Artistic roller skating… say what?

http://www.columbiamissourian.com/stories/2011/06/16/artistic-roller-skating-regionals/

When I was asked to look into artistic roller skating, I really didn’t think much of it. I had zero clue what it was. I learned that the easiest way to find my story was to be there. Be there like a fly on the wall. I loved just observing the scene because it was so unique to me. I was challenged with understanding this foreign language. I was not familiar with this sport at all. It took me some time to get used to all the lingo and a lot of repetitive questions as well. Once I understood the sport, it took me a bit to decide if it was worth having in the story. I wrote a first draft that had a lot of it in it and with the help of my editor, realized it isn’t necessary and it took away form the focus of my story. I had, at first, no focus at all. I needed as my editor instructed to focus on what is most important here. I had not really done that. My story was all over the place. I went back to the rink, did more reporting and literally re wrote my entire story. I was lucky enough that I had the luxury of time to do this. With more reporting, I was able to focus my story more. I am worried that tonight, at the rodeo, I won’t be able to write as focused of the story. I won’t have as much time to report or write. I don’t like to back down from challenges, so I am trying to think of this as one I need to concur. Two days of high school rodeo, two unique stories in a time crunch, bring it.

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Finally done

http://www.columbiamissourian.com/stories/2011/06/06/100-mile-runs-are-just-fun/

 

I started this story my first week at the Missourian, but it didn’t get published until this week. My first week, my stories were such a fast turnaround. I went somewhere, came up with an idea, and wrote about it.  This story was not the case.  I came up with the idea, but it took me a long time to develop it since I got very distracted with stories that needed to have a faster turnaround. I know I got frustrated with this story as well.  When I spoke with me source, he was very very nice, but just very short with me.  Not in a rude way at all, just his nature.  Even his friend that I spoke with said the same thing about him. This frustrated me whenever I tried to get him to elaborate or tell me a story on something.  I got to the point where I just wanted to be done with this article.  Looking back, I now know that i need to be more patience and persevere through sources like this. Grant helped me realize this when editing my story.  I felt like I had spoke with him so many times, but clearly I wasn’t done. I hope to be able to pick up a story like this and have more desire to keep going even when it seems like the source wants to be done with me.

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Never almost done

http://www.columbiamissourian.com/stories/2011/06/04/teacher-plans-paris-brest-paris-bicycle-race-after-friends-heart-attack/

I have been working on three stories this past week, but didn’t get one published until Saturday night.  It’s not that I wasn’t working, but things were just not coming together so smoothly.  I felt like I spent my entire week in the newsroom, running out to do interviews occasionally with very little results. At first, I thought my story on the runner would be good to go when I sent it to get edited, but I clearly spoke to soon. I learned a lot this week, but was too frustrated with the results to post anything sooner.  I just wanted to write my articles and then have them disappear as fast as possible. Sometimes it is important as Grant told me to step away from articles that aren’t on a strict deadline. When Greg suggested I rewrite my entire article, of course I was upset.  I believed I had worked hard on it and like I said before, I was ready to be done with it.  I know I am not good at writing and having someone tell me I need to start completely over, just solidifies that and tears down my confidence. Although, he was right.  After being told more questions that need to be asked, I was able to refocus my article. With the help, I believe it turned out much better.  I just need to not set a date when I want to get rid of it, but be willing to try and work towards the best article I can.

This first happened with the running story that I actually started before the biking story.  As frustrated as I am trying to finish it now, I believe taking a step back and not being married to my first draft will help me.  I am finding it challenging to work past that, though and to find the motivation to write my story.

