Reflection on My Journey
Reflection
The Gleaner
In the summer of 2024, I got the opportunity to intern at The RJRGLEANER Communications Group and SportsMax Limited. I worked in the editorial department of The Gleaner Company (Media) Ltd for the first half of the summer and was a member of the Integration Team. I was both excited and worried about applying my abilities and expertise in a real-world context while earning useful professional experience.
Throughout the internship, I increased my technical abilities in Microsoft Word, my communication and teamwork skills, my ability to respond to news quickly, and my understanding of journalism trends and difficulties. It felt awesome to be in the know for six weeks.
My supervisor would send me press releases every day, and I would write stories based on them. During this period, I realised that I needed to move swiftly and accurately. This encounter was amazing and nerve-racking because I was sitting among the greats.
Debbie Ann Wright and Jovan Johnson. Neither of these two made me feel uneasy. I was there to learn and network, and at one point, everyone in the office assumed I was a permanent employee.One of the most exciting moments was when I gained access to the email address where all press releases would be received. I would write about everything until I was told that not everything is news and that some companies use PR to promote themselves.
Another thing that stuck out was the mortality rate. “A man was shot and killed, A 32-year-old was sentenced for murder, an alleged don was killed.” And it went on and on. I often wonder how journalists get comfortable hearing all of this. But I was warned that as journalists, we are never comfortable. We have an obligation to the public, which we must fulfil.
According to the Bible, there is a time for everything under the sun: a time to sow and a time to reap; a time to live and a time to die. Death is evitable but when it comes knocking on the department door it is heartbreaking.
On Tuesday, May 21, 2024, I met Job Nelson. He greeted me and I said hello and introduced myself as the intern. I then proceed to ask him to change $1000. He said no with a smile and I smiled and said thank you then he moved to his desk.
On Wednesday, May 22, 2024, while on my way to work, I learnt that a veteran journalist had passed away. Every morning, when I check in, I attempt to catch up on the news before my supervisor arrives. It surprised me to see the face of the man I saw yesterday morning on the front page of the Gleaner. My heart sank to the floor, and my eyes filled with tears. The emotions rushed in because I couldn’t believe I had met someone in less than 24 hours and they were gone. That was the most difficult day I had while working at The Gleaner. The atmosphere was dense and sombre. Although they gave grief therapy, which helped me throughout the day, I was still in shock. I am glad I met him, and although it was only a two-minute conversation, it had a lasting impression.
Nationwide 90FM
The summer of 2023 was an outstanding year for me since I had the opportunity to intern at Nationwide 90Fm for four months as a social media manager. This experience was eye-opening, but I approached it with excitement.
In an ever-changing world, digital media has been increasingly significant over the past ten years. During my internship, I did not do much journalism work. But I was able to apply my historical knowledge to the show. It was interesting to discover that my degree will not limit me to being a history teacher. Many people assume that history is boring and unimportant to today’s society. However, as a student looking to expand my knowledge, the research portions of my degree allowed me to rapidly uncover factual facts that helped with the show’s content.
Throughout the internship, I refined my editing skills in Audacity. I was developing my graphic content skills from Canva and developing my speech and communication skills. The experience was good, but I wanted to do more journalism things.
SportsMax
From July to August 2024, I had the privilege to intern at SportsMax Ltd, where I worked as a graphics operator on the production team. It was an exciting moment since we were getting ready to stream the Paris Olympics. The 2024 Summer Olympics are officially referred to as the Games of the XXXIII Olympiad. This was an international multisport event that lasted 19 days. I was quite excited to see how this would all play out because I have been a fan of the Olympics since 2008. What particularly excited me was the notion that I would be working as a graphics operator rather than just a spectator.
The first week was observation week, so I had the opportunity to explore different places. I went on set to watch “Zone” after looking at the audio room, which controlled the sound of the production in the two major studios. This was one of the shows they aired across various platforms. This encounter provided insight into what happens behind the scenes in television.
After that, it was time for me to delve into graphics operation, which initially appeared confusing because I had never considered myself an IT girl, but I needed to learn quickly, and by quickly, I mean two days. Despite my nervousness, Andrew Daley and Brain Ellis, the key graphics operators, provided excellent advice. Although I was not under pressure, I was told that I needed to be quick but accurate because broadcasts frequently had an 8-second delay, giving me 8 seconds to correct a mistake.
Three Pointers from My Experience at The Gleaner and SportsMax
01
Sharpening Storytelling
and Technical Skills
At The Gleaner, I honed my ability to respond quickly to breaking news and write compelling articles based on press releases, while at SportsMax, I mastered the technical intricacies of graphics operation, balancing speed and precision to support live broadcasts.
02
Navigating High-Pressure Environments
Both internships challenged me to deliver under tight deadlines writing accurate news stories at The Gleaner and managing graphics with an 8-second delay at SportsMax reinforcing my adaptability and attention to detail.
03
Unforgettable Moments and Growth
At The Gleaner, the emotional experience of losing a veteran journalist emphasized the human side of journalism, while at SportsMax, contributing to the 2024 Paris Olympics production was a thrilling opportunity to be part of a global event. Both experiences enriched my professional journey and personal growth.