Today the Greene team tackled broadcasting and all the roles that go into making a successful news broadcast. We were each given the opportunity to try our hand at anchoring, directing, filming, and learning how to use the control room equipment. It was an amazing experience because we learned about what tasks each role performs in order for the show to run smoothly.
Learning how to use the equipment from professionals such as Marcy McGinnis and Connie Conway was a great way to develop a better understanding of broadcasting. McGinnis is a producer who worked her way to the top for over 20 years at CBS News and Conway is an award winning reporter for News 12 Long Island. Meeting veterans of the field was truly an honor for the Greene team.
Stony Brook School of Communication and Journalism’s control room. Photo by Yasmin Bardales
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
Day 4 started with a slightly late start, as the previous night was the very late Ducks game. We started with the usual pep talks and lectures but soon enough we moved to a separate studio and started our own news recording. I started on the buttons that control what goes live and got the hang of what they do while watching. Then I was on camera, which was my favorite. Then I had to go in front of the camera, which I did not like at all. My team then went on an interview with the co-founder of Tiny Vinyl and got the information we needed to start. For our Ducks project my teammates started on the script and I went through and started to edit our clips. Today went by quickly and the program is almost over. I’m not sure we’ll finish everything but we’ll do our best.
Today I got to experience being both an anchor and a reporter, and it immediately made me want to do more. For the first time, I got a taste of the hands-on work I’ve been eager to do, and that is a crucial part of my dream career. I’ve always wondered what it’s like to be in front of the camera delivering the news. But I also worried about speaking on camera, reading my lines, and asking people questions.
When I sat at the anchor desk, I stood tall, smiled at the camera, and confidently read from the teleprompter. I focused on speaking clearly and projecting my voice like the reporters I watch on the news.
Later that day, I practiced my reporting skills at the Greene team’s press conference with researcher Tim Glotch. I asked, “What role do universities like Stony Brook play in NASA’s exploration efforts?” He explained that universities apply for grants from NASA to conduct research that supports its missions. I was then encouraged to ask a follow-up question: “Is the current political climate making it harder to fund significant research?” He shared that NASA’s budget cuts have had negative effects on research funding and the agency’s ability to support important scientific work. I was really happy to be able to ask questions that mattered to me and receive honest, thoughtful answers from someone directly involved in the research. Before speaking, I kept rehearsing my questions in my head, but once I started talking, everything flowed naturally.
This experience confirmed my strong interest in journalism and strengthened my desire to pursue it as a career.
Today started a bit later than normal due to the late night last night. I got up around 7:30 and met everybody downstairs at 8:15. From here we headed to breakfast and then to the newsroom for a start to our on air reporting.
Me at the news studio. Photo by Noah Eichenholtz
Today we all got to take turns being on air either reporting, doing the weather, or anchoring. I was able to be an anchor. However, I was not a huge fan of being in front of the camera. I much preferred taking a few steps back and running the camera.
After being on air we headed over to lunch for a quick break before meeting Journalism Professor Howard Schneider, who talked about how to know to trust a news source and be a good news consumer.
We then took a short moment to review our information on Planetary Scientist Tim Glotch and his work before the press conference.
During the press conference, while the rest of my group was asking questions, I was focused on taking photos from as many different angles as I could think of. This led to lots of interesting shots that will be in our final story.
Parker and me at the bench. Photo by Noah Eichenholtz
Post press conference, we all worked more on our final projects. We finally wrapped up the day with dinner and then ended in our dorms.
Today was very interesting, and meeting Tim was for sure a highlight of my week!
On the second to last full day of the Greene Institute, I did a mock TV news anchor segment (that I forgot to take pictures for) with Angie, one of my group-mates. We (the Greene Team) went 2 by 2 with anchoring duties and were able to see how live TV news works behind the scenes.
That was a cool experience. But what we did after that was exceptionally cool. The entire Greene Team did an interview on Tim Glotch, a professor and geologist at Stony Brook who also works for NASA on their Artemis project. That project includes the planned mission to get people back on the moon and to build a whole base there as well.
A picture I took of the interview with Tim Glotch.
My group also interviewed Lorraine Woodward, the founder of Becoming rentABLE, a website that lists accessible short term rentals for people with disabilities. We talked with her on how the website works and her own ultra-accessible rental homes.
All in all, it was a unique day here at Stony Brook. This internship’s gone so fast, which is sad because I’m really enjoying it and what it’s giving me.
Today was filled with writing emails, researching, and things that make me hungry and sleepy. It feels like I’m back in AP Seminar, researching the most random things and then trying to make them sound like they sense.
I think journalism is something I’d pursue as a career; I don’t like being on camera, though. I’d most likely be the one recording. I’m a big photography fan.
I enjoyed messing with professional cameras. I’m quite excited to buy one myself when I do get a job.
One thing I overly enjoyed was the mac and cheese. It was a life-changing, adrenaline-pumping, divine substance that made me tear up because it was totally just so amazing.
I’m excited for the Ducks game and the news thing going on, but I’m most excited for the photography that could come up.
Today started with a later start then I would have liked. I had planned to be up at 6. But, due to the bed and the environment, I couldn’t fall asleep well enough to stay asleep. Today consisted of lectures filled with useful information, but it was mostly uneventful. Going out and taking photos and videos was a highlight for me. Heading back, it seemed to be a short day when I thought back on it.
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!
Parker and I on our way to breakfast Credit: Noah Eichenholtz
Day 3 started at around 7 am where I struggled to get up due to how tired I was from Day 1. After finally getting out of bed around 7:30 I quickly showered, dressed myself, packed my bag, and then met everybody downstairs.
After a quick breakfast of yogurt and potatoes we headed over to the newsroom for work time with my group. My project is about the effort to clean up Long Island and make it beautiful. We started by meeting our group leader, Able News Reporter Emily Sauchelli. She helped us find the people we need to talk to and come up with questions to ask. After a bit of emailing, we got a few interviews set up for the next couple of days.
At around 12, we quickly headed to lunch for a yummy break. After eating we had a short stop at the newsroom before boarding our bus and heading to Newsday in Melville.
At Newsday, we got to meet a lot of reporters and journalists and editors. It was a really cool look into the inner working and actual people in the industry.
Heading back on the bus, we quickly got to the Ducks baseball game where we met LI Ducks Communications Vice President Michael Polak. He gave us some awesome information on reporting for sports and we had a very productive press conference. After that we ate dinner, watched the rest of the game, and headed back to the dorms for the night.
Asher and me at the Ducks game. Photo by Noah Eichenholtz
Today was a bit busy but lots of fun and worth the car rides. Tomorrow is shaping up to be just as good with our trip to the news station.
