The main event today was writing our articles. Yesterday I wrote down notes and possible quotes from my interviews so it would be easy to write today. And it worked really well, my notes alone were 600 words which is in the rage of what our finished artice should be. So it was very easy to start writing.
I had help from Joie Tyrrell who, coincidentally, is also from the same town as me (Huntington) and has a daughter that I know from our school track team. Her edits to my article were very helpful. I find it really educational to get edits from professional editors because I learn a lot about how articles should be structured and written.
The process of writing my article has been my favorite part of this experience so far. I like it so much better than the broadcast TV side of journalism.
I basically grew up on this campus. My brother is an alumnus at this school, and my best friend is a current student here. I’ve been all around this campus and basically know it by heart. My brother is a huge inspiration to me and was the first to find out that I would be joining the Seawolf family. He has always pushed me into doing what’s best for mer me and what would benefit me in all fashions. And if there is anyone whom I’d like to turn out like, it would be him. He was the one who came to drop me off during moving day as well as drove me to oritenation.
(Credits: Stony Brook News)
The guys with the dimples and blue shirt? black tie? Yeah that guy is my totally awesome brother :). BUT ENOUGH ABOUT HIM!! BACK TO WHAT YOU’RE REALLY HERE FOR, THE ACTUAL POST.
The day started with the usual check in, I settled in perfectly into my dorm. Only problem is the beds are like 6ft tall, and I’m basically the size of the Keebler elf. To get onto my bed, I have to do some parkour and use all my might to jump onto the bed. I should be a gymnast after this week with the way I summersault onto that mattress. Eventually I got the hang of it, but, every once in a while, I still fumble.
Everything was going smoothly, fasting forward to lunch. The lunch — I’m not going to lie — wasn’t my favorite, but it was something? My only yuck was the mac and cheese. The grilled cheese wasn’t bad either but it was not my favorite. my favorite part was definitely the potatoes, they were the best things I’ve ever tasted! Honestly think I got more full on the potatoes than anything else on this plate.
After this came our very first assignment, which was a photography assignment. I ATEEEE. Like actually, I love taking pictures. I’m one of those people that I f I see something pretty I will be compelled to take a picture of it. This really wasn’t anything new, but what was new was the technique. I was so interested in what we were doing, especially with the new ways to take photos. All of these rules and all of thee different tings to do to get the perfect photo amazed me so much that I just was completely infatuated by this.
Me and my crew :3
Me and my crew snapped a few pics together, and then of the scenery and then it was off to dinner! On the menu was some grilled chicken, pasta and some fries! I really enjoyed that meal, and we all agreed that it made for a way better meal than the cursed mac and cheese from lunch. After this, It was back to the dorms for some rest after a long day!
And now time for some extra photos, take by yours truly!!
Another day with the Greene Program and it has already taught me pretty valuable skills within not only journalism but also with other aspects of life, like public speaking. As someone who was pretty unfamiliar and has a slight aversion to speaking in front of large crowds, I found the press conference with New York State Senator Anthony Palumbo’s aide Ray Weber was an experience I never even imagined going through or seeing with my own two eyes.
Although I had a small interest in politics and political topics, I don’t think the average person imagines or let alone thinks of speaking to a person who is within the senate. Being able to ask personal questions face to face about different issues in the community, the encounter left me with a new perspective on legislations and how the people within senate handle new laws that get passed including on how they view the new idea and the different plans they have to implement to make the New York community a better and comfortable place.
The Greene Team also got to learn a bit about podcasting and audio, how to properly speak into a microphone and how to operate our podcast plus some facts about podcasting (the fact that there are 5 million plus podcast out there is crazy). I hope that after we learned the proper set up for podcasting will motivate one, some, or even all of us to create our own podcast or even collaborate on one.
I woke up excited for the day. I brushed my teeth and put on my formal attire to get ready for the day. We walked towards breakfast where I ate some vanilla yogurt and granola. Then we headed to the newsroom to start our third day at the Robert W. Greene Summer Institute or High school Journalists with a pep talk.
