I would like to stress how crucial it is to become involved in other organizations or professional groups that can give you experience. Other than interning, groups on your school’s campus can be extremely helpful and useful in many different aspects. One group that has been a highlight of my college career is Duck Tv, which is an organization at the University of Oregon that reports on news and sports.
I joined Duck Tv my first term of Junior Year and am still currently in it. I plan on staying in it the rest of school because it has given me an insight on what it would be like to be a sports reporter, which is a career that I am 100 percent thinking about. Here is a quick list of the things that we are expected to do:
- Attend sporting events like baseball, basketball, tumbling, softball, tennis, football, and lacrosse.
- Dress professionally and check out equipment like cameras, microphones, etc.
- Record the entire game and get crucial shots
- Interview the players and the coaches at the end of the game
- Write your own script to report on camera
- Report on camera
- Edit the shots and create a video that will be a part of the Duck Tv show
It’s funny because you would think the producers would ease you into the process, but instead they expect you to jump right into it because that is the only way you are going to get practice and become better. I can say that I was extremely nervous for the first game that I covered. However, it was so fascinating and exciting to be able to do it and I’d like to say I have gotten the hang of it. It turns out there is so much more to learn besides reporting at games. There is a studio where we create the show behind desks, lights, cameras, and green screens. I got the opportunity to get in front of a green screen and talk about six different football players that are battling for positions in the spring game of 2017. This was incredible because I was so nervous, but it felt like I was actually a real life sports reporter on camera for a news network.
Having the opportunity to have experiences like will only help you in the long run. I now believe I want to be a sports reporter and will continue focusing on what can lead me there.
~ Kara Marie ~ 