Session 3 Q& A
Q: What do you do on an average day? -Robert
A: I come into the newsroom and make sure the website's updated.
I look for three viral videos like Gangnam Style or the Harlem Shake
and present it on TV. In addition to what's trending online I talk about
what we've got to offer you guys on our website. I'll add more information
to a story online with interactive graphics, links and more.
Q: What is your favorite thing to do? -Bailey
A: I don't really work because I love what I do. My favorite thing to do
is multitask. We also have Facebook and Twitter, so at the same time
I'm on TV I'm also Facebooking and tweeting about what we have to
offer you guys. I also send out texts and iPhone pushes.
Q: Do you get to dress casual? -Hope
A: No, I'm on air so I have to be as professional as possible. I would have
my hair done and more makeup.
Q: What's your favorite part about what you do? -Kelsey
A: Learning something new every day. I love facts and trivia and learning someone's story. You learn different things about all walks of life.
Q: WHat can you do in high school to prepare for college? -Sydney
A: You have to make sure that you're laying the foundation for a successful future if you do decide to come to UT. You have to make sure you're taking other classes that aren't journalism to make sure you have everything in line before you graduate. I took a lot of AP classes and some concurrent enrollment so I got hours without even having to go to college. It saves your parents money and it saves you time. Take all the courses you can to get as many college hours before you even step a foot on the university.
Q: How do you prepare? -Laurie
A: There's a Facebook page called "Real Crazy Videos" and it's hilarious. I also use Upworthy and Google Trends. There's another website that shows really interesting stories in big headlines and less interesting stories in smaller headlines that's a visual way of laying it out for me. I go in to work at 5:00. It's easy for me to see visually what's trending or going on in the world since I've been sleeping for the last 8 hours.
Q: Do you cover stories that are on trial? -Kate
A: We absolutely do. It's fun because we're learning but the subject matter is not so fun. The most recent one I can think of is a hit and run who was driving home late and night and hit somebody and that person died. She's been on trial and just got 10 years of probation. Those are the kinds of court stories we try to cover, the ones that are really in the spotlight that the community cares about. We can't make it to all of them but we try to get out to the ones who really tug at your heartstrings in the community.
Q: Is there a really challenging part or something you'd rather not have to do as part of your job? -Jane
A: We work on deadlines and I do wish we didn't have to worry about time so much. The reason we're in this business is because we're all about covering what's important right now and being timely. People want to go to the website and read the news now. If you don't have it up now they're going to go to somebody else's website. I would prefer not to deal with deadlines but it's the nature of the beast and you learn to work with what you have.
Q: Is it hard to do all that stuff at once? -Xavier
A: It's not hard for me but it can be hard. You guys are pros at the internet so I don't think you'll have any problem. Once you get the hang of it it's easy.
Q: Is your goal to drive traffic to the website or to have us watch the news? -Bryan
A: Both. My job is primarily to represent the website and push people to go online and look at the videos I show. At the same time, I want them to watch our show right now. Right now my job is continuing to grow and evolve as changes in the viewers grow. I'm a bit of a hybrid so it's kind of a balancing act. It's not really defined.
Q: Is it fun to be on air? -Nevin
A: It is fun to be on air but it's very stressful because you have to really think about what you're going to say. You don't always have a script and viewers are really hard to please. If you mess up even once, they're emailing you. It's hard to make sure that you're being smart without stumbling but still being honest.
Q: How are live streams changing broadcast? -Robert
A: These tools allow crews to get close to the action and be live and on air and show everyone what's happening. Once it's done, someone will go in and cut and upload the video and embed it in the story. You have more resources and more tools ot work with to make your product that much better and go to places you wouldn't be able to go to before.
