Five Minutes....

See me on that chopper baby? Try not to drool, it's still me. Except now I'm an ass kicking SOB that will steal your girlfriend without ever needing to put my Pall Mall down. And my facial hair has increased ten fold. It almost matches the intensity of my chest hair.

Story 1

Story 2

Above are two stories I researched, wrote, and composed that were on the radio this week. The story about the lawsuit was actually quite pressing. It was the intro story on local news that night. Psshhh, local TV news...we got that story up two hours after they took the case to court. They are a bunch of boobs. But, we did take the idea about the foodbank from local TV; so it's a give and take relationship.

There is quite a process to making the news. It starts as an achingly slow procedure that lasts hours, to holding onto your sweaty head because the story has to air in three minutes madness. Take for instance the lawsuit story. I show up to the radio about 9, and just mill about on the internet for an hour. I'm constantly checking every source-from our email to the AP Wire to weird political blogs. In the case of the lawsuit story, we got a press release from MALDEF. I then take the press release to the editor, who tells me that this is important news, and he wants a story for his noon newscast.

I then call up the attorney for MALDEF. Number one rule to journalism is- anyone you call will never pick up. I leave a message and hope for a callback so I can get the clip. I wait until 11:20, realize they won't call, and try to write half-cocked copy from the already limited press release we received. I write the story and speak it into the computer. Then at 11:40 the attorney calls me. I perform a ten minute interview.

It's 11:50. I tell the boss that I want to rewrite the copy to include a clip, and he says that's the plan. By 12:10, after completely redoing the whole story and rerecording my voice, my boss comes into the computer station during his commercial break to listen to my story. He tells me it's good, but I need to ad the word 'alleged' to the story, and that he wants it to air in five minutes. Upon hearing this my sphincter tightens. He leaves the room and I cry salty tears while I try to rerecord the story. I miraculously get it done with 1 minute to spare. I take the story to the chief and he high fives me before I exit the room. While leaving the station, I can hear my disgustingly-unenthusiastic voice being broadcast throughout northern New Mexico.

Ohhh. I wrote nifty little intros for each piece that the newscaster spoke, but I couldn't figure out how to put those intros online. They don't start as abruptly as they seem here online.

That's how it goes down. I really love it. Now I just need to get paid for this stuff. Little steps, grasshopper, little steps....

In my spare time I write useless copy. I try to take an original approach, but I mostly amplify my amateur status. Here is a piece I wrote that will never be used. I want this kinda copy for www.youngperspective.com. News that is interesting. If you have any desire at all to write, please help me once I get the website online. I'm hoping for a January release date.
This is an unedited example of a type of story I would like on youngperspective. To all my friends-start thinking of stories you would like to write about.

They may have jumped the gun, but The New Mexico Sun News is making headlines across the nation. In the latest issue, New Mexico's by-monthly publication has preemptively declared Barack Obama the presidential nominee. With the headline, "Obama Wins," the the editors of the paper are calling the Sun News the first paper in the country to declare the winner of the presidential election.
The article explains that claiming Obama the winner of the election is a strong statement, with the potential to bring a lot of publicity for the paper.
"If we wanted to be first, we had to be bold," explained an editor.
The usually under-the-radar local paper is now making news of its own across the country, with the title drawing plenty of attention throughout the political community. Ultimately, Sun News hopes to avoid a situation like the infamous "Dewey defeats Truman" incident of 1948. Until that happens, Sun News continues to bask in the light of being the first paper to name Obama the country's next president.

I don't write for a paper, so I'm sure the grammar is off. I think it's an interesting story, and I want news like that on youngperspective.

Tattoo the Do

My uncle jumped off the ship and got a tattoo. Jumped off? Jumped on? Whatever....

Weird tangent aside, my uncle got a tattoo. It's boss. We first went to the tattoo parlor on Sunday. Uncle Do was hesitant then. He didn't want one. My aunt was consistent in her desire for him to have one, so we left tattoo shop with a scheduled appointment and a non-committed uncle. We wandered the city, putting up with his wavering attitude. He kept saying, "I'm not sure....I'm not getting one". Excruciating to listen to his moaning.