The pep talk was from the Ditch Weekly, a newspaper created to cover the Hamptons from a different perspective by middle- and high-schoolers. We heard from Billy Stern and Harry Karousos. They explained how the paper was born.
After the pep talk we headed over to the broadcasting room. There we created a prompt of giving news. The Greene team received an experience of being on camera, having a script to read, holding the cameras, controlling the graphics, etc. It was a moment to learn what it’s like to broadcast.
Once we finished the prompt, we headed over to lunch around 12 p.m. We were then ready to head over the WUSB radio station as a group. Frank, Gavin, Shirley, Araya, and I walked around campus and enjoyed the scenery. A wall stood out to me. The wall had many words of reassurance and important powerful messages.
As we entered the radio studio, we saw where the magic was created. We met DJ Drew, who spoke to us about the importance of having a radio station. It was an opportunity to gain knowledge of the beauty of music and the history of it.
At the end of our interviewing with Drew, we began to walk to Mount Hall to meet up with the rest of the group for a field trip! In our matching Greene Team shirts we walked to get on the Wolfie bus to be on our way towards Nassau County for our trip.
We arrived at News12!! It was an unreal experience to see my childhood in front of my eyes. Something that I believed I would only see on television. To learn the fact on how they function, the behind the scenes work and visit where they record was a surreal experience I could have only dreamed about.
After learning about News12, we got on the bus to head back to the school. Once we arrived on campus, we headed towards the dining hall to eat dinner around 5:30 p.m. There I ate tater tots and water for a light dinner. To conclude the day we began to walk towards the dorms. My dorm mates and I took turns showering. Then I went to my bed to rest for the next day ahead.
As I woke up for my first full day at the Robert W. Greene Summer Institute for High School Journalists, I woke up energized for the day. I brushed my teeth, put on a t-shirt, pants, and some crocs. Then as a group we all headed down to the East End dining hall for breakfast.
Breakfast was at 8 a.m. I ate hash browns, a bagel, eggs with ketchup, and water. Then we walked towards the newsroom to meet with Ray Weber, community affairs liaison for NY state Senator Anthony Palumbo, who represents many communities on the North shore of Long Island. There we learned about Palumbo’s mission, like how he wants more first-time home owners on Long Island.
Then we had lunch around 12 p.m. at the East Side dining hall. I had garlic spaghetti pasta and water. Once lunch was over, my group — Gavin, Shirley, Araya, and I — walked over to the game theory convention. There we learned about the importance of Game Theory and what it is. A term that stood out to me was when Tim Chin, head organizer of the convention said, “What would happen if you played the game in equity and everyone wins?” It was an interesting analogy on how what would happen in the world if everyone just helped each other. To give aid to those who have less to be equal.
Following the trip, we headed over to the dining hall at about 5. There I enjoyed penne spaghetti pasta, a pizza slice, chicken parmigiana, and French Fries. As a beverage, I had Coke and water. For dessert, I had a tasty vanilla doughnut.
Once dinner passed, the real fun began. We headed to the stadium and watched a movie titled “Moana 2.” There we received many cool freebies. For example, hand sanitizer, Moana stickers, Ashwaganda gummies, a blow-up ball that we played volleyball with and many other cool items. I sat with my good friends Shirley, Hennie, and Allison to enjoy the movie.
After the movie we ended the night walking towards the dorms. I took the first shower. Once I was done, we recapped about our day and then lights out for bed. Ending the night on a great note.
What is the word to describe my experience to this moment? I was mixed with my emotions of being fearful, homesick, and worried. All these feelings ventured through my mind during my first few moments at the Robert W. Greene Summer Institute for High School Journalists. This was the case until I started interacting with my fellow green peers.
I began to speak with my suite mates, Lisseth and Hennie. I was initially hesitant about being alone but with their comfort and reassurance, I now feel secure. As the day went on, we met with all the other Greene Team members at 11 a.m. in the dorm lounge. There, friendships were created. Although I may not know them on a personal level, I am looking forward to continuing to get to know them. I started to get settled in. Then we went on to meet the other Greene Team members in the main lobby.
