What a Relief!

The main part of my capstone is done!! My presentation was this past Monday night, during which I debuted my short film, "Lawrence County: A Community Rooted in History." This project involved me creating four TV packages throughout the semester and then combining them into a film. The four areas I focused on in the history of Lawrence County were the Native Americans, Lawrence County Beginnings, the Civil War and Underground Railroad, and the Industrial Revolution, particularly in New Castle.

In the end, I realized there was also a couple more parts I needed to add to the film as well. I don't think I've spent so much time editing before, but it gave me a lot more experience editing with Final Cut Pro...I learned so much. Also, I decided to create a cool DVD menu to go along with my film, so I figured out how to work DVD Studio Pro, too! However, the most important part was I decided to produce the film like I would produce a TV show for the County Line. I realized they were a lot of similarities.

I needed to make the whole film flow to begin with and tease what I was going to show at the beginning like an "All Tease" at the start of a TV news show. After much thought, I chose to use bits from my interviews in the introduction that sounded interesting, but didn't give too much away...plus intriguing images that would make people want to watch my film. Also, I bought a royalty free music bed from Music Bakery, which I weaved in and out of the film. Adding theme music to the film definitely gave it some color.

The last week before the project, I was frantic trying to make last minute adjustments to the film, finding and adding in the music, sending out invitations, and coordinating with local historians, who brought some of their artifacts to display. Finally, Monday arrived, and everything was set!

I started my presentation with a quick synopsis of the film and why I chose this type of project. I explained how working as a TV reporter at TCL and interning at Newschannel 5 helped me realize that I like having the time to be more creative with my storytelling. I would love to work for PBS, the History Channel, the Travel Channel, or the Discovery Channel...shooting, writing, and editing documentary-type style films. After explaining my journey through the process, I showed my film.

I had 32 people show up to my capstone, and more wanted to come but had conflicts! My professor was impressed and said I need to submit the film to a number of contests like the BEA and the Iris Film Festival. I'm definitely going to submit it to as many contests as I can! I also really appreciated my family and friends for being there. Once I figure out how to best compress my film for the web...I will post it here, so everyone can take a look!!

Dinner Interview Etiquette 101

Last week, our class was required to attend Westminster College's annual, "Dine 'n Shine," hosted by the school's Career Center. This dinner and presentation for senior students gave us some tips on how to conduct ourselves during a job interview over a meal, whether it's dinner, drinks, lunch, etc.

During the event, we enjoyed a delicious meal, while also listening to Dr. Cary Wecht Horvath, assistant professor and chair of the Communication Department at Youngstown State University and former Westminster professor. I never realized how many second or follow-up interviews are conducted during some type of meal. According to Horvath, 80 percent of all second interviews happen at the dinner table.

This kind of scared me...it adds so much extra pressure and so much else you have to worry about when trying to impress a company. However, I got plenty of advice on what to do and what not to do during a dinner interview.

While many of the tips seemed like common sense, one thing I didn't realize was never ask for a "doggie bag." I don't like wasting food, but Horvath said that by taking back leftovers, it makes you look gluttonous...just like ordering too much food. I normally don't order a whole lot of food to begin with when I go out to restaurants, but Horvath even suggested eating a little before you go to an interview over a meal, so that way you can focus more on the interview itself, instead of what you want to eat.

Also, she suggested, it's not a good idea taking awhile to figure out what you want to eat...that makes you look indecisive as a person, and companies want employees that make good, but quick decisions. This is especially true in the broadcasting business.

However, I think the most important valuable information I took away from the night was when the Career Center put on their talent show to demonstrate the difference between business casual and business professional...as well as which was appropriate for each particular setting.

I guess I just didn't think there was that much of a difference; but by watching the show, I learned that business casual is a more relaxed look, often appropriate to wear to work, while business professional is more conservative and clean-cut looking, more appropriate for an actual interview or a special presentation. For example, a business casual look for women may be black dressy pants or a skirt with a nice blouse or sweater, while business professional would be more like a suit pant set that is bought together.

Horvath also stressed that you should dress to fit your company...if they tend to be more casual, you don't want to overdress for the environment, but being too under-dressed is also not a good idea. Overall, this experience was rewarding, and I will definitely take this advice with me when I graduate and continue my job search!

The Job Seach Begins...

During the past two years, I've really started to look more at job opportunities to pursue after I graduate. This week's class assignment wanted me to take this a step further. We were asked to find a job posting that we be interested applying for, describe the job, and create a cover letter we would send to that company.

I'm not going to lie...this was really hard for me. I would like to stay near home (Cleveland, OH), but I was having trouble finding any job openings near my hometown. After searching for awhile, I decided to just look for a job that I would enjoy doing after college...I mean you've got to be flexible.

In the end, I chose a job posting for a "Multi-Media Journalist" at KNXV-15 (ABC) Phoenix. Not only does this career interest me, I think I would have a good chance getting this job because the TV station is owned by The E.W. Scripps Company, which also owns WEWS-Newschannel 5 in Cleveland where I interned this past summer. I could probably get a personal reference from those I worked with at my internship. Here's the job posting/details:

Job Title: Multi-Media Journalist
Status: Full Time
Location: KNXV-15 (ABC) Phoenix

Job Description:
1. Report, write, shoot, edit and produce stories for multiple platforms on deadline, such as Internet
2. Research and develop original news stories
3. Gather facts to support specific assigned news stories
4. Record & edit video to support the presentation of assigned news stories
5. Conduct and record live interviews
6. Deliver compelling, well-written stories
7. Perform other duties as needed and as directed by news managers

Now here's my cover letter...remember, this is a class assignment!

Dear Anice Stonerock:

As a current reporter and producer for the County Line, Westminster College's TV news show, I am very interested in working for KNVX as a multi-media journalist. I am a senior broadcast communications that will graduate in May 2009. I have more than two solid years of television reporting and producing experience.

Students are in charge of producing and running the County Line, a 30-minute live news show, once every week. This year, I have taken on the leadership role as Executive Producer for the show. I have to oversee everything. In addition, my senior project is focused on reporting, so I have been researching, shooting, writing, and editing my own stories all semester. Before this year, I have been a consistent reporter for the show.

Not only do I have hands-on experience at school, I also interned at WEWS-Newschannel 5 this past summer. I mostly worked with the noon news producer, researching, writing, and organizing the show. However, I also had the chance to go out reporters and write my own stories for the show. I know what it is like to work in the pressure of the newsroom.

In addition, I worked in other areas of broadcasting that will help me as multi-media journalist. I have experience directing, technical directing, and anchoring for the County Line; plus I am the director for our school's weekly sports interview show, Coach's Corner. Also, I have excellent writing skills. I know how to write, report, and anchor radio news, and this year I serve as Titan Radio News Director at Westminster. I even worked as a part-time news producer and anchor at WKST 1200 AM in New Castle, PA, for close to a year.

Also, I would bring creativity to the job, since the station is looking for original, fresh stories. I utilized my creative abilities when I interned in radio promotions at 95.5 the Fish radio station in the Independence, OH, two summers ago. Also, I currently DJ and produce a Christian-contemporary music radio show on Titan Radio every Sunday night.

I would greatly appreciate considering me for the multi-media journalist position at KNVX. Please feel free to contact me on my cell phone at (4xx) xxx-xxxx or by e-mail at npiszczor@gmail.com. I look forward to the opportunity to broaden my experience as a broadcaster.

Thank you for your consideration.

Sincerely,

Nicole T. Piszczor