My summer assignment using the RTNDF grant was at KVUE-TV, Channel 24, in Austin, Texas, under the sponsorship of News Director Frank Volpicella. The assignment lasted from July 11 to August 17, 2001, with my activities primarily focused on producing.

 Here are my impressions:

 I have been to about 20 different television newsrooms over the past ten years. In most of those newsrooms, I spent at least a day observing while I conducted interviews for my dissertation. The impressions that were formed then have been altered somewhat by this more recent experience made possible by the RTNDF grant.

 What stood out to me during my dissertation research (on "Decision-Making in Television Newsrooms: The Rationale for Live-On-The-Scene News Reports") was how market-driven, promotions-oriented many of the news managers' content choices were. Perhaps that impression was based on incomplete information. Perhaps it was a result of having only a cursory view. Or perhaps it was shaped in large part by the nature of the questions I asked. In any case, all of the news managers I talked to had an intense interest in marketing. Much of the news content, I observed, was based on how effective the stories and visuals were in attracting and holding viewers' attention. What I found lacking, to my dismay, was attention to good ol' fashioned journalism.

 The RTNDF grant gave me an opportunity to spend more time in a single newsroom and see decisions over several weeks. I now feel more comforted that, at this station at least, journalistic values are still a prime consideration. Marketing and promotions are certainly given weight, but a story's impact on people's lives is given at least equal consideration. That view was formed over time and certainly not during the first week.

 The first week of news content seemed to be dominated by pet stories -- especially the mutilation of cats. I simply wasn't persuaded that these stories deserved so much attention, but perhaps my own lack of pet attachments played a role in my not seeing this as a big impact story.

 In time, though, I grew to respect the news menus I saw taking shape on a day-to-day basis. The staples of news coverage -- education, government, crime, fires, etc. -- were covered and covered well.

 The news department consists of several young, dedicated people. In a station of this size, the staff has specialized roles but many of them are quite capable of wearing different hats when necessary. For example, anyone in the newsroom can be called on to run the assignment desk (even a lowly intern, like me). The assignment editor occasionally runs camera. The anchors write. And, in a crunch, producers edit tape. That kind of versatility is great to see. When I teach students, I expect them to learn a wide range of skills. Now that I see even a big market station, like this one, expecting the same of its employees, I have confirmation that versatility is a huge plus.

 Even the news director rolls up his sleeves when necessary. One day there was breaking news and the evening newscast deadline was looming, so he got on the phones, along with the assignment desk and producers, in search of information. Another time, the evening executive producer called in sick, so Frank stepped in to oversee the newscasts, poring over every line and video cue before printing the stories.

 It has been my observation that Frank is very much a teacher in the newsroom. I've seen plenty of one-on-one conferences with the newsroom staff. And I've heard some interesting ethical discussions. For example, a photographer's treatment of a news story was questioned because he had shown the faces of Hispanic and black inmates but had framed the faces of white inmates where they couldn't be seen. Another time, there was a debate over whether the station should continue to identify a woman arrested for abandoning her baby who later died. Complicating the matter was her assertion that the baby was the result of rape. Should the station continue to identify the woman since she was a possible rape victim, or was it okay since the woman now faced criminal charges? (Answer: her name was used in subsequent stories, but not her mug shot.)

 In short, Frank is a hands-on news director, and I respect that. And I respect the work of the professionals in this news department. I made a point to have conversations with a wide variety of people to find out how they fit into the overall picture. Everyone -- producers, executive producers, tape editors, promotions writers, the planning editor, the assignment editors, the webmaster, the assistant news director, reporters and photographers -- graciously took the time, when asked, to describe their jobs, their backgrounds and their influences.

 A kind of assurance has been realized from this experience: an assurance that the education that we're providing at txstate is not far off the mark. We go through the same kind of process when we pull together a half-hour live newscast. Good news writing, effective storytelling, ethical values and a high degree of versatility are important in either domain. Thank goodness for that!

 The greatest divergence, without a doubt, is technology. Television stations, like KVUE, are certainly better equipped to deliver news. And just as they did years ago when I embarked on my dissertation research, microwave and satellite trucks still intrigue me. The "real world" has much better toys, and I feel a serious deficiency when it comes to our ability to train students to handle live situations.

 My most exciting day of the internship occurred when a breaking news event was covered live. One day the assignment desk learned of a major brush fire in northern Hays County. I asked where in northern Hays County. "Along Hilliard Road" was the response. Wow! That's near my neighborhood, some 42 miles from the station. Off we go to the scene in a satellite truck and car with me leading the way into the Texas Hill Country. When the photographers were permitted to get a closer view of the fire, I went with them. Outstanding!!  The grass and trees were still smoldering. Hot spots were all around us.  Helicopters were buzzing above us. For three consecutive days, the fires, which consumed almost one-thousand acres, led the local newscasts.  Fortunately, no one was seriously hurt and no homes were lost.  Eventually, the fires were put out and the story had a happy ending.

 Thanks for the opportunity. The fellowship has definitely been worthwhile. I hope other broadcast journalism professors are given a chance to participate as I did.