"Today I want you to shadow a PA (Production Assistant) to see how segments of the show are put together," my boss told me. So I went over to the huddle of PA's and asked if I could shadow one of them. It was the perfect week for me to do so, as the PA's are the ones who do most of the research and video collaboration for the show, and this week, the Texas gubernatorial race was on. I knew a little more about this than most of the PA's, being Texan and all.
So I began helping with the 100 block, which is the first segment of the show. It is referred to as the Mash-up because it's the segment during which we take major news stories of the week and mash them together to create a 3 minute collaboration of what the viewers need to know. We were focusing on the issue with Senator Bunning which was upholding the renewal of unemployment benefits. I searched for compelling video of all the coverage for the week on this issue. I also logged and scripted some of the video and compiled important text. Along with this, I got to do research on the Texas race: who is likely to win, who is running, what do each of the candidates stand for, what are the odds of each winning. All of these were relevant questions and the angle could go in many directions. Thus, I began to dwell into my own research, making sure I was focused on the end goal, without losing sight of exciting details that may make the story more palpable for viewers.
After the end of a long and mentally draining day, I watched the show air. And though I played a very small part in the process of gathering facts and putting the show together, it was very exciting to see some of my research and words end up on air. It gave me a sense of accomplishment and completion. I felt alive and passionate to be a part of the process of free media and the press. A process that I hope to continue and be a part of even after this semester. At least that's the goal!
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