July 19th, 2017

starting off the day visiting the CBS Television Station, was a great experience. Watching Kristine Sorensen sit in front of live cameras, while the world is watching was breathe taking. Being in love with writing and telling stories, I would have loved to produce the show, and write the script. Being in the environment that intense, made me realize the time and dedication each worker anchor has to do. I am looking forward to working in the same field. The snack walk was fun, and a learning experience. Having a camera, feeling like a photographer was fun. Taking different actions shots of the buildings, people, and have the photos turning out amazing. It was a life changing experience that will never be forgotten. Photo journalism is one other field, I am looking forward to working in. Meeting new people and traveling along with it. Last but not least, the big game. Pirates vs. Brewers the game was over exciting, watching how fans got during the game showed me the support they were giving off. The Bucs fought hard and won the game, 3-2 in 10 innings. YAYYY!!!!! To end this blog, this camp/ workshop has been a real eye opener. seeing the life of Pittsburgh and living in it for a few days was fun. Hopefully to be back soon.

Final Thoughts

I do know that in times like these it is easy to appear like a profound thinker and look refective. Then as soon as that time is over you go back to your “normal” life you are the same and have not truly reflected on yourself.  So I will try for the remainder of this post to be genuine and honest for your sake so you will not have wasted your time.

At the beiginining of this whole camp, experience I was very stoic about the media, sure it is in my life all the time but I never really paid attetion to it. Then as the days went on and I got talks from point park Professor Dave Grande and seeing KDKA news Anchor

 

Katie’s Kandy Coverage

During a snack walk around the city, we had a chance to stop into Katie’s Kandy located on Wood Street.

Bright colors lit up the space as candy-filled containers stretched along the walls.

With selections including Clark Bars, Goo Goo Clusters, Gold Rock Candy, and Bubble Gum, Katie’s is referred to as the “haven for nostalgic candy”.

At the time, a mother and daughter were working together.

“This is my relaxation,” the mother says. “I work at a very stressful job during the day. . .and then I come here.”

The two are able to bond over running the store.

When Katie’s gets “new” candy, they have to try it and make sure it’s fresh.

“I say ‘Um no Honey, we had these 20 years ago,’ and we go through it,” the mother says.

With over 400 choices of bulk candy, there’s something there for everyone. Glass-bottled sodas, pinatas, and colorful cards are sold as well.

“When you’re leaving you’re definitely happy,” the mother says.

Katie’s Kandy, located in four stores on Wood Street, Fifth Avenue, in the Clark Building, and in the Federated Tower, is accessible to anyone in downtown Pittsburgh.

Final two days of Multimedia Workshop

Students participated in many activities during the final two days of the Multimedia Interactive Workshop.

On Wednesday July 19, students began the day with a brief morning session with Robin Cecala about basic video skills and production.  Students then boarded a shuttle for a tour of the KDKA studios and to watch the live noon news.

After a late lunch, the students met again to learn how to operate cameras and prepare for a snack walk.

On the snack walk, the students were challenged to video their experience using their new skills and interview locals about the snack shop they were in.

Later in the evening, the students boarded a shuttle to get a tour of PNC Park and talk with the Director of Media Dan Hart.  Afterwards, the students got to enjoy a Pirates game.

On the final day, students met in the morning for a talk about radio media with Dave Fabilli and work in the studio to practice broadcast journalism.

Students used an afternoon session to edit videos and work on completing some of their stories.

The day will conclude with a parent party where students can show off their work.

PNC Park, Interview with Dan Hart and Sights Seen

Yesterday, at PNC Park, the Interactive Multimedia Workshop interviewed Dan Hart.

The first thing we talked about was the crazy schedule that Pirates Players and other behind-the-scenes team members have. Dan Hart said that he “is never really home for the Fourth of July”.

He said that he sometimes has to be there early in the morning and stay until super late at night. He has to be there at all times but every year, just before he has to be at work all day, every day, he goes on vacation. He goes through the motions of working with these people and he never complains because he loves his job.

He talked a lot about his interns and all of the things that he has them do. He told us about all of his and their tasks and how they always have deadlines.

He spoke very highly of everyone who works with him and the entire team behind-the-scenes of the Pirates.

We talked about the social media/ press and his background.

