At Stony Brook, we visited the news room and control center to practice speaking behind the camera and the effort behind the camera to produce a proper news broadcast.
I was the first person to go up as a weather reporter. Veteran producer Dini Diskin-Zimmerman kept reassuring me and telling me how I was gonna be great on camera. The makeup and hairstylist added powder onto my face to avoid looking oily on camera and brushed the hair out of my face to be able to read the teleprompter efficiently. It was a little difficult to adjust to the movements necessary on the green screen. For example: Learning how to point towards the weather forecast and read from the teleprompter. During the final recording, I was kind of done dirty since there was a delay on the weather display and a blurry camera. But, nonetheless, I’m still grateful for the experience since I had a great time even if the video was rough.
Afterwards, I helped with the graphics in the control room and witnessed the production. I was able to acknowledge the amount of care necessary and even test out some of the functions myself. One member of the crew asked the Greene Team what our favorite part of the experience was: being on camera or behind. In my personal experience, it was beautiful with both sides and educational.
An image of the control room during a practice news show!One of the cool doors in the studioAnddd finally the daily ice cream as a reward for the long, eventful day
I was actually on time to breakfast this morning. The food was delicious!!! They were playing upbeat music in the cafeteria, and I slept like a baby last night – all signs this eventful day is gonna be great!
A plate of bacon mixed with eggs, potatos, and a cup of ice cream coffee! (the BEST meal you can get btw). Photo by Kayci Guardado
My group, Asher, Myles, and I, visited Stony Brook University Hospital to interview the pediatric nurses about the construction for the extended pediatric emergency unit. I was in charge of asking questions. It was a great experience to learn a proper interview process with a camera and team. I have curated various interview articles and one video in the past for my school paper. But now I learned improved ways to execute it. For example, ask questions near the camera so they have somewhere to look, make sure the interviewee answers in complete sentences so that when it’s edited (so the audience understands what they are talking about), and asking the interviewee if there’s anything I haven’t asked yet or discussed. The staff at the hospital was very kind and accommodating to our footage requests.
The Stony Brook Children’s Hospital room where we recorded most of our footage.A fish tank with the most neat, fat goldfish in the lobby of the Children’s hospital
Eventually, we took a trip to Newsday where we got speeches and tours from very important figures in the news media. I appreciated the first speaker, Joye Brown, who discussed her experience of how she was originally pre-med in college, but then switched over to journalism. Throughout youth, I believe that many are pushed into the world of STEM as the only way to be successful. However, as I viewed the countless computers and advanced tech in the rooms, I realized this path is achievable and you can make a career out of journalism with grit.
We visited the room where the Newsday weatherman delivers news.
After our interesting trip, we went into the Seawolves bus to Ducks Stadium in Central Islip. I felt kind of proud since we passed by my hometown and high school, Central Islip on our way. Ducks Stadium was an amazing experience. One of the Greene Team’s reporting teams interviewed and recorded footage of the Ducks Communications Vice President Michael Polak. He elaborated on how he ensures that they try to make baseball as accessible to the community as possible and bring families together. Behind this organization, there is a wide range of funding from large corporations to small, local businesses.
The decorated Stony Brook bus that took the Greene Team all over Long Island!
And I was able to feel their togetherness efforts when I was there. The workers gave us a cool Ducks-themed hat as we entered. I hung out with my friend, Yennifer Soriano, the entire time, figuring out how baseball works, having great food, and rooting for the Long Island Ducks!
The view of the incredible Ducks baseball game against the Staten Island FerryHawks
Today was the best day so far of the Greene Summer Institute. But I still have high hopes for the thrilling adventures ahead!
The Greene Team received a pep talk from walking history! Dini Diskin-Zimmerman was one of the first women to work in the media. She was the most notable speaker, and discussed her life as a journalist over the past few decades, and how technology has developed. I even got to ask her about what it was like during the Watergate incident and what it was like reporting on a major historical event. Also, it was beautiful hearing a woman discuss her success story.
We were split into teams and taught about news deserts, podcasting, how to use a camera, how to utilize b-roll — all multimedia topics by various experienced instructors. Eventually, we went outside on the pretty campus and took photos with our groups. I get along pretty easily with them. We were all very joyous to have this experience.
The Greene Team was split into 5 different groups for projects! (as shown on the white board) Kayci Guardado/July 27
The Greene Team learned a lot today through true experience and admirable figures in the field. I’m excited for the next few days with more activities!
— Kayci Guardado, Central Islip High School
This image depicts the Stony Brook computer screen that we practiced crafting our own ledes on. Kayci Guardado/July 27At breakfast, I had a plate of a gluten-free brownie, muffin, and a cup of milk as energy for the long eventful day! Kayci Guardado/July 27An afternoon shot of the glowing sun and the university’s green trees. Kayci Guardado/July 27
Today, I arrived pretty damn late to the scene. We did see some deer when entering, though, which was nice. My mom and dad accompanied me while unpacking my room. They snapped a few photos of me in the dorm room for memories, and hugged me goodbye.
Epic: Four deer near the forest and sidewalk at Stony Brook University. Kayci Guardado/July 26
I was initially very nervous. I had to introduce myself to everyone since I was late. I’m kinda shy; it went fine, though. I reconnected with my profile partner and we hit it off over time. It’s pleasant to have a buddy.
In the Stony Brook newsroom, we learned about different types of blogs and how to write our own! I experimented with images and captions. Afterwards, I was starving, so we went right to the cafeteria! For dinner, I accidentally got way too much ice cream, but it was still tasty nonetheless.
A gluttonous amount of ice cream that may have gotten me stares. Kayci Guardado/Greene Team, July 26
It was a great first day as a new Greene Team member!
