My notes as a promotions intern at News 8 Austin

1. Melinda Valero
Internship Notes
• Billboards:
o Components: V/O, script, logo
o John Young does v/o for all billboards and promos. Send script to him via News 8
gmail account and he will send back as mp3. Send by T/H morning by 9 a.m. or day
before.
o Open mp3 with iTunes and create AIF version, save on desktop
o DEUCE drive (external hard drive): save month to month projects (Jan/Feb 2010, etc).
Put components into this folder once all of them are on the desktop
o In Final Cut Pro: same folders with months, year, then intern folder. Import from the
external hard drive into proper folder.
o Sports billboards=RED, everything else=BLUE, but copy and paste from previous
billboard. No text outside of box!
o For logos: drop shadow (2 or 3), may adjust opacity. Try maskshape and mask feather
under effects—matte. Use photoshop to adjust white space around logos, etc. Other
effects such as chroma key, etc.
o Text: under video generators-text-outline text. N8A_interstatesmall caps BOLD. Line
width 1, size increase if necessary. Size increase similar to logo’s
o Export to QuickTime movie on desktop
o Save as: N8-sponsor-event-BB
o Under hard drive, go to network-austinflipfact-nobus_web. Then from desktop drag to
webmvs and copy and paste link onto previous link from billboard
o Once approved send to the “ROC”: austinflipfact and promos/sponsorship
o Created billboards: Factory Mattress, Stem Cyte, Capital Area Food Bank, Go Green,
Smile Center Dental, Rebath
• Participation in SXSW meeting with Veronica, Meredith, and Anna (special projects
coordinator, producer, and senior online producer):
o Run-down of coverage for film, music, and interactive
o Idea for intern to bring camera to get footage of free shows
o Discussion of online multimedia content and pictures and videos from viewers
• Attend editorial meetings occasionally to gain understanding of the flow of the newsroom and
to be in the know about what stories will be running on-air
• Brainstorm new franchise ideas for transition form News 8 Austin to YNN (Your News Now)
• Learned digitizing process to put on air:
o Take to producer to name clip and put in Master 1 or 2
o Then take to director to digitize and get clip #
o Send out clip info to all producers, Todd, Ken, and whoever else involved in clip
• Attended Severe Weather Awareness Week conference for employees to understand what the
Storm Ready series will consist of and gain great knowledge of covering and shooting in
extreme weather conditions
• Created “Storm Ready” Promo (:10)
o Helped with script
o Helped Ken with shooting Burton (meteorologist)
o Collected past footage of weather

2. o Lay out footage, v/o on timeline
o Use transitions, add graphics from Justin, add logos and super, add music
• Went on-site to Mandola’s restaurant to get footage for the new segment, “Off the Plate”
o Used small station camera to get footage