On average, in a 30 minute newscast, we can devote about a minute and thirty seconds to a story of importance. Think about how long it takes you to read a front page story in the newspaper. You read what's on the cover, flip back to read the continuation and then, when you're finished, re-read parts for clarification. In television, it's completely different. Not only do I have to write a story that can be read in a minute-thirty by the anchor/reporter, I also have to write a story that can be UNDERSTOOD in a minute-thirty by the viewer. What that means is short simple sentences. Fifteen of them. MAX. As simple as that sounds, it really isn't. Growing up in schools, we've been trained in the art of literary, academic, detailed writing. The more descriptive modifiers, the better. Leave nothing out. Unleash your creativity with a plethora of words! In TV, we have to be creative.....AND concise.

This is not easy.

I am not good at it.

Yet.

So, intern lesson number 3 is: Writing for TV is hard. But I'm learning. I had the opportunity this week to spend a short time learning from Gary Roedemeier, who's been in this business for twice the time I've been alive. He's good. I watched him condense about 30 minutes of really good footage into a high quality minute-thirty written news story. It took him 20 minutes...he conveyed the whole story. When he was finished I told him, "I can write a story about half that good....if you give me a few hours." So yes, this has frustrated me for a long time. In the past, people have responded to my frustration with something like, "Well, it just takes time in the business to get used to the writing-style." But Gary was able to give me some encouragement through helpful advice. He explained to me that, in this industry, you have to include what you can include. Meaning, you can't attach yourself to every interesting cookie crumb of a story. You have to pick out what's really important, what our viewers need to know. And he told me that sometimes the time constraints of this industry can produce the best news writing. Simple but profound advice.

So now, I'm turning frustration into motivated effort.

Cool.

-Meredith Moore, Intern (Western Kentucky University)

P.S. It took me almost two hours to write this blog.....baby steps. :)