We haphazardly wandered into one of the many art galleries throughout Santa Fe, and it hit him like a bolt of lightning. He saw a surrealist painting of a stick bird in the dessert. The painting made connections in his subconscious, something about the desert being his life and the antithesis of the corporate world. Or maybe he just liked the piece. Either way, we went back to the tattoo shop, handed them the picture of the dessert-bird, and it was on. He got tattooed the next day at high noon.

The artist who tattooed him was named Crow. She was your standard version of a tattoo artist. Her presence was composed and intimidating, making it seem like she was too cool for me. I was afraid to stand next to her. I find most tattooists intimidating. The tattoo went by without an incident-Standard business. He claimed it didn't hurt, but the pictures I took of him squirming in his chair beg to differ.

I couldn't watch my uncle get a tattoo for long. There are two reasons. First, the intimidating personnel who work at parlors. Second, I start to want some ink. I don't have anything specific in mind, but I want one. I also know I don't want a tattoo. My solution is to stay out of tempting areas, like a tattoo parlor.

I did a real cool story for KSFR. Wait for tomorrow, I'll put it up.

Typewriter Madness

I want a typewriter. Bad. The aesthetics and wonderful sounds of the machine entice me. Works just pour out of my subconscious when I press the keys, getting into that rhythm behind the sound only a typewriter can make. I'm tired of looking at the fluorescent screen of my computer. I priced electronic typewriters today, and I'm going to buy one off of craigslist for $30. I hope it works.

Riders on the Storm

I think the best part about a party is right before the party. The anticipation. Freshman year anticipation may have been the best. Friday night, eating dinner at the dining hall with your friends. Someone in your roommate's class heard there was a party tonight. Everyone is going, even though the situation is sketchy. You gave your roommate thirty dollars so a guy you never met before can get you booze. He buys you 15 dollars worth and keeps the change, but you could care less.

You go to the party. You desperately clutch to your roommate, or anyone else who manages to have a conversation with you. Trying to look cool and casual. The twelve pack that the guy bought does the trick. By the end of the night, your the king of the party; wooing all the women and chatting with everyone. Days later you pass a person who was at the party, who that night you were swearing was your best friend and, "we should hang out sometime". When you pass, you give each other an awkward nod; restricting your chat until the next party meeting. The night rarely went perfect, but it was good.

But then years of crappy parties with awkward conversations and scummy dancing killed the anticipation. The only parties you go to now are the ones where you know everyone -if you go out at all. Parties are mostly a bummer anyway.

I was lucky enough to feel that anticipation again. I hadn't been out in a while. My buddy Joe goes to St. John's college in Santa Fe and he invited me to hang out with him. I was nervous because I didn't know anyone; and I once again felt that excited anticipation. The party was good...real good. It's nice to be in a place where you feel like a stranger and every party is like the first major party of your freshman year.

I rode Harleys with my aunt and uncle today. I need to buy a bike, it's a cool ride. I felt like Peter Fonda from "Easy Rider". It was hard to be too cool; I was restricted to the back seat of my uncle's bike, desperately clutching him to avoid falling off. I guess I was like Jack Nicholson.

"No Story! But it's Sad...."

Remember when I told you about my friend Pete? He's a good guy. He also has a kid on the way.And Pete just lost his job. He was a delivery man who worked hard at his job, was well liked by his bosses, and wanted nothing more than to work hard throughout the day and go skate afterwards. But, due to complicated factors with the tourist industry in Santa Fe and the decline in retail sales, he and two other people were let go from their work. And now, two weeks later, he is stressing out trying to find a labor job that will help him support his family.

I wanted to do a story that involved Pete. Without getting into the specifics; the story was supposed to be about the difficult life of the laborer during the current recession. Cable news focuses on the downfall of people's 401(k)'s, but I wanted a story that talks about the people who are too busy working remedial jobs to have time to worry about a retirement plan. This story seems a tad cliche and obvious, but I thought I could make it work from a local perspective. Because of the economy, the business man can't buy that $500 dollar watch from a Santa Fe boutique , and in turn Pete looses his job. Who has more to worry about?

