, but I have been avoiding stories that deal with the government because I feel like government officials do not want to waste their time with a meesly college student's project.
Well, this time around I faced my fears--I am doing a story on Louisiana's Cash for Appliances program that begins next week. I interviewed the Deputy Secretary for the Department of Natural Resources, since this department is in charge of the program. And, suprisingly, she was very nice and easy to work with. And, I hope to do more stories in the future about the energy saving programs that they are working on for the state of Louisiana.
Currently, I'm in the process of shooting b-roll for the package and then editing it all on Monday. I still need to get an interview with someone from Best Buy or Sears to see how they are preparing for the program.
What I learned: Don't be intimadated by someone's job title. If they can help you, they most likely will. If they can't help, don't look at it as rejection. Instead, look at it as an opportunity to find another source who may have more knowledge about a topic or may know people that can help you with your package.