As we were walking towards the news room, rain struck us. Although we were soaked, it was filled with many smiles and laughter as we ran towards the building. We created a memory that we will cherish. It may not be ideal to some but, to us on the Greene Team, it was a beginning to a story to be told.
Once we entered the newsroom we learned about “The inverted pyramid.” It’s the ideal in writing journalism where the first paragraph is your lead and all the important information you want people to read while the next paragraphs are adding on more facts. I believe it is very interesting on how journalists go about the fact knowing that due to some of the readers’ attention spans they may not want to read an entire story. They just want the main idea.
The day continued to be filled with more knowledge to be learned but by the time we knew it, It was time for lunch at 12 p.m. As we walked through the campus we saw the beauty of nature and the environment. At lunch I ate pinto beans, grilled cheese, sweet potato fries, mac and cheese, water, as well as a salad. There I created a bond with Hennie and Shirley. We sat together and had great conversations.
After lunch we went back to the newsroom. We continued learning. Another thing that stood out to me was the tips for shooting video. I was unaware of the ideal of having a two finger space above the person’s head and right next to the sternum (rib cage) on the bottom half. I also learned about the 7 angles in shooting. Wide, Medium, Tight, Super Tight, Action, Reaction, and Capture the Moment. This peaked my interest as I never have heard about it before that moment that it was introduced.
As the lesson continued, we were taught how to spot out propaganda. A video was shown about a guy skydiving, but the guy is never seen falling to the ground. We were asked the question, “Would we share this video to our friends yes or no?” The video was created to be an advertisement for a trampoline park and to appease the public eye. We learned to ask ourselves these questions. “Who is making this video?” “Are they identifying themselves?” and “Is this accurate?” These questions allow a deeper thought process while watching. The lesson was filled with thought-provoking ideals.
Once the lesson was over we walked over to the dining hall for dinner around 5 p.m. At dinner I enriched myself with some tomato penne pasta and French Fries. As a beverage I had water. For dessert, we had a cheesecake, which was very delightful. After dinner, we walked back to the dorms where we finished unpacking and took turns showering.
In conclusion, the first day was an introduction of all the fun expected for the rest of the week. My Dorm Mates — Sorbs, Allison, Hennie, Gabrielle, and I then finished the day up by saying our goodnights.
On Wednesday, the other Greene Team members and I took part in a makeshift Stony Brook News broadcast! If I’m being honest, that was the most engaged and excited I’ve been since the start of the program. I love being on camera and performing because I do a lot of public speaking in and outside of school, and I’m also part of the Baldwin theater program—so this broadcast was perfect for me.
The first decision I made that day was whether to wear my favorite blue suit or a brown and beige co-ord. I wanted to pick something that made a statement, clean, put-together, and powerful. So, of COURSE I went with the suit. I threw my hair in a high bun and was camera-ready!
Picture of me on our way to the Newsroom!
After we ate breakfast and got settled into the recording studio, we did a quick run through the script and got started! I met Nicole Sganga, a Greene Team alumna and broadcaster at CBS News. She gave great advice and shared her stories on the job.
When it was my turn to be an anchor I was more than ready. As someone who prides herself on being a strong speaker and well as a great performer (shout out to Baldwin theater department) I felt in my element. Reading off the teleprompter was easy enough, but an issue I’ve had since forever was talking too fast. One of the people at the recording studio gave me that note, so the next time we recorded I slowed down a bit and it felt amazing. I don’t really think I will go into journalism as a career path but, honestly, anchoring was the best time I had at the program.
Pictures at the anchor desk!
After everyone was all done recording, we all watched each others’ broadcasts, and I liked it and did great. But that’s just what’s expected from me! When I wasn’t an anchor, I was floor manager. I thought I would enjoy this role because the qualifications for the role was “bossy.” When that word was spoken, everyone pointed to me. But the job wasn’t as exciting or enjoyable as a thought it would be. It was a lot at once because of the multiple voices in my headset at once. But my friend, Faith Welch, took over and she crushed it.