I researched retail sales across the nation, which are down. Researched retail sales in Santa Fe, which are down. Researched tourism in Santa Fe, which is down. My story was this- laborers are loosing their jobs throughout Santa Fe because of the economy. Tug at the heartstrings kinda thing. I took it to my boss, who is the smartest and most well-respected journalist I have ever met. He looked at it, and quickly pronounced the most important lesson I have learned thus far. "Brett, this isn't a story," he said. "People know this already; the economy is down, low income people will loose their job". He wanted me to look for something that was up in the bad economy. Do a story that starts, "With everything loosing profit these days, people are finding solace in.....uh I don't know.......sleeping pills. The sleeping pill industry is booming". Interesting story? As interesting as real people loosing their jobs?

News is about finding a story that people don't expect. It's too intuitive that Pete lost his job. I can't turn a personal story into real news. Ultimately, my boss said I could go through with the story, but I could tell he wasn't interested. I let it go.

Journalism is hard. Stories that you care about, others could care less. I know the story wasn't much of an actual story, but I thought I could help out Pete. I like journalism because it influences people-in a positive and negative manner. You can have an influence on people's daily lives. A HUGE influence. But I look at cable news and it sucks. They just did a story about who would make a better James Bond, McCain or Obama.

Sorry for the shitty rambling. I'll get back to posting stories about cleavage.

Finger on the Trigger

I got put in charge of the newsroom today. No, I didn't get the dream promotion. Nobody else was there and my boss wanted to go vote, so he left me with the instructions, "make sure it doesn't burn down". What responsibility! But as I was sitting on my butt, writing stories that will never get used, I thought of something. With the 'On Air' button just feet away, I could reach out, and plunge my self into FCC oblivion. I could get on air and give a speech about the election, pronounce my love for skateboarding, or just make funny noises. What stopped me? Well, I guess self respect, and the knowledge that I want to do this for a living. Getting on air inappropriately and pronouncing how good I look isn't the ideal way to receive a good recommendation from the boss. But I could have....

I really like my job. Everyone is good to me.

My friend Liv is going to be Mount St. Helens for Halloween. That's a good idea for a costume. I can't ever think of ideas for a costume. Here I am, a professional reporter, and I can't think of ideas for this stupid, juvenile holiday. Maybe I will be Mt. Vesuvius and 'one up' Liv.

I might try to get a grant for my youngperspective.com idea. I'm interested in the website, and there are plenty of grants in the academic community for proactive ideas.

Ruling the World with Cleavage

I was at Starbucks today, getting my daily caramel frappuccino, when I got attacked by man's biggest vulnerability: cleavage. I had just payed for my drink, turned around, and BAM! There sat a woman, in her early thirties, laboring over some pages that were spread out on her Starbucks desk. The Starbucks desk was low, and so was the cut of her shirt. The perfect storm of cleavage. I was caught in those tractor beams for about 10 seconds, until I realized that I was leaning forward at a forty-five degree angle and my tongue was hitting the floor. I snapped out of it and pulled myself together, only to look to my right and see a forty-something year old man caught by this vixen's trap. She was a tricky one.

Now, there are a couple of things that one should know about cleavage. A good shot of cleavage can be more tantalizing than a bare breast. I'm not sure why this is, but it's true. Perhaps it's because we men think that women don't mean to show us all this. When we see cleavage, it's like we catch a sneak preview of the next summer's blockbuster movie. However, it's clear that women can use tactical cleavage to their advantage. They could rule the world. Second, one should stare at cleavage for only a split second. Like Jerry Seinfeld says, "It's like looking at the sun, only for a glance or your eyes will burn". My fellow Starbucks patron could have learned this; he was lost in those babies.

Sorry if that was too crude. I can't wait for potential employers to read this site. They will think, "This kid went to college? What the hell was he doing"? What was I doing indeed....

