Changes at WBIR

Big changes are in the works at WBIR. Read more about the new plans here. The new ideas sound like a bold move, but I think WBIR is certainly capable of pulling it off. It should be interesting to see how the new programming works out.

Farewell, Jason

Jason Dane Hovater

August 10, 1983 - July 13, 2008

Last Sunday our country lost one of its best.

Army Weapons Specialist Jason Hovater was killed in action in Afghanistan early Sunday morning, July 13, 2008. His body was laid to rest today with full military honors in the Tennessee Military Cemetery in Knoxville.

Some of the soldiers with him said he died trying to save his friends. Apparently he was in a safe location, saw three of his friends in a dangerous spot, grabbed his gear and went to help them, sacrificing his life in the process. Jason is truly a hero.

This hits close to home for me. This isn't simply another East Tennessee soldier killed in action (and each soldier lost is a great loss). Jason was a soldier with a passionate love for the Lord and a personal acquaintance of mine. I went to church with Jason at New Covenant Fellowship for about three years. While we weren't close friends, I still knew him and have been truly saddened and touched by his passing. I still can't fully wrap my mind around the fact that he's gone.

And I can attest that everything I've heard about Jason in the various reports and tributes following his death is true. Jason loved the Lord, he loved Jenna, he loved his family, he loved music and worshipping the Lord, he loved his country, he loved to laugh and make others laugh, he flat out loved life. And he was full of life. I think that's one of the things that seems so hard about his death. One can't help but ask, "Why?" He was so full of life and had so much going for him. The only answer to that is simply to trust that God has his reasons. He is worshipping in the very presence of the Lord at this very moment. I firmly believe that.

As a news intern at WBIR, I was able to help behind-the-scenes in the initial story we did on Jason's death. While it was sad and sometimes difficult to work on a story on Jason's death, it was also a privilege to be able to help show people who Jason was and help them see that Jason wasn't just another Army number. It was our hope that our story would show people the real Jason. It was and is my prayer that God will be glorified through Jason's life and death.

Here are some links to learn more about Jason and his story:
"East Tennessee soldier's body returns home"
"Friends and family say goodbye to soldier killed in Afghanistan"
"Hundreds gather to lay to final rest fallen Lake City soldier"
"East Tennessee soldier killed in Afghanistan laid to rest"

I also want to encourage people to watch this interview with Jason's wife, Jenna. I thought Jenna did an absolutely outstanding job with the interview. I am so proud of her. I can't even begin to imagine the pain she is going through right now, but she's standing strong and clinging to God to help get her through. My prayers are definitely with her and Jason's entire family.

Farewell, Jason. You are a hero. Although it seems to us that your life was cut short way too soon, you made a difference here and you will be greatly missed. I will see you again someday.

I'm an intern!

Today marks the first day of my summer internship with WBIR. I am already firmly convinced that this is going to be an awesome learning experience for me. It should be a lot of fun.

I began the day by watching the Style producer write intros, outros, and teases and plan the order of the show. Then I tagged along with Michele and April on a video shoot and interview for a future Style program. I spent part of the afternoon watching April edit packages for upcoming Style shows and attended the afternoon editorial meeting. I concluded the day by watching the Style, Live at Five, and 10 News at 6 shows either from the production booth or the studio.

It was a full day, but I enjoyed it.

This all still seems a little surreal to me. I've grown up watching WBIR and now I'm actually working with some of the anchors and reporters I've seen on-camera for years. And as eager as I am to be finished with school, I'm realizing just how fast time has flown. It doesn't seem right that I should already be an intern about to enter my senior year of college. But it is definitely exciting.

I have no doubt this will be an absolutely invaluable experience in my pursuit of a career in journalism and I can't wait see what adventures this summer will hold. I plan to make the most of every minute.

I'm still alive

I realize that it's been a month since I last posted a blog entry, but I am still alive out here. ;) With finals and a host of other things going on in April and early May, blogging was not my top priority. However, now that the semester is over (*hallelujah chorus begins to play*), I will have more time for blogging and plan to make it a priority over the summer. I intend to sit down and list my goals for the summer over the next couple of days and create a summer routine. After finishing my last final on Tuesday, I spent the majority of last week just relaxing when I wasn't at work (summer break means more hours--but at least that leads to a bigger paycheck). But I'm not one to sit around without any real plans for long, so I plan to fix that this week.

Probably the most exciting plan for the upcoming summer that I have at the moment is a journalism practicum (basically, a fancy word for a part-time internship). Beginning in June, I will be a summer intern with the news department at WBIR. I am thrilled to have the position and look forward to the opportunity to gain real-world experience in the journalism field. I am also excited about working with the people at WBIR.

I also plan to spend as much time as possible with my friends over the summer simply hanging out, having fun and relaxing. :)

I'll probably post more of my summer plans later, but for right now, this is all I have beyond the beginnings of a summer reading list.

UT Today airing on Saturdays

I have to post a quick little plug for my fellow UT journalism students. For eight consecutive weeks students will be writing, producing, and broadcasting a 30-minute newscast, UT Today, as part of the Electronic News Operations course. The shows will air Saturdays at 1 p.m. on WBIR Channel 10. They began broadcasting last Saturday and will run through April 26. Check it out and see what the journalism students at UT are learning about broadcasting.