by MOLLY MOSER
I’ve successfully reported the very first half of the legislature and have been through quite a lot. The majority of the experiences are good and quite silly and I would like to share them with you. Not a lot of people get to witness what’s behind the curtains of a Nevada Media Alliance reporter. Here, I share my experiences, in no particular order including: my efforts, encounters, and outcomes all while reporting for the Nevada Legislature.
- My first real experience: Write a compelling article about a passionate protestor who is completely against the Nevada government.
- Do some research on the passionate protestor and find out that the public has five restraining orders against him. Therefore, for journalism-student’s own safety, your exciting story had to be dropped.
- Become an active tweeter and then accidently misspell or mix up information in one’s tweet.
- Realize that you need to drink double-shot espressos before reporting anything.
- However, gain a good crowd of followers because of your tweets (including legislatures and reporters)
- Work out your biceps by lifting and carrying the media kit.
- Slide in between the icy lanes on your way to Carson City during a snowstorm (while going about 40mph).
- Travel to Carson City for the second time in the same day after your reporting just to eat at Firkin’ and Fox.
- Simply not paying attention to your surroundings and accidently back your car into some barricades at gas stations (this is where the importance of coffee comes in).
- Have some jerk in a BMW throw a shake at you on the highway.
- Have your allergies increase and stuff a package of Claritin-D in the media kit so you don’t forget it like you did the last time.
- Hold a JVC camera, a Marantz recorder, a microphone, a notepad and pen all at the same time with only two hands.
- Notice the outcome of your hands full of media tools is successful; a great news story is born (I deserve recognition of this talent in Ripley’s Believe It Or Not books).
- Chasing down a legislator or another significant source – in heels (never again).
- Go to class immediately after you return from Carson and forget to take off your press badge.
- Blaring heavy metal and classic rock down the new U.S. Route 395.
- Enjoy the scent of the pages in the blue 2013 Nevada Legislature Guide (I’m serious).
- Shake the hands and socialize with other successful and inspiring local reporters and make sure that they know your name.
- Discover that your favorite legislature is the one you wrote a profile on.
- Notice that an investigative reporting class becomes your sidekick.
- The temptation of testifying your beliefs during an engaging session.
- Controlling your emotions when the equipment is running out of battery life before a session begins.
- You get slightly bugged when testifiers don’t spell their 10-lettered last names or don’t even introduce themselves at all for the record – we need this, please!
- Report during Spring Break from the live feed online; except, you get to stay in bed with your pajamas and snack on the baked goodies your mother made you.
- Enjoy taking a ride to Carson with almost every partner on your team and get to know them more.
- Find out that you have something in common with them like The Walking Dead, for instance.
- That feeling of accomplishment you get after submitting your story to your editors.
- The high fives and cheers they give you afterwards.
- The feeling of fame you get when your article is the feature on the web page for 24 hours (hello, byline).
- And last but not least (pardon my cheesiness) the overwhelming happiness you feel after meeting with your team members about what the focus is for the following week – and the adrenaline for that challenge.
Follow @MollyJMoser on Twitter