Everyone should check out www.allcityshowdown.com. Some of the best Seattle skating I have seen.

Brett the Webmaster

To increase my 'employability' in the journalism world, I have began the tedious process of making websites. First, I'm in charge of www.ksfrnews.com. Ksfr news already has pages on www.ksfr.org, but my boss wants to separate our news department from the other site. I started the new site today, with almost no knowledge of web-making; but it is a fun learning process.

Try to ignore the glitz of www.ksfrnews.com. Just kidding. Right now its so simple and ugly a monkey could navigate through it.

I also have been thinking about a website of my own. The website will be devoted to young journalists, who have little or no experience because of the hiring freeze that has been put on by many companies. Since there are so many experienced journalists who have recently lost their jobs (it's predicted that print will loose 40% of its advertising income), there is even less space in the impossible job market for inexperienced journalists. My site will be devoted to news that is important to young people and young journalists, not news from the 'old guard'. I'm hoping college level journalists will contribute to the site, with fresh ideas and good discussion. Hopefully, the website will not turn into the mainstream media's 'one focus journalism', and contribute productively reporting to the world. This site is far off, but if you are interested in helping me out, either with the web aspect or the journalism aspect, that would be great. Think of stories you think should be seen in the news, or stories critiquing current news, and write them up.

Yeah, so that's what I'm up to.

Also, I'm friends with this guy named Pete. Pete goes to the skatepark. He is 30 years old, and from Long Island. Pete is so freaking New York, its ridiculous. I can't really explain it, other than he has 10 times more chest hair than me. Think about it.

Update: I bought the domain name-www.youngperspective.com

Mexican?

I have made some friends from the skatepark. I've even got a couple of phone numbers. The cool thing however, my friends are LATINO! Or at least, I'm pretty sure they are. Is it racist to be excited that I have friends that are a different race than me? The Latino population in Seattle is non-existent, so excuse me if I'm excited. They are cool dudes.

Here is an interesting nugget. They told me that they are allowed to take Spanish as their second language. I asked my high school friend Gabe, who's first language is Spanish, what grade he got in his Spanish class. He said, "Dude, it's my first language, I got a 98%". And I struggled through Japanese when I was in high school-like a SUCKER. Psshhhh, lucky kids.

Is the appropriate term for people of Mexican descent-Latino? Is it appropriate to ask this question?

Psshhh, whatever, like you fools have any Latino friends. I can see your jealousy from here.

ICP for Life Son!

There was SUCH an Insane Clown Posse fan at the skatepark today. The dude was literally wearing face paint. He was in his mid 20's, grossly overweight, and pushing mongo. He was also wearing one of those 'hideous saying' t-shirts. The shirt said, "I'm mad and I want to find someone to choke". He was only there for about 20 minutes but he was amazing. I could only think, "How can this dude go about his life with face paint on? It's the middle of the F-ing day...."

Can I wear one of those 'weird saying' t-shirts? Have they been out of style long enough? Like, if I bought one of those t-shirts and started wearing it around, would it be fashionable because I'm a hip dude? Ironically fashionable? One that says, "I'm F.B.I - a Federal Booty Inspector." Is that cool? Are Che Guevara shirts cool again?

This was on the radio yesterday.

I ate the worst meal today at Panda Express. The chicken tasted ultra funky, like it hadn't been cooked all the way through. I then made the mistake of washing it down with a tall Frappuccino. Wrong move.

I might have the opportunity to interview a few celebs who live in Santa Fe. My blog will gradually morph into d-listed, and I will have to move to L.A. to support my coke habit.

More short stories are coming.

I hate the Red Sox.

Mo' Molly

The other night, Molly and I got dressed up and went to a casino. We were WAY too posh in comparison to most of the people there. I always have a romantic vision of casinos; where I win thousands of dollars and sweep my woman off her feet in dramatic fashion. The glitz, the noise, the glamor. However, Sandia Casino north of Albuquerque is not very romantic. It's filled with drunkards and old people, all looking depressed as hell as they shovel their money into the casino's machines. We had fun anyway. I might have well been one of those drunkards loosing their money-I lost $60.

