I was out on a story with my new friend and cubicle neighbor, Tim Seymour, when he asked if I’d learned anything from him that day. To his surprise, I responded with, “Yes, actually…I have!” I told him I noticed how he always had entire phone conversations with the person he wanted to interview before ever even leaving the newsroom. (I had always just called to set up the interview and maybe ask a couple of questions.) I pointed out that his tactic must be so helpful in writing the story. Since he’d already heard all about it and asked all the questions, he’d know what to ask on camera and could begin writing the story in his head. Less wasted time, right? “Well…there’s that…” he responded, “but also…if you’re only calling to set up the interview, you’re just manufacturing something for a newscast. If you actually care about understanding the story, you’ll be able to tell it more effectively.”

Uh, yeah, well of course! Errr, I already knew that!

But seriously! If you genuinely care the about the story, and you truly try to understand and relate to the feelings of your “interview subjects,” you’ll be a more credible source for communicating their story to the public. This was the second major lesson of my internship, and I vowed I would take it seriously. Without opening up a whole can of worms, I’d like to express my fears on what the U.S. television news system can do to its reporters. Unlike the BBC which is a government funded (albeit autonomous) public service, television news in America is a business. It’s a lot of businesses, actually. Because we, as reporters, are always being reminded that our main purpose is to literally sell an audience to the advertiser, it’s easy to lose your ethics. However, a good journalist (yes, THEY EXIST!) makes a commitment to serve the public, even if it isn’t the source of his paycheck. I’ve committed myself to that standard of excellence and I am so proud to be given the opportunity to learn from reporters in this newsroom who fight for that standard as well.

Meredith Moore, Intern (Western Kentucky University)