The University of Rhode Island
Department of Journalism

Barely in the Philadelphia newsroom, Fox News intern produces story

By Ashley Soder
During the waning moments of the Spring 2005 semester, I had numerous conversations with fellow journalism majors regarding expectations of an internship. My unbridled enthusiasm about my FOX TV opportunity became muted when I was informed that my expectations were too lofty.

I was informed that the best-case scenario was that I would be able to watch a broadcast professional perform his or her duties, acting as the proverbial "fly on the wall." The worst-case scenario would be that I would be tasked to get coffee, make photocopies or be assigned a myriad of other menial tasks.

So as I entered the FOX Philadelphia office on the first day of my internship, my anticipation had been appropriately suppressed. I had barely entered the newsroom when a cameraman pleasantly introduced himself, shook my hand and, upon learning that I was an intern, asked me to join him in filming a story for that evening's news broadcast.

We got in the FOX29 news van and headed out to the scene of a fatal automobile accident that had occurred late the previous night. Apparently, two carloads of teens decided to drag-race and one driver lost control. During our commute, the cameraman asked me questions about my career objectives, and I informed him that I wanted to start as an on-camera reporter.

At the scene, the cameraman handed me the camera and said that in order to be effective in front of the camera you need to understand the perspective from behind the camera. I took a series of pictures to include skid marks, a damaged tree and the surrounding neighborhood. We returned to the station, where I was tasked to edit the segment and integrate the voice over. My first day and I had already produced my first news package that aired on the FOX29 10 o'clock News Hour. Not bad for the first day.

That night, I could barely sleep; my excitement returned and my expectations soared. Unlike my classmates' experiences, my internship has been one high after another. Perhaps this difference is because FOX is not unionized, as are the other Philadelphia stations. The union contracts prevent interns at those stations from accomplishing any real hands-on work.

The objective of this piece was to present the good, the bad, and the otherwise of my internship. The "good" should be obvious, but the bad took me days of contemplation. The only negative issue I could raise regarding my internship had little to do with my employer and a whole lot to do with society.

In covering news in the fourth largest media market there is always a depressing story: a murder, a rape, an accident. If you focus too closely on those negative events, your perspective may become jaded and perhaps your career in journalism may become depressing and unpleasant. It is a stretch and it is the only "bad" element remotely related to the wonderful experience I had at FOX29-Philadelphia this summer.

Addendum
The capstone experience of my summer internship started on a hectic news day, early on a Monday morning in July. When I arrived at work many news crews were already leaving to cover breaking stories across the Philadelphia metropolitan area. A new lead came into the assignment desk in which a family of a slain child was preparing a press conference to announce a lawsuit against a local gun store for selling the gun that was used to commit the crime that resulted in their son's murder.

Apparently, 80 percent of the gun shops in Pennsylvania have never sold a gun that ended up being used in the commission of a crime. This gun shop, the subject of the lawsuit, had sold 489 guns that were ultimately involved in a crime. Obviously, its policy regarding background investigation of the buyer of its guns came under suspicion.

It was an important story but all the reporters were in the field working on other equally important stories. The producer turn to me and told me to get a FOX News polo shirt and then get a cameraman and go interview the owner of the gun shop -- my first stand-up. So much for just getting coffee!

I did some quick Internet searches to get background information and jumped in the news van to head out for the interview. On the ride I was formulating a series of interview questions and thinking about how best to develop the package.

Upon arrival at the gun shop I pulled on my new bright red FOXNEWS 2XX polo shirt. The shirt looked like one of the housecoats my great grandmom wore -- it hung down to my knees. I quickly made some adjustments with a couple of rubber bands and hair ties and was somewhat presentable.

We took some background film of the shop, the sign, the neighborhood, etc. Now was my time to go get the interview. The thought crossed my mind that I would be entering a somewhat hostile environment, one in which the subject of my interview could get angry and had access to a roomful of firearms.

I gritted my teeth, flashed a smile and attempted to enter the store. I was met with a locked door and cry of "go away -- no comment." We stayed a while longer; the cameraman allowed me to do a little stand-up and we returned to the station with the background film.

In hindsight, I assume the producer knew the likelihood of getting the interview was small but that did not dampen my excitement. Some of the film and some of my research made it to the evening news. The voiceover was that of the anchorman. I had a taste of my future and I am craving more.

Ashley Soder is a senior journalism major/TMD minor from Warrington, Pa. If you have questions for Ashley, you can e-mail her.