Molly left today. Bummer.

I've been frequenting the Santa Fe skateboard park. It's a scene, man. There are hundreds of little Latino kids on pimped-out bikes, and they own the place. They weave in and out, screaming at people (including me), and talking trash to each other. I've heard so many 'I can't wait to get your momma home so I can.... blank' jokes at the skatepark; it's a vulgar place. Today, a parent started screaming at her kid, telling the kid not to 'dis her'. It's a funny place, but I alway feel like I'm seconds away from getting my head beat in by a disgruntled biker.

The Santa Fe newspaper, The New Mexican, is planning to let go 18 employees. Does this mean there is a job open for me?

Kennedy Stumping

Yesterday, Molly and I briefly attended a stump speech by Robert Kennedy Jr. He was in Santa Fe, stumping for Obama. I was immediately struck by how much he resembled his dad. He seemed like a cool cat, and the event was jammed with people. I believe New Mexico Congressman Ben Lujan Jr. was also at the event, but I couldn't verify.

Blown away by seeing a real-life Kennedy, I did a little research on Bobby Jr. I found that after a distinguished academic career, Bobby Jr. was caught with heroin in a South Dakota airport in 1983. He is also an activist, and had further legal trouble when he broke into a naval base while protesting. He is a preeminent conservationist and a radio host on Air America, even though he possesses spasmodic dysphonia, which inhibits his speaking. Got to love those Kennedys.

I Miss My Friends

'Nough said.

Card Carrying Member

The story I broke about illegal teen smoking got picked up by the New Mexican. I'm officially a member of the Associated Press. I mean, I work for a station that is a member.... It's cool to see a story I thought of get picked up by the newspaper.

Molly B. is in town. She's pretty cool.

Zach Hagen left me today, he doesn't know if he is coming back. Does this mean the end of the road trip? For Zach, maybe, but not for me. I can only live in the small town of Santa Fe for so long, before I go crazy and miss a metropolitan area. I need to stay so I can continue getting experience in reporting, but I can't stay for too long. Zach isn't sure what he is going to do with himself. Seattle, Santa Fe, San Francisco; he doesn't know. Zach Hagen is a good man. It will be hard to imagine my life without him, even if it's just for a little while. However, yesterday he tried to get me to rub aloe on his back; we were getting too close. As cliche as it is, I got to tell Zach something:

Follow your heart-then your head- and don't forget what Mr. Johnson has to say. I'm missing you already.

But, like I said, the road trip will continue. My buddy Tripp is talking about joining me for some. I'm thinking about Santa Fe to Atlanta with Tripp. A story like that writes itself.

I Lie

I picked up a hitchhiker yesterday. I was coming home from the radio station, and I saw an average looking guy on the side of the road with his thumb out. I pulled over and told him I was only going 10 miles up the road. The hitchhiker said that wouldn't help, but asked if I could drive him to the next on-ramp; the one he was at doesn't not have much traffic. I complied.

He wasn't very talkative, so I lied to him. I feel bad I lied, but it just came out so easy. I asked him about hitching, and tried to get some funny stories out of him, but he had nothing to say. That's when I lied.

"You know," I said, "I have better luck hitching when I have a sign...you might have a better chance catching a ride if you had a sign that said 'Denver'".

I've never hitchhiked. I've picked up people before, and I've had my thumb out-but I've never successfully hitchhiked. I just heard from people that you have better luck hitchhiking if you have a sign. I was surprised at the ease of my lie. I think I was trying to relate to the guy; or maybe impress him, I don't know. Am I a bad person because I lied?

I started another story today-it involves illegal teen smoking.

Here is the story I compiled for yesterday. It was a slow news day, so the clip played throughout the morning. Pretty professional, huh? The newscaster stumbled because she changed the wording, her mistake's are in no way related to the shottiness of my writing. Actually, it's pretty choppy, she did a much better job in later hours.

