Finding Treasures
I came across a folder with some old writing in it. As I mentioned in my last post, I have always loved to write.
One particular writing treasure I found was an article that I wrote for one of my "Student Press Corps" articles for the
Binghamton Press and Sun Bulletin. I wrote for the newspaper from early 1985 until I graduated from high school in 1988. My principal, Donald Benza, and vice principal, Paula Nickerson, were very supportive of my journalism endeavor. Mr. Benza was gracious enough to let me interview him many times about different things going on at school. I won 2 awards in the 3 years that I wrote for the paper.
In my search today, I came across one of my favorite articles that I wrote. Nationally known PBS kids show host "Commander" Mark Kistler was visiting my school as part of an arts festival. I remember Mark being a kind and helpful interviewee. It was exciting to interview someone nationally famous. At the time, Mark had a PBS art show called "The Secret City." He still has a show on PBS show called "The Imagination Station." Here's a link to his show. http://www.mkisdraw3d.com/Promo/Promo_Sizzle.html
I also came across a short story I wrote about how my 1st internship at WBNG came to be. I started it on December 1, 1986.....25 years ago! As a teenager, I thought I wanted to be a TV reporter, but this internship started the journey to TV production. Those 3 months were fun. I got to run the teleprompter for "Action News For Kids." It was a show I wanted to be on so badly when I was in the right age to do it, but it didn't work out. During my 3 months at WBNG, I also ran the camera for the morning show "Action Views."
It was also the time of my life that I became an Explorer at WENE radio. My favorite memories of that era was doing our live scout show broadcasts. That was such a wonderful time.
I ended up doing 3 more internships after that. While a student at Broome Community College, I was a news intern at WINR AM.
I returned to WBNG in 1990. The news director, Paul Daffinee, noticed I was there visiting all the time anyway, so he said he might as well put me to work! It was funny. It was the time before computers in the newsroom, so I had to use a typewriter for the feature I wrote called "The Final Minute of News." I had to retype many times so anchor Matt Sczesny could read it. I saved one of those scripts with all the scribbles on it. I also got to go out on many stories with the reporters. I remember one time reporter Mary Jo Walsh, videographer Tom Martin and I went on this story at a Veterinarian office to talk about taking care of animals in the cold. I got to be part of the story playing with some of the dogs.
Then when I transferred to SUNY Cortland I worked 2 semesters at WTVH TV in the news department. I found some writing from that era too. That was fun too. I tried to go out and interview people. I froze up. Writing was my comfort zone
One other special writing project I came across was the script to the 50th anniversary of Central Baptist Church video that I produced with my friend Helen Crisman. It was actually sad to read in a way. Most of the people we featured in the video have died in the 17 years since we did the video.
After all this experience, I only officially worked in the TV business for 8 months, but I sure had fun trying to get there. I would not trade anything for the fun and friendships I made through that time.
One particular writing treasure I found was an article that I wrote for one of my "Student Press Corps" articles for the
Binghamton Press and Sun Bulletin. I wrote for the newspaper from early 1985 until I graduated from high school in 1988. My principal, Donald Benza, and vice principal, Paula Nickerson, were very supportive of my journalism endeavor. Mr. Benza was gracious enough to let me interview him many times about different things going on at school. I won 2 awards in the 3 years that I wrote for the paper.
In my search today, I came across one of my favorite articles that I wrote. Nationally known PBS kids show host "Commander" Mark Kistler was visiting my school as part of an arts festival. I remember Mark being a kind and helpful interviewee. It was exciting to interview someone nationally famous. At the time, Mark had a PBS art show called "The Secret City." He still has a show on PBS show called "The Imagination Station." Here's a link to his show. http://www.mkisdraw3d.com/Promo/Promo_Sizzle.html
I also came across a short story I wrote about how my 1st internship at WBNG came to be. I started it on December 1, 1986.....25 years ago! As a teenager, I thought I wanted to be a TV reporter, but this internship started the journey to TV production. Those 3 months were fun. I got to run the teleprompter for "Action News For Kids." It was a show I wanted to be on so badly when I was in the right age to do it, but it didn't work out. During my 3 months at WBNG, I also ran the camera for the morning show "Action Views."
It was also the time of my life that I became an Explorer at WENE radio. My favorite memories of that era was doing our live scout show broadcasts. That was such a wonderful time.
I ended up doing 3 more internships after that. While a student at Broome Community College, I was a news intern at WINR AM.
I returned to WBNG in 1990. The news director, Paul Daffinee, noticed I was there visiting all the time anyway, so he said he might as well put me to work! It was funny. It was the time before computers in the newsroom, so I had to use a typewriter for the feature I wrote called "The Final Minute of News." I had to retype many times so anchor Matt Sczesny could read it. I saved one of those scripts with all the scribbles on it. I also got to go out on many stories with the reporters. I remember one time reporter Mary Jo Walsh, videographer Tom Martin and I went on this story at a Veterinarian office to talk about taking care of animals in the cold. I got to be part of the story playing with some of the dogs.
Then when I transferred to SUNY Cortland I worked 2 semesters at WTVH TV in the news department. I found some writing from that era too. That was fun too. I tried to go out and interview people. I froze up. Writing was my comfort zone
One other special writing project I came across was the script to the 50th anniversary of Central Baptist Church video that I produced with my friend Helen Crisman. It was actually sad to read in a way. Most of the people we featured in the video have died in the 17 years since we did the video.
After all this experience, I only officially worked in the TV business for 8 months, but I sure had fun trying to get there. I would not trade anything for the fun and friendships I made through that time.
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