My first post

Hi, I'm Kristin Vorce.

I'm originally from Ellicott City, Maryland, which is about 20 minutes from Baltimore and 45 from D.C. Currently I'm a senior at the University of Delaware, where I am majoring in English with a concentration in journalism and a minor in legal studies. For the majority of my time at UD, I've worked at the university's student-run newspaper, The Review. Last Winter Session I interned (unpaid, for credit) at a daily at home called The Baltimore Examiner. It was great! I worked right near the Inner Harbor, got lost in Baltimore a lot, and learned how to report stories in a hurry. I got lots of clips there and would strongly recommend it to any journalism students, especially ones in the MD/D.C. area. Then, this past summer I ventured to The Big Apple to intern in the communications department of Legal Momentum, a nonprofit legal and public policy organization that worked to advance the rights of women. Let me tell you, nonprofits are a world away from newspapers. But I loved NYC and it was great to learn about a different way to use my writing skills.

If you'd like to ask me about my previous internships, e-mail me at kvorce@udel.edu.

But enough about the past...
If you're reading this, you're probably considering an internship at The News Journal. I'd say go for it. The editors and reporters are very friendly and Leon, the internship coordinator, really cares that interns learn about the craft. This is not a make copies and fetch coffee kind of internship.

My first day, Leon showed me around the newsroom and introduced me to everyone. I attended the "morning huddle," which is the first meeting of the day when editors discuss what they expect will go in the paper. Of course, their plans could always change as the day progresses.

My first assignment was to localize a story about the nationwide recalls of Mattel toys--the third recall this month. At first, I was worried I wouldn't get enough sources by deadline. But I just kept calling and calling and calling and eventually I got in touch with some parents really concerned about the issue. (Another reporter gave me the tip that PTA Web sites are a gold mine of concerned parents.) The story ended up on A1, the front page. I couldn't believe this happened on my first day! I'm going to have to work hard to do that again.

Leon almost always sits down with me to review changes that he makes to my story. The editors emphasize accuracy. They're drilling it into our heads to check and recheck and re-recheck names, dates, and facts. After all, this is the best way to make sure we (the newspaper and, the reporter) don't look like fools.

Each day I'm assigned a story that is due by 5 p.m. Usually the reporting involves more than sitting at a desk making phone calls; editors encourage us to go out and see what's up in the world. When I was writing a story on immigrant groups boycotting Western Union, Leon sent me to a MoneyGram in a shopping center to talk to people who had to send money overseas. This week I was sent to Dover to cover a summit on racial bias in the criminal justice system. This summit was especially cool because I got to interview important DE people like Attorney General Beau Biden (as attractive in person as he is in his campaign brochures) and Supreme Court Chief Justice Myron Steele. I've also tagged along with state court reporter, Esteban Parra, at the courthouse in Wilmington. He was willing to answer any questions I had about what it's like to work in a newsroom.

OK, well that's all for now. I'll have more next week.