All Me Baby

TLC is Crazy

Have you ever seen this show? It's ridiculous. It's called 17 kids and Counting. Its about a family, 17 large, and they are ultra religious. I've only seen one show, and I'm hooked. On the episode last night, the eldest child got engaged. He had never been on a date with the girl he proposed to. The parents of the girl wanted her to wait until she was 20 to go on a date, allowing her to commit 20 years of devotion to God. The man proposed to her on her 20th birthday.

They aren't allowed to go out together without a chaperon, they can only hug from the side, and they can't kiss. I repeat-they are engaged and they can't kiss. They don't kiss, maintaining their purity with God, and they have that special moment of their first kiss during their wedding. All they do is hold hands, look at one another, and describe their love for each other. It's actually kinda heartwarming.

Today, I am officially a reporter. I 'broke' a story about Federal Medicaid actually helping the economy of New Mexico. Through a governmental match program, the federal government gives $2.50 to New Mexico for every $1 spent with Medicaid in this state. Thusly, Medicaid generates 3.4 billion dollars into the New Mexico economy. I don't really understand the fundamentals of this, but it's ultimately a governmental subsidies program.

KSFR received an email from an institution who funded this economic study, detailing the studies' results. I picked up the email, called the head of the institution for a phone interview, and got about 7 minutes of tape. I wrote about 10 lines of copy detailing the study, fancy introduction included, inserted 15 seconds of my phone interview and handed it over to my boss. My story, clip included, was read over the air for the 4-6 o'clock news. My boss says there is the potential that my story will be picked up by the local newspaper, The New Mexican.

It's funny that I actually created news. When I interviewed the guy, I had no idea what I was asking him, I was too nervous. But, it all worked out in the end.

Finally, I have a theory. McCain and Palin lose the election. 6 months go by, and Playboy offers Palin an insane amount of money to pose nude. She denies. Good theory?


.

Degenerates

This is one of my first attempts at a short story.

It is bad-like really bad. I didn't write the story, an illiterate eighth grader did. So blame him, not me, for the sucktitude.

The story is about the encounter Zach and I had in a campsite near the Grand Canyon. Scary stuff.

There is some swearing, so brace yourself.

Degenerates and The Darkness

Download it to word. The preview function does not allow it to scan right.

Keep Hating

I love how ninety percent of the few comments I receive on this blog are directed at how bad my grammar is (way to end a sentence Brett). It's usually something small; like forgetting how to use a semicolon, or my misspelling the word bawled. These mistakes come from my lack of formal training. Although I am a history major and wrote countless papers; little of that time was spent perfecting my punctuation and grammar.

But Brett, aren't you trying to write well; and potentially for a living? Yes I am, and I thoroughly need all the help I can get when it comes to writing. Keep the critique coming.

I just want you, the reader, to know how my reaction usually works when someone constructively throws critique at me.

1) Madness
My initial reaction is to give a big F you to whoever pointed out my mistake. Like, my dear friend Eric, who critiqued my use (or lack there of) of a semicolon. I thought, well Eric aren't you just a smart piece, who is sooooo smart you can correct my impeccable, error-free writing. Why don't you go back to sucking on Obama's big c....

2) Remorse in my stupidity
I'm not a writer. I try, but I have a long way to go. I think, "well, Eric is a smart kid". "Isn't he a writing major"? "I didn't use a semicolon?" "Man, my writing sucks, a first grader can write this dribble". "It's only a matter of time before they kick me out of the radio station and I throw myself headfirst into heavy drugs; I'm such a bad writer". "Should I hire Eric to proofread my blog?"

3) Acceptance.
I eventually come to the conclusion that I NEED all the critique; nay, I like the critique. Maybe, like 70%percent of my writing is readable. That's not bad. My friends are smart people. And hell, my friends are the only people that read this blog anyway; they could tell me I smell like a Bolivian urinal, as long as they keep reading.

So keep critiquing and keep reading.

Who needs to know what the term 'independent clause' means anyway?


P.S.- I'm about to post some lackluster short stories, so get your red pen ready.

News Worthy?

Good?

