Internship Journals Fox News-

Meghan Dahnke

Week One 6/6-6/12

Hours worked: 20

I started working with Fox news this past Monday (6/7); needless to say I was nervous. Here I was
working for the first time in a long time, in a place I knew really no one. I must also admit I am not
familiar enough with the type of work environment I have placed myself in. My worries are that I am
going to feel like a tag-a-along and follower and that my acceptance as an intern will not be readily
accepted.

The moment I walked in it was very nice to see the smiles I was immediately greeted with and the news
director on my side (Jim Shaw). This man really believes in me to give me the opportunity to work with
him and his fellow colleagues. Granted there were probably better choices for an intern, but he chose
me. I wasn’t really showed around at all, I pretty much was just directed to shadow other interns right
away. The interns I followed were from Northwestern University from Chicago. Needless to say I felt a
bit more intimidated. Here I was this small town thing next to these big leagues. When I got to know
everybody though, it was a very relaxed environment. I even ran into one of my old classmates from
MSUM, Dylan, whom I have had several past courses with. It was nice to have a friend. What I have
noticed with the reporters, photographers, and anchors of Fox News, they all work hard, but had fun
doing it. This is exactly the type of environment I want to be in. I love it when people are good at what
they do, but make the most out of work.

This first week was kind of like getting use to the environment, and learning about my job description.
Like I said before, I was asked to shadow the other interns who were acting like real reporters. I followed
them out of the office, reported stuff around the Fargo-Moorhead area like the spelling bee champ, the
Monsanto plant incident that occurred during this week where two construction workers were seriously
injured, Rib-Fest, the new addition of the Anne Carlsen Center in Fargo, and more! It was so cool to
meet such a dynamic and vast different group of people. Some of the major things I learned this week
were how to organize news scripts, work with news packages, writing vo/sot stories, some editing
aspects, and stand-ups. It was hard to keep up with the other interns; they had everything down so
quickly. The important thing was that I was able to keep up. The only downfall I had this week was
getting told to call someone, but I wasn’t allowed to use the phone and got talked to about that?! I still
don’t understand that one…

Goals for next week:

My goal for next week is to integrate some pictures from the internship into this journal, as well as learn
more about the editing and reporting process.

Week Two- 6/13-6/19

Hours Worked: 14

This week I didn’t put in as many hours as I would have liked, but I still got some terrific experience in
what I did do. This week I successfully reported my first news story! It felt amazing! I was asked from Jim
to create a vo/sot news piece to be read by the anchor at the nine o’clock airing time. I was asked to
report on “Little Caesars: Love Kitchen” which is a pizza mobile that travels across the country giving
away free pizzas to the needy. It was a great cause, and wonderful thing I got to do this past week. I
have the script in my cubby at FOX, and would like to include it in this journal at a later date. I am also
planning to take what reports I do accomplish and start creating a portfolio of my work. If this week
confirmed anything to me it is that reporting is my passion, it just kind of took this push with FOX to
make me realize it. The downfall with this career is that salary is little to nothing. I am kind of torn with
wanting to pursue this, because it makes me happy or finding a job that is going to let my family be
financially secure.

This week the interns I had followed last week finished their internship and went back home to Chicago.
I was kind of on my own as far as knowing what to do. In a way this is a good thing, because the
struggles I was put through taught me how to do the job correctly. Even though it’s like telling someone
to do something they have never done before. I was a little bit frustrated this week, being thrown into
this like such. Jim mentioned to me this week that next week he is going to gone, and that I am to ask
direction from an anchor on what they would like me to do. I look at this as an opportunity to show
some more initiative on my part. I guess we will see…

Goals for next week:

Upload pictures from News Station- still getting a few that I would like to incorporate.
Upload copy of my first reporting script
Organize a meeting date with Shannon and Jim

Week Three- 6/20-6/26

Hours Worked: 19.5

This week Jim, my internship director was absent on family vacation. I was asked to report to some
senior reporters and anchors as for my news assignments. The first day I arrived for work I was kind of
disappointed as no-one knew I was coming. Therefore, I had no assignments for the day. The best I
could do was kind of shadow some other reporters during their assignments and practice on my writing
and editing skills. However, the next days I definitely got a feel for pressing against the time in the news
world.

I was so excited as I got my second attempt with reporting last week. I was given a story about Bethany
Homes Retirement Living. The organization was hosting an annual carnival to raise money to help fund
things in the retirement home. It was so much fun! I got to meet a few directors with Bethany and talk
to them about why they host the carnival. It was really touching to hear how far even a little amount can
help fund things like electric chairs for some of the residents. I also got a chance to speak with some
volunteers, one in particular named Zach. Zach, fourteen, is a veteran volunteer with the carnival.
Having helped out for the past four years, Zach told me that he felt it was important to spend his time
doing this like helping others out than spending his time at home watching television. How cool is that?!
Here a young kid was helping out other kids attending the community carnival as well as sharing a
conversation or two with senior citizen. I felt proud to meet this young man and incorporate him into my
story.