He told us that when he was a young adult, he applied for an internship there, and he didn’t get it. But later on in life, he got the real job, and met the guy who beat him over for the internship. He told us about how anyone and everyone who gets a job or internship there, always is very successful in their lives later on.

This picture one of the many sights from the press room at PNC Park.

PPG Paints Arena Tour- A Tour of a Lifetime

Pittsburgh is known to have a rich and proud history with The Steelers and their six Super Bowls and the Pirates with their five World Series Championships. However, the one thing I love the most about this city if the Hockey Team that we all know and love, The Pittsburgh Penguins. This is a team that I have supported since a young age through good times and through difficult times and it is a team that I shall continue to support for years to come. Every time I go to a game I could not stop and think about what happens behind the scenes of this great hockey team with the arena operations and as a aspiring journalist, through the media. That dream finally came true through Point Park as we got a private tour of the arena. Our tour guide was the Penguins Vice President of Communications Tom McMillian. He opened us up in open arms as the tour began. I got chills when I first stepped inside the arena because the last time I was there the Penguins were hoisting the Stanley Cup in Nashville.

We first went the lower stands where there were crew cleaning the arena so it will be ready for hockey in the fall and summer concerts as well. One of the interesting facts he told us was the roof was never finished during construction of the building, the architectures wanted to keep it like that to pay respects to the industrial history that the city possessed with the steel mills for over 100 years. Another interesting feature inside the building was the setup of the sections numbers. They were scratched behind the numbers to look like three rivers. As we continued Tom told us about why there is one part of building with glass windows. Since PNC Park and Heinz Field look toward the city, the designers thought the arena should do the same thing and with a reverse seeing if the city this time. A place to look at out the windows are where the old civic arena used to be. It is just dirt now and the designers didn’t want to put the new stadium on top of where the old arena used to be so fans especially season ticket holders can park in the same spot that they have always parked. Then Tom took us up to my personal favorite which was the press box. It was always a dream of mine to see where Mike Lange and Paul Steigerwald sit every night for the games and also all the reporters and writers. There was also a line of photos of the greatest moments in franchise history dating back to 1967. We then took the elevator down to the lower level where we got to walk through where the ice is. It wasn’t on the floor though because of cleaning but it was still a cool experience. Then we went into one of the sacred place in the building, Suite 66. It is a club with that people can sit at during the game while they can watch the Penguins come out of the locker room. The coolest feature inside it was all of Mario Lemieux’s accomplishments from his career. From all of his Trophies to game played sticks some of his great moments as a Pittsburgh Penguin are all featured in that suite. It was rather interesting how the trophies got there because there were cases with nothing in them and nobody could think of what to put in them. Mario then thought that he should put his trophies in there for a cool experience for the fans. so every personal NHL trophy won by him sits in those cases at the club in the bows of the arena. The tour of the arena was a very fascinating and unique experience and it is one I will remember for a long time.  

 

 

Pittsburgh- The Neighborhood of Make Believe

As I was going up the Duquesne Incline over viewing the City of Pittsburgh, the only thing I can do is think of is how great this City really is and how honored I feel to call this place my home.  There are so many things that make Pittsburgh a wonderful  neighborhood to live in.  The first wonderful trait about this city is the skyline, as I was taking pictures of the skyline I still get overwhelmed on how beautiful the skyline is and how everyone who comes here can get a glimpse of it when they come into the city in all directions. Another thing that makes this city great are the rivers. As I watched the Gateway Clipper going down the Monongahela River I could get a greater feel that people can take their boats out on the water and enjoy themselves as they look around and see what this city has to offer such as the water fountain at the point and station square. One other thing I love about this city is the rich history of out sports teams. The thing that I feel that the Steelers, Penguins, and Pirates have been able to do for this city is bring us all together like no other city does. As we wave our Terrible Towels on Sundays in the fall, scream lets go Pens every fall to summer, and Raise the Jolly Roger every spring and summer. The only thing I can think of is how we all unite and cheer with these teams through good times and through difficult times and stay supportive of these teams that we really love. Pittsburgh is a fantastic city and I cannot think of a better place to call my home. It is full of such a rich history with the rivers, bridges, and scenery. Like Pittsburgh Native Mr. Rivers said “Its a Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood”. Its always a beautiful day in the neighborhood that we all share, which is the City of Pittsburgh.

