notes on the new job

The most amazing thing about a professional internship is that you're doing far less work, but sitting at a desk logging about double the amount of actual work hours.

Is this why so many people are bored with their jobs?

I'm currently assigned 5 or 6 stories, which sounds like a lot, except I only have 1 or 2 due a week, with my nearest deadline at the end of next week. Made all my first contacts - Ok, so what do you want me to do now? Calender listings. Sweet.

Today I overheard an editor complaining about an intern: "She started making calls Thursday night. Her story was due Monday! Great." Oh, yes. I am all too familiar. New place, same problems. (Not that I'm exempt...) Apparently the intern only turned in 4 inches. Her editor: "Yeah, I wrote the last couple inches because it was so short." Someone else: "I can't believe she even turned it in like that."

All of my fellow journalism readers - I'm sure you can feel me on this one.

In other but related news, Zach gave me a sweet recorder for graduation! It's pretty and red and holds 1 gig and has a USB port and is super cool. You'd all be jealous.

I work downtown, and it's definitely.... urban. A construction worker hollered at me today. Nice. I was also told that if I'd be leaving the office after dark I would be advised to get a security escort to my car. Earlier this week a man was stabbed in the eye by a group of men. (gang related I suspect?) Police are currently undergoing a county-wide search for 28 known drug dealers. Yeah. When I asked my editor about the crime in the city she said her 17-year-old son doesn't come downtown because he, "says he doesn't want to get shot," but she assured me that it wasn't like that. Most violence is drug related, not random muggings or anything. Good.

Another lifestyles reporter, a local veteran, was teaching me how to write cutlines. I listened attentively and tried not to let on that I already knew. She must have figured it out though, because afterward she said, "Oh, I always forget that you've worked at a paper before, sorry. A lot of the past interns haven't." Hm. Interesting.

Oh! And I was told today by a native Pennsylvanian lady I interviewed that I had no trace of a Texan accent. Also interesting.

I need some coffee. The 3:00 nap lull is coming!