I also got a chance to cover some more stories this week. I was very excited, because I had pitched a
story idea that my news director accepted and sent me out on. It was a story about infant car-seat
safety with the Safety Shoppe of Fargo. What I enjoyed about this assignment was that my husband was
going to be a part of it. The story was about this organization hosting a car-seat safety check up event in
which citizens were able to get their infant car gear check for proper safety measures. My husband was
one of the many helping to ensure safety was put first with members of the community. I felt so
accomplished as an intern this week. I was finally gaining an understanding what being a reporter
meant. In comparison to the first week, I could see the progress I was making in my internship. I was
able to understand broadcasting terms, work with the anchors, report with ease, understand the edit
bays, and improve my overall performance. I look forward to showing Jim some of my new found skills
and confidence with KVRR Fox next week.

Goals for next week:

Try to get a feel for other things than reporting at Fox- look into shadowing a photographer.

Week Four- 6/27-7/3

Hours Worked: 15

This week was one of the more unproductive weeks. Jim was back from vacation, and most of the staff
was there on each day’s I had worked. This left me as an intern to shadowing as news stories were
prioritized to the reporters first. This week I got to attend a story that was being reported on fireworks.
A senior reporter and I went to go visit John Star of Star Fireworks in Fargo. This was kind of an
interesting shadow, because this story was going to be turned into a package. I have not worked with
packages in detail yet, so it was refreshing to watch something I was unfamiliar with.

I also had the opportunity to follow a story about the United Way of Fargo who was sponsoring a
Volunteer Day. I got the opportunity to interact with some of the volunteers and speak with them about
their efforts and reasons behind their attendance. One of the organizers we had spoken with was so
appreciative that our news station had come out as the only media at the event. The reporter I was with
was kind of in a sour mood having to cover this story. It bothered me that this reporter had been acting
that way. This is kind of a trend I have noticed with some of the seniors. They get irritated if they are
working on a story that they don’t want to be working on. I am not quite sure if Jim notices this, but it’s
not very fun for me to follow someone who doesn’t want to cover the story in the first place, or show
me how they are doing things. I am not quite sure on whether to mention anything to Jim. For now I
have kind of let this slide, although it has been happening now for awhile.

I did encounter some problems this past week, but I made the best out if it with what I could. I got the
opportunity to report a story about West Fargo’s news school district superintendent. Reporting the
story went fine, for the first time I felt super comfortable and naturally stepped foot into the life of a
reporter. However, editing this story was more than frustrating. I am not that great at editing my tapes,
so I often need help. One of the lead anchors, Austin, told me to get help from another reporter who did
help me edit my tape half-way through. However, after I had completed the editing I had Austin look the
tape over, and he got kind of mad that a few things were wrong with it. What he was pointing out was
something the other reporter who was helping me had done. I kind of felt like I got the brush of the
blame which made me upset. He also said that my editing was taking too long. I was doing the best I
could, considering this particular day was short of an anchor.

I am an intern, I am here to learn, and I am a professional at getting things accomplished in the manner
some of the staff would like me to. I don’t want to complain or feel like I am owed that
acknowledgement. I don’t want to whine. Next week I am going to try and step everything up.

Goals for next week:

Prepare for meeting with Shannon and Jim.
Show Shannon my scripts and tape from school board if time permits.
Be more optimistic!

Week Five: 7/4- 7/10

Hours Worked: 15

This week Jim had assigned me shadowing with a senior reporter. The Red River Valley Fair was going
on, and so I accompanied a reporter in package story of this event. We were there for quite a few hours.
It was extremely hot out, and I was dressed in full work attire. I learned right away some of the small
and larger sacrifices a reporter will make. I so uncomfortable out in the boiling sun while sweating my
brains out! It was such an external distraction for me to pay attention to the story at hand, because I so
physically uncomfortable. It was hard to set this aside, and focus on watching the reporter, his stand-up,
interviews, and cut away shots for the story. This week also took another downward turn.

Jim had assigned me a last minute story an hour before I was needed to leave, as I had to pick my son
up. Anyways, I get back to the news station after doing this report, wrote up the script for the anchors,
and was asked to edit the tape for the nights show. Granted, I am only a month into my internship I am
nowhere near the professionalism most of the other interns or reporters are. I have learned from the
bottom up, with little to no experience, within thirty days. Jim had asked a reporter to edit my tape,
which I was relieved, because I have only done it twice thus far with my time there and never by myself.
I have always had help (per Jim’s request) when I have edited my stories. In addition, I was already
running late to pick my son up. With this in mind, a reporter had come into the editing bay, and needless
to say she had some harsh comments for me. In sum, she had told me that people are picking up some
of the work I do, even asking me whether or not I knew what I was doing. I literally felt insulted, and on
the verge of crying. I was so close to losing composure, and covered this with surface acting. I didn’t
want this reporter to see how she made me feel. Instead, I had apologized, and expressed my thank you
for her helping me with my story (which I always do beforehand). After she had said this to me, I had
pretty much had it, I wanted out for the day, and hour and a half late, I needed to leave. I felt like she
was a vulture picking down on me till nothing was left, and in doing so I gave in and allowed myself to
sabotage my work effort that day, by just up and leaving. Jim never said anything to me in regards to this
situation- which I was relieved.

