03-13-08 the road to a capstone story about Gordon Parks HS.

Wow. Public radio work is like French studies. Sometimes I love it (I guess,) but just when I think I’ve licked a problem, or I’ve found a smarter way to work and then some issues or mutated problem smacks me in the snout like it was a rolled-up magazine.

There’s still so much I must learn! In some ways, this directed study has become an extension of my internship! Holy heck.

I covered the Gordon Parks High School’s official dedication on Thursday, March 6. I organized my event sound on Friday and planned to start cutting on Sunday. Well, a technical situation prevented that.

I cut for three hours on Monday, but had to do most of it on Tuesday. I can’t cut on Wednesdays because my class schedule precludes that. Before I could put the whole piece together I had to get different ambi. sounds from the web and St. Paul Public School’s community relations office.

I had to finish this thing by the end of the day. I cut for seven hours. That was a first! I did it because my news director gave me a tight for a full-time student (generous, in professional terms.) I didn’t do that at NPR. Somehow I remained focused and lucid. I had to deliver.

There’s a snag here. My ears and story sense faded greatly after that many hours. I needed a break if I were to deliver quality – my best story. That, or a producer with whom to work.

Yes. I have a producer. I am amazingly fortunate: I have MPR’s Kate Moos as a consulting producer and editor. I deliver two different cuts. I was preparing Tuesday’s cut for KFAI. Kate receives a higher quality cut. Kate is cool, delivering to her unnerves me. It feels like a job interview.