The NextGen program was such a fulfilling experience for me. I got to meet and work with such talented and supportive people. Every step of the way, I had someone encouraging me, working through obstacles alongside me and teaching me new skills I’ll bring into the rest of my life.
I almost didn’t even apply to Next Generation Radio. I thought to myself, “everyone in your newsroom will be applying, are you really any better than them?” The answer then, and still is, no. I’m not any better or worse than them. But I learned a very valuable lesson throughout this process. You don’t get what you don’t ask for. Throughout the week I made sure to write down the information I wanted to have included in my web story, ask to see if my vision for the visuals would be possible and coordinate with people when I knew I needed more time for something.
Now, the week didn’t come without its challenges. But this process taught me how to take those obstacles in stride. Anytime something came up, I was able to work through it with the support of my mentor, Ryan, and everyone else on my team. I’m enormously proud of the work I accomplished in such a short time.
Looking back, I have things I would have done differently. For example, I would have tried my best to clear my schedule entirely for the work week. A lot of what set me back was navigating my schedule around a few doctor’s appointments. After this week, I hope to utilize the new skills (some life-saving Adobe Audition shortcuts included) and connections I’ve gained to be a better storyteller and serve my community in the future.
This is a photo from the marina where I interviewed Steve. I think a boat on the water surrounded by a beautiful landscape perfectly represents my experience.