Students meet Pirates’ Director of Media Relations

On Wednesday July 19, students from the Interactive Multimedia Workshop met Dan Hart, the Director of Media Relations for the Pittsburgh Pirates.  

Students were taking up to the press box where they interviewed Dan Hart on his job.  He begins working in spring training roughly one week after the Super Bowl.  From then on, it’s a seven and a half month season with about 162 games.  

“You don’t know who I am but you know what I do,” said Hart when explaining his job.  

Dan Hart spends his time in between games coming up game information for the announcers to read on air.  During the game, Hart and his group of interns search for information relating to what’s happening.  

Dan Hart is a part of the smallest PR team in the MLB.  He has said that the most challenging part of his job is that he has 131 years of Pirates history to shift through for information.   

He loves working with the players and coaching them on how to interact with the media.  Hart says that his favorite part of his job is educating fans and players on obscure facts about baseball and Pirates history and sparking their interest.

Review of the Week

This week at Point Park for Interactive Multimedia and Journalism has been an amazing. From the guest speakers coming in to being able to go to places to take a tour, this is an experience no one can forget. The chaperones and teachers are really nice and makes sure we are having a good time here. There are so many things that we did that was so amazing and fun. This has to be the best week ever during the summer time.

KDKA Control Room

“City of Champyinz”

Camp in Review

This camp and experience was incredible. Coming in with no prior journalism education, I have learned so much in many different fields.

After finding out I was accepted into the program, I was beyond excited. I was getting to  kind of experience college life and learn the basics in all sorts of multimedia fields. To top it all off, I was getting to see lots of behind-the-scenes in so many different aspects of Pittsburgh. With the first day of camp fast approaching, the butterflies in my stomach kept growing. Things like living with a stranger and public showers started to terrify me. Shutting my suitcase Monday morning, I was just throwing myself into a completely new world.

Day one was nervously incredible. Getting to know my roommate, Emily, was a little terrifying. I am not a super social person, so living with a complete stranger was a new challenge on top of the camp. Luckily, we had common interests and got along really well.

From a learning perspective, we were thrown into it right away. I appreciated learning the basics, since I was walking into this without any experience. Taking the Duquesne Incline to take pictures was great. I am not one to take many, but I was able to really enjoy taking them. Turns out I am pretty good at it too.

A Gorgeous Day on Mt. Washington

Tuesday was even better than Monday. Touring PPG Paints was like a dream come true, as cheesy as that sounds. Seeing the behind the scenes was incredible, but hearing what it was like to work for the Penguins was just as eye-opening. I never knew how much went into the job, even when it is the offseason. 

Here’s to Another Fifty

Day three, the longest day of the camp. Watching the twelve o’clock news at KDKA was so neat. There were so many aspects that goes into a news taping that I had never considered. Even something as simple as the background in the newsroom is made up of televisions that have been turned on their side. The cameras are robots controlled by someone in a booth.

On Set

The snack walk was deliciously disappointing. It was so cool to go see all of the different candies and have a genuine conversation with two workers at Katie’s Kandy. At our next stop, Prantl’s Bakery, I was a little disappointed. I bought an Oreo cake cup and a red velvet cake cup. The velvet tasted frozen and thawed, but the Oreo redeemed my happiness. The atmosphere also left me disheartened. The shop was small and not super well lit. Also there were only a few workers even at the store, with most working in the back.

The Oreo was Great, Red Velvet… Not as Much.

The Pirate game was a whole new thing. The tour had a great view, but it was only one stop. It felt like we were cheated out of a more interesting tour.

God I Love Pittsburgh.

Despite the extreme heat, the game was not too bad. Through playing softball since elementary school, baseball games have become more and more fun to watch. Most importantly, the food was delicious. The freeze pop was probably the highlight of the night. The orange was refreshing and helped beat the heat.

Best Way to Beat the Heat

I cannot believe this past four days have flown by so quickly. Doing this camp has left me with many things to think about in the next few years. So many things I had already made up in my mind have changed and left me confused. Most importantly, the skills that I learned from so many different media aspects will help me in high school journalism and beyond.