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First day on the job @ 24 Hours

Several weeks ago, the editor of 24 Hours newspaper in Vancouver came to my Kwantlen News Production class and talked to me and my peers about internship opportunities with the paper.

Only myself and @JYip78 took him up on the offer, so we both got the position.

Today was my first day, and I was absolutely terrified to be going to work for a Vancouver daily. Even with a year and a half of j-school under my belt, I felt completely out of my element going into this.

In my anxiousness, I got lost on my way to the office, but still arrived early.

The day started right away. I got my own desk and computer, and began searching the web for local news stories.

And what a day to be in a newsroom: 10 people were shot on Oak Street and West 22nd. Not only did I get to see how the reporter covering the incident worked on the story, but I got to find out what was happening, when it is was happening, as updates came in throughout the day. (I was also working just blocks away from the crime scene…)

The experience was stressful, but I learned a lot.

I learned that I can work under pressure and on a tight deadline, and that I still need to work on my story-hunting skills.

My first article will be published in tomorrow’s paper. Very exciting!

And now, I have journalism homework to get to: two pitches for the paper tomorrow and my last Kwantlen Chronicle story to submit.

Tweet me! And look for my byline in the 24 Hours paper.

@HayleyWoodin

Extra, extra

It’s been a while since I last blogged: school, projects and work have all gotten in the way, and it’s once again that time of year where exams take over students’ lives.

So while procrastinating from my long, long to-do list, I will update you on my busy, busy life.

For starters, classes finish Dec. 10. Boy how time flies.

On Dec. 12, I’ll be starting my three-week internship at 24 Hours newspaper. The best part is that I won’t be taking part in the typical intern duties, like grabbing coffee or answering phones. Luckily for me, I get to report and write daily, with a story published every day in the paper.

The opportunity gives me course credits at school, and, if I choose, can count towards my four-week work experience in second semester.

It’s exciting; it’s scary. I’m going from being a full-time student, to being a full-time intern and then going back to being a full-time student, and somewhere in all of that I will be feasting on turkey. No winter break for me.

In other news, I have now been a part of Kwantlen’s President’s Ambassadorial Team (PAT) for a couple of months now.

Being on the team keeps me busy (I just baked 65 cookies for a bake sale to raise money for the PAT clothing drive) and it has proven to be a great learning and networking opportunity (I met Carol James several weeks ago, and had public speaking training with Langley Mayor Peter Fassbender).

I must now cease my procrastination, but I will end with two final tidbits.

First, on Saturday I will be accompanying Dal Richards on the piano as he sings Christmas carols at a local women’s shelter.

And second, I have been promoted: I was elected the Entertainment Bureau Chief for the Kwantlen Runner a while ago, that’s nothing new. But in a recent Google search, I was alerted that I am now the Entertainment Furniture Chief…

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@HayleyWoodin

Remembering Remembrance Day

Remembering Remembrance Day (Photo by Hayley Woodin)

Bucket List #24

#24 Get paid for journalism

Working, writing, reporter or photographing for free isn’t recommended by the professors teaching the various courses in my journalism program.

That concept is one of the two that us students are constantly reminded of: the other is that journalism isn’t easy, whether it’s getting interviews, working your way up the career-ladder or simply getting a job.

While the idea of working for pay seems obvious, the point is to work for either pay or work experience, and to make sure we gain something from the experience itself.

Technically I had been paid for journalism prior to this post, but it was also prior to the creation of this list, and therefore didn’t count (no retroactivity here).

So today “officially” marks the day I get paid for journalism, because my contributor cheque from the Kwantlen Runner came in the mail.

It feels good to know that I am not only getting published but am getting money for doing so.

It’s also a good thing that I am writing for the Runner for the experience of working for a paper: my cheque was for $5.

11 down, 90 to go.

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@HayleyWoodin

Let me hear you ROAR!

I spent my Halloween afternoon covering the B.C. Lions’ game at Empire Field in East Vancouver.

Each student in my photography class had the chance to attend one Lions’ game since the season starter: Myself and three fellow students were the last group to go, covering Sunday’s game against the Saskatchewan Roughriders.

The experience was phenominal.

I’m not much of a sports fan, but even I appreciated the field access media passes we were given. (If I had media passes to all sports games, maybe I could become a sports fan.)

I got to stand right on the field while the Lions entered the stadium to huge applause and blasts of fire, and I spent the first two quarters shooting from the sidelines, feet away from the action. I could literally smell the players and see the sweat. Jamal Robertson even said ‘hi’ to me.

I would say it was a once-in-a-lifetime experience, but I hope that it wasn’t: Getting to be in the midst of the action, whether it’s news, entertainment or sports, was one of the reasons I got into journalism, and I hope that this was just one experience of many to come.

B.C. Lions charged the field before the Oct. 31 game against the Roughriders. (Photo by Hayley Woodin)

Jamal Robertson sprints down the field in possession of the ball. (Photo by Hayley Woodin)

Yonus Davis ran down the field to score a touchdown for the team. (Photo by Hayley Woodin)

Many dressed up for the game, whether it was to show their support or to simply keep warm. (Photo by Hayley Woodin)

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@HayleyWoodin

Blog Action Day 2010

Each year, bloggers address a different global issue on Blog Action Day with the goal of raising awareness and creating discussion.

This year’s topic focuses on water and water conservation in 2010. Over 4,200 have officially registered.

Even though I didn’t register, I still want to do my part. So here is my humble pledge to conserve water:

1. I pledge to not leave the tap running, and to turn it on and off as needed.

According to www.treehugger.com, using dishwashers is more environmentally friendly than hand-washing dishes, so…

2. I pledge to cram as many dishes, pots, glasses and utensils into my dishwasher at home as physically possible, instead of leaving half of them to be hand-washed.

Finally…

3. I pledge to take shorter showers to conserve water. (And by that, I mean not letting the water run for five minutes when it really only takes about 30 seconds for it to heat up.)

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@HayleyWoodin

And pledge your water conservation goals on Twitter by tagging #BAD10.