Click this link to hear my voice. I'm not sure if this works, so give me time to figure it out.

It's called a podcast-I'm very in the know.

And From KSFR News, I'm....

As I mentioned before, Zach and I have arrived in Santa Fe. The drive from Lake Powell to Santa Fe was long, but it allowed time for Zach and I to have a heart-to-heart. He's a good kid, that Zach Hagen.

A day later, after my arrival, I went down to Santa Fe Community College and talked with Bill Dupuy, the head news director of KSFR News Santa Fe. KSFR is news radio, much like your typical NPR station. Bill Dupuy is a tall, thin man from Louisiana with a voice that is so elegant and calculated, it would be a shame if he were NOT on the radio. Bill sat me down in his office, and asked me why I am interested in the news. I responded that I had left college with no real career path. I told him the things I like; to write, chat with people, and stay updated with the news (skateboarding and snowboarding aside). I just wanted a career that I liked, and since working 30 years at a skateboard shop doesn't seem like an intellectually stimulating option, I somehow arrived at journalism.

Bill calmly pondered my response to his question. I sat in his office, awkwardly shifting back in forth, looking at the walls, wondering what he would say. Bill finally stood up and said, "well, lets get you started then". I told him I was a apprehensive because I have no training in journalism of any kind, and he laughed and told me, "good, then you won't have to unlearn anything". From then on it was go time.

KSFR News is an extremely reputable news station. Its won the National Associated Press award for Best News Radio the past four years in a row. If I to want end up working in journalism, KSFR News is a great starting spot. The news team consists of 10 volunteer workers, and the payed News Director Bill Dupuy. Myself and two other college aged girls are the youngest workers, and everyone else is a retired professional. They say they like having young guns like us in there, and the wise, older workers are extremely helpful.

Bill threw me right into the mix. The first thing I learned- The News is FAST. There are eleven news reports a day, one every hour, ranging from 2 to 4 minutes each. There is a hour long newscast at noon, which is planned ahead of time and consists of investigative journalism and 'timeless pieces'. KSFR reports local news. The hourly news casts are deciphered, written, spoken, and engineered by only one person. That reporter must decipher the news that comes from all of our sources; email, phone-ins, the internet, and most importantly-the AP wire. Then choose which of these stories they deem as important, and write a short blurb about each. The reporter must then speak the stories onto a computer program, and correct their newscast so it is consistent with a typical newscast. Finally, the reporter must engineer the newscast, allowing it to flow smoothly over the air. In order for the newscast to go over the air, there are ALOT of steps to finish.

It is volunteer work, but I have worked there about 18 hours in the past three days. I need to train first, but they said I should be coming on the air soon.

I'm also privy to a lot of sensitive information. All news stems from local news. I won't go into more boring description, but local news is essentially filtered up the Associated Press ladder, until it becomes National News. I know NOTHING about Santa Fe politics and news, but I'm learning fast. The reporters all harp on me for my horrible Spanish, saying, "If you say that over the air, we will get 500 calls."

Bottom Line-I love working at the radio station. HOWEVER, this does not mean this trip is over. I have to talk with Zach, Molly, the News Station, and My Aunt. I could never stay in Santa Fe for a long period of time. But, I may need to stay long enough to gain some experience in journalism, and receive a good recommendation from KSFR. Whether this means 2 weeks or 6 months, that I will have to figure out. We will continue this roadtrip, but when?

Sorry about the boring post, but I really like the news.

My station

An interesting reporter from The New Mexican

No Updates?

I frequently apologize about my lack of updates. Here I go again. I've been busy in Santa Fe, NM.

G-Canyon

Zach and I went to the Grand Canyon. We almost got jacked by a drunkard. I wrote a whole story about the event, but it's too long for this blog. The story will be told when I figure out how to link my stories, in a pdf file, to the blog. Wait with baited breath.

Again, Zach and I almost died. Go to Zach's blog for more in depth information about our Grand Canyon excursion, sans us dying part. And wait for my story, to be linked to this blog soon.

www.zachhhwritings.blogspot.com