Week Six: 7/11-7/17

Hours Worked: 9.5

This week I attended a news conference about the quarterly report of N.D. taxes. It was a boring story to
cover, and statistically comprehensive. I kind of understood from this assignment why reporters get
frustrated when they get stories that they don’t want to cover. Having a story that is more interesting
brings out a better work ethic (at least for me). But, I also realize I am at the bottom of the totem pole
and I need to take what comes my way. I also got to report another story this week about a new
Southside West Fargo Volunteer Fire Department Station. It was kind of a neat story to cover, because I
got to me meet a vast array of different people who were involved in the new addition. One in particular
was USDA director, Jasper Schneider. He provided a really great sound bite I incorporated in my story
about how location is everything for fireman and having the new addition the firefighting department
would help reduce response times and save lives. I got the opportunity to see the buildings architectural
plans and designated plot before construction.
This week I also got to have my meeting with Shannon and Jim. I was really excited to meet Shannon,
especially since I have known her for a little longer than year, but have never met her in person. It felt
really great to be applauded for jumping right into the broadcasting environment and for the fact that I
have been able to swim in perhaps a sinking situation. It also felt really great to have Jim tell Shannon
that I have been putting my best effort forward, and have been making the best out of the situation. I
have a great friend in both Shannon and Jim, this week made me realize that!

Week Seven: 7/18-7/24

Hours Worked: 13 hours

Jim was gone this week so I was under the guidance of a senior anchor. The first day, Jim, didn’t have
much of anything for me to do. I again followed normal routine and accompanied a senior reporter to a
story about a new track being constructed in Moorhead in honor of a fallen soldier. It was an extremely
emotional event for the present family members. I did my best to respect the situation, and join in on
honoring the soldier. This was the first story had gone to that involved the death of someone. The
atmosphere was completely different, and I noticed how the reporter went about his story.

Unlike other stories, the reporter I was following had adjusted his behavior, tone, and voice to match
those around him. He sympathized with the grieving mother in which he interviewed. The accompanying
photographer was cautious about what he could shoot and what the family members wanted; as there
were tons of pictures of the soldier around. Noticing how this reporter handled the situation made me
note and reflect on how I could do the same.

This intern week also brought one of the most interesting experiences thus far! I was assigned a story to
go report about relics of Blessed Mother Teresa of Calcutta at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Fargo. These
were actual relics- vile of her blood, hair, rosary, shoes, cross, and pictures. I got to meet members of
The Sisters of Charity Mission which worked with Mother Teresa in their work. Whether you’re religious
or not this experience was the coolest! I went back to the news station put my script together, and
edited the tape. I was really proud of myself this day, because Austin said the writing in my script was
strong. It was such an upper that made me feel terrific about the work I put into the story. For the first
time in my internship experience, I felt like I was working at the same pace as the other reporters.

Week Eight: 7/25-7/31

Hours Worked: 14

This was my last week interning. Looking back I could tell the quality of my work from this last week to
the first week had dramatically improved. Jim had assigned me a report about The National Junior
Classical League Convention which had visited Fargo during this week. The convention brought hundreds
of high school students to the Fargo area to celebrate and commemorate the classics of Latin and Greek
heritage. It focused on proving that Latin isn’t a dead language, and stressed the importance of its
relevancy among students. I got to see the most amazing pieces of artwork, essays, and speeches from
the conventions participating students. I met with one young man named, Ryan, who told me that the
Latin language is everywhere, and it holds such a strong societal presence that a person would do
themselves a dishonor not to learn the language. I was very pleased with my interview, and utilized this
quote as my sound bite when I got back to the station.
I noticed after I had interviewed the story I came back to news station, wrote my script- got it approved
right away with no adjustments, and edited my story down in less than twenty minutes. I could tell that I
knew what I was doing and how to do it. I was very pleased with myself, and proud of the work I had put
in and accomplished. I had the hardest time in the beginning trying to catch up and keep up with the
clock, and by the end I was ahead of the clock! Time is everything in broadcasting journalism, and if I
have learned anything it is that!

Walking away from this experience is bittersweet. It is nice to be done with the commuting back and
forth from Valley City to Fargo, the shuffling of my son, and working around some of the reporters in
which I felt tension around. I will miss meeting new people, engaging in new experiences I otherwise
would never have the opportunity to do so. I feel like I have grown so much, and to stop that growing
does make me a bit nervous. I want to continue with broadcasting journalism, but need to find a
productive time and place for me to continue so.

Goals for next week:

Add pictures from station
Organize mini portfolio of work into a report.
 Pictures from my Fox News Internship
Photographed by Meghan Dahnke

The Fox News Station.

One of the company cars in which I drove in during assignments.

Edit and voice over bay in which anchors work in.

Edit and voice bay in which I worked in.

 Shot of the Newsroom

Jim’s office and plaque awards.

 Breakroom.

Second newsroom shot.

 Control Room.

Weather station.