I have also been working on a follow up to the Sedalia story I wrote May 25.  I have to admit, I am glad for once that my curiosity took the best of me.  I was wondering if the wife of the husband we met in Sedalia had her baby yet. I just called to see how they were doing, and turns out, she was admitted to the hospital the next day.  Had I not called, I would have missed out on this opportunity to tell an amazing story. Often I feel like we meet these people with great stories and thing that’s that.  We did our reporting, we got their story, time to move on and we forget about them.  I feel like this proves that theory wrong.  I often fall into that trap as well, but I am working on trying to break it.  People can have more than one story.  Just because their story has been heard once doesn’t mean there isn’t more there.  I am waiting to hear back from the father and then hoping to send this story on to be published tomorrow.

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Double, triple check everything

http://www.columbiamissourian.com/stories/2011/05/25/rock-bridge-girls-soccer-take-glendale-saturday/

I thought this would be a simple fast brief on the upcoming girls soccer game.  I had found the time and place on two websites and called the school to confirm this.  Then, right before I was ready to send in my brief and I decided to double check my details.  Within the half hour I hung up with the school to write my brief, the time had been changed for the game.  Facts can never be checked too many times.

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Second story, same team

http://www.columbiamissourian.com/stories/2011/05/24/rock-bridge-girls-soccer-advance-quarterfinals/

Covering the Rock Bridge girls soccer team back to back days worried me.  I had a hard time finding a first story about this team, but here I was trying to find a second story already.  At least, there was a game and facts about the game that needed to be included.  This gave me hope that the game itself would provide me some information, but I was still concerned working on a strict deadline since we wanted to get the story in the morning’s paper. These past two stories are the first I have ever written on such a strict deadline.

Before the game started, I went behind Rock Bridge’s bench and never left.  I found it helpful to hear the coach’s talk to the players when they came off the field and see the girls interact up close.  I most definitely wouldn’t have seen this perspective had I been sitting in the press box with the rest of the press.  Although, I definitely considered it, but I wouldn’t have written the story I had.  The man that gave me my story idea was also on the field behind the bench.  Opening up my mind on what game coverage means helped me question the man behind the bench.

Next game, I hope to make it over to the stands.  I would love to hear about what some of the fans have to say and overhear some comments that I can question people about.  Perhaps this would give me an angle that hasn’t been covered about this team and give a variety of different people a voice.

I was lucky enough to have these stories fall into place, but having to write a third story on the same team is making me nervous.  I plan on going to practice today, but have not the slightest idea of a unique angle to have done for Friday’s paper.

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My first Columbia Missourian published article

http://www.columbiamissourian.com/stories/2011/05/23/rock-bridge-girls-soccer-team-knows-boys-are-bad/

My first article was a struggle to say the least.  I was coming into the beat at the end of the season knowing very little about the team.  I read every article the Columbia Missourian had written on the team as well as everything the Columbia Tribune has written.  I called the past beat writer and it helped to talk to her about some of the past work she had done.  I realized, that the best move I made was going there.  Being at practice made all the difference.

By being at practice, I was able to see the players interact with each other and get to know the team much better.  I overheard the coach’s conversation with the girls at the end of practice and this later became my main focus of my story.  Had I not stayed the entire practice, I would have missed this completely.  At first, I didn’t think anything of his talk.  I only had time to speak with one player after practice and left not really sure of my angle.  When I made it back to the newsroom, I was very concerned.  Grant started asking me all these questions and I realized, I didn’t have a story.  I had cliche facts about a high school athlete that could be so many people on the team.  I realized I needed to do more reporting.  I quickly turned around and headed right back to Rock Bridge.  Here, the team was getting reading to attend the Spring Sports Banquet.  This is when I investigated what one of the coach’s had said in practice.  When asked, “What is the No. 1 rule of soccer?” by the coach, the girls all replied in unison.  I wish I investigated this sooner.  When I went back to the high school to inquire more, I didn’t anticipate the response I got.  At first there was a couple girls talking about the topic.  I found it challenging to keep track of names with comments, but then, even more girls joined in on the topic.  I really felt like I was  having a conversation with the group.  Going back to inquire more was key to having usable quotes and was definitely worth my time going back to the school.  Thanks to my initial struggles, I think it has helped me to be more observant to my source’s actions.

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