After we were all done, we watched the broadcast and headed to lunch!
I did my profile assignment on Shirley Jiang, and after a long editing process, I finally got it done! I had two Zoom meetings with Liisa May that really helped me fix my writing.
I used Ms. Chrissy’s Macbook to join my Zoom meetings and took a nice picture!
When I first wrote my profile on Shirley, it was very over the word count and had a lot of my own opinion in it. The first editor I worked with, Bill Bleyer, helped me cut parts of the profile to meet the word requirement. He pointed out that I needed to focus more on Shirley and let her voice and story shine without so much of my own commentary. Which, I totally understand. But I also wanted to refrain from the profile being bland or robotic. That balance was something I kept thinking about throughout the editing process.
One big discussion we had was about the lead of my story. I originally wrote: “At first glance, Shirley Jiang gives off quiet overachiever — reserved, calm, definitely smart.” Bill corrected it because he didn’t think the word “gives” worked in that sentence. Liisa agreed. But I explained that the usage of “gives” is actually grammatically correct in modern vernacular. It’s a form of informal, Gen Z-adjacent expression that’s become super common in pop culture commentary and conversational writing. People say things like, “it gives main character.”
I wanted the tone to feel like me, especially since I’m writing for other teens who talk like me. I explained to both Bill and Liisa that my writing style brings a more relatable and youthful voice, and I wanted that to be reflected in how I opened the piece. They ended up giving me the benefit of the doubt. But Liisa also made a good point that not everyone will understand that kind of phrasing, and if the goal is to write clearly for all audiences, I have to keep that in mind. So I ended up revising the lead a bit to compromise, while still keeping the tone I wanted.
Overall, the editing process definitely challenged me. There were moments where I felt like I was losing my voice in all the edits, but in the end, I think I found a middle ground between keeping it professional and still sounding like me. I appreciated both editors’ feedback, even when we didn’t totally agree at first, because it helped me think more critically about my choices as a writer.
On Monday, on the first day of camp, I got lost with my dad. It took us a while to find the camp. I missed a lot of camp time because I had lost my phone eve though I looked for it everywhere with my dad — In his car and in my bags. When I got here, I had to unpack but I couldn’t get into my room with the key they gave me because I didn’t know how to use it. So I also had to stay at the dorm because I couldn’t find or contact any one at the camp. And I got locked out of the dorm for a while until someone opened the outside door to the building. I joined the camp and headed to dinner where I meet everyone.
Day 3 was so enjoyable and definitely the most interactive day by far!
I woke up in the morning so excited to learn something new, and I definitely did. We all strutted down to the TV room in our suits, blazers, and dress-to-impress wear.
First things first, we had an amazing conversation with Nicole Sganga, a former member of the Greene Team. Sganga is a CBS News homeland security and justice correspondent. She is based in Washington, D.C., and reports for all shows and platforms. She was an amazing person to hear from, and she really dove deep into the vulnerable parts of journalism, and interviewing people on their hardest days, and being able to connect, and to be authentic.
Next up we got straight into anchoring, reporting, camera work, tele-prompting, and more! The first thing I did was report, it was fun, but definitely a bit nerve racking as well. But I really enjoyed it! My favorite role was definitely directing the floor, being able to give direction, and having a voice meaningful enough that my suggestions, like moving the camera up a bit, or telling the anchor to sit up, are actually implemented because of the role I held. I enjoyed that because my true desire is to do everything I do in perfection; not meaning everything is perfect, but to do my best to get it to as close to perfection as possible. I’m very thankful to Anjali for mentoring me through this process.
After the TV room and a melancholy lunch, we headed to News 12! We learned a lot about the process of how everything gets on air, and the editing, and graphics. It was a really interesting experience! We also got an exclusive view of the broadcast room that I see on my TV every day, which was really cool!
Then we headed back. When we got back we had dinner, and then we headed to the dorms and played some card games with our chaperones, Melanie and Anjali, which was so fun!
Now, I am TIRED!!! And tomorrow is a long day of work and editing, talk to you then.
