Get Involved

One of the main things I've learned while anchoring the entertainment segment of our 5:00 show is that you need to get involved in the stories you present. So far, I have been able to pre-report on 2 different, really cool, events in North Florida. It is one thing to go out and cover a story, but I think it makes a difference when you put yourself in to it. Especially when it is something for an entertainment segment. This past Friday I went down to Ocala, FL and pre-reported Cirque Italia. This is an Italian born circus, that does not use animals, and is performed on a stage that is actually a 35,0000 gallon tank of water. Here's a look at the package I put together for it, and a little bit to show how it can work to get lost in your story. 

 

Tuesdays

Pitch meetings and reporting... 2 words that seem pretty simple, right? Wrong. For our TV2 shifts, we are asked to arrive the day of on time for the 9:30 am meeting. At around 9:15am seven 20-something-year-olds arrive and anticipate their doom. Or luck... and I mean luck.

It all starts with a pitch. This means each student comes in with a story idea prepared for the day. Phone calls out to our sources for the story, locations down, the angle we plan on taking, every detail needs to be worked out. This is a great technique if you end up with the story you pitch. However, there are days when you could go in with a story you think is wonderful and newsworthy and it can get completely shut down. This is when it gets difficult and stressful. Once your pitch gets denied (or if you're lucky, approved) it's time to get to work. Reporters are assigned photographers, and the rest of the day is a ticking clock. It's actually pretty fun at this point in the day. We get to go out, meet interesting people who are interested in cool things, and we get to get lost in the story.

Fridays

Every Friday I anchor the entertainment segment for the 5:00 newscast at WUFT. I LOVE it. I've only been doing this for about 2 weeks but I have gotten to do some pretty cool things. Deke Sharon. The music director for the "Pitch Perfect" films. The creator of "The Sing-Off." The music director for "The Social Network." The creator of "Pitchslapped." The guy who has won American Music Awards for his music. This was my first experience interviewing a famous person. It was exhilarating. His new a Capella group "Vocalosity" was starting their national tour in Gainesville and I was able to get the inside scoop from him. I learned a lot from this interview. I learned that it is very important to let the star shine. As an entertainment reporter, it is important to make sure that the interviewee remains the interviewee and you showcase them in a very light way. I learned that it is important to have a "moment" with the person you are interviewing. The moment I had? The CREATOR of modern a Capella got me to sing with him. That's a moment if I've ever had one! Here's the finished product for this story. I'll do my best to post every Friday's package. Hope you like it!

 

Well Would You Look At That!!

Did you look for this page? Or did you get lost and find it? Sometimes I think that's the best way to discover incredible things. Searching for something, stumbling upon something else, and discovering something incredible... getting lost in it. It's safe to say this is a saying that sums up my every day life pretty well.

Hi, I'm Olivia Courtney and I want to me the person that makes you laugh after a rough day of work, class, life.. basically everything thrown at you.

I am a senior at the University of Florida in my final semester. Oh yeah! You read that right, FINAL semester. It's the time for reel building and job hunting... What's reel building and why am I doing it? Glad you asked. I am studying Telecommunication News with hopes of becoming a reporter. My ultimate goal is to work in a large market (preferably New York City) as an entertainment reporter/anchor. But honestly, I would love more than anything to work with Saturday Night Live as the Weekend Update anchor... to make people laugh while delivering the news. Future Tina Fey? Maybe, we all have dreams!

This blog will showcase my love for television. It will show how I am willing to work hard to get where I want to be in life. It will show that I love what I am doing. It will show how much fun and exhilarating the story and reporting process is. It will show me getting lost in it.