Tenth show, fifth package: The Jameis Winston effect.

For grade purposes this is my fourth package, but as I previously stated, I produce two packages a week if you count "News 20 at Five's Game of the Week" that I produce every Friday for the special 20 minute show, it takes a look at the marquee high school football match-up in the area. But, I'll be creating a separate tab that''s go more in-depth about that.

I hate following trends, especially media trends... But the hot-button topic in Tallahassee was The controversy surrounding Florida State quarterback Jameis Winston. So, I decided to do a package on what impact a week where a university conduct hearing for a two-year-old sexual assault allegation surfaced along with a NCAA violation would affect Winston and his team in the biggest game so far this year.

This package was a whole lot of fun, and I think a huge success! It aired, but when I redo a couple of voice overs, I'll post it and then possibly see about submitting it for an award.

I can't wait to see my grade on this one!

Seventh show, third package: FAMU Volleyball; muy bueno!

As the sports anchor, obviously, I anchor the sports or "D block." But, honestly I produce as well... And given that I am a huge football fan, my sports block can sometimes be dominated with football, even though it's football season.

So, I really wanted to do a story on a team that I deem: "The best team on FAMU's campus: The Volleyball team!

Getting in contact with the team was not hard as head coach Tony Trifonov always has his ladies perfecting their craft. Coach Trifonov was very reasonable in allowing to get "B-roll" footage of his practices, but he was not doing any interviews unless it was after a game or first scheduled through FAMU sports information. The piece was fun and easy to put together, and I, actually enjoyed stepping outside of my comfort zone a little bit.

I also want to note that today was my first day missing deadline for a grade and a live show... I missed it by 30 minutes... so obviously I failed for the day... But that will be my last time missing a deadline. Especially since I would be responsible for producing an entire spots block on Mondays...

Fourth live show, third package: Is Earl Holmes on the hot seat?

Again, as a multimedia journalist on Mondays, a package is due every week! But, really I produce two packages a week if you count "News 20 at Five's Game of the Week" that I produce every Friday for the special 20 minute show, it takes a look at the marquee high school football match-up in the area. But, I'll be creating a separate tab that''s go more in-depth about that.

But, like I was saying... I normally produce to packages a week. Last week I did three, but none were really groundbreaking and fresh like this about the hot seat FAMU's head football coach Earl Holmes is sitting in with a winless record.

The production went well, Holmes was very open about the situation, the hard part was tracking to Athletic Director Kellen Winslow for comment. He never returned any of my media inquiries I requested through FAMU sports information, and after five days of no response from Mr. Winslow I did the story without him, noting he was not available for comment.

That really frustrated me, but, hey, it's the business.

I really liked this piece and according to my professor/news director, I beat channel 6 WCTV to the punch. I would have given myself an "A" and that's what I got. (3/3)

Second show, second package: D'Anfernee McGriff

As a Monday multimedia journalist or MMJ, I only have to produce on package a week. And my packages are, of course, due on Mondays. And this week was the week MMJ's were supposed to turn in their feature packages. Features tell a second layer to a given story and are a minimum of a minute and thirty seconds and a maximum of two minutes and thirty seconds. But, because of a timing issue, two of the producers and I decided to air the feature on Wednesday. because my subject would be in action Thursday night.

I did my feature on a local high school quarterback, who's more than just a signal-caller: D'Anfernee McGriff plays multiple positions and he plays on both sides of the ball for the Leon Lions. And he'll most likely take his versatility to Auburn University where he's a verbal commit.

Getting in touch with Mcgriff, Leon high school & head football coach Tim Cokely wasn't hard at all. The hard part was getting McGriff to talk, or at least getting him to elaborate. He seemed like an athlete that'll rather let his play talk for him, which is very admirable, but as journalist conducted a feature I needed him to talk... But, he eventually opened up, and I'd like to says it was because of my good ole journalism skills, but I can't honestly say...

Editing the video was tedious because upon finishing it on a late Tuesday night in FAMU's school of journalism & graphic communication (Jschool) my package was deleted of the campus Macs, as they are whipped clean every night. So, I had to start over.. But, I ended up doing a better job than before. It was all right, I would have given myself a "B' and thats's exactly what grade I received. (I'm 2/2!) And trust me a Jones' "B" goes a long way... 

I plan to update my feature and submit it for sometime of award...

First show, first aired package!

Fall 2014's News 20 at Five has officially aired! And as a multimedia journalist on Mondays, my first package also aired. We had some minor technical difficulties, but the package was still able to run. We are also working out the kinks in our server-based news system, so we still working on the encoding of the videos to be able to run efficiently in the server.

But, as far as the journalistic work on producing my package it went well. There was a quarterback battle in Florida A&M's off-season, so with the Rattlers onto a slow start, I was able to take a look as the rather there would be a switch at the helm. 

Head coach Earl Holmes was very reasonable about allowing me to attend practice to get "b-roll" footage, but getting interviews is another task, if it's outside the weekly press conference. FAMU's sports information doesn't make it any easier, the office wants you to coordinate with them when scheduling interviews, but it seems they're hardly on the same page with their teams, players and coaches. And when they are on the same page, their not on the same page with me (the reporter).

But, overall my one-minute-and-thirty-second package (without pad) was average, I would have given it a "C," and that exactly what grade I received from my News Director/Professor Kenneth Jones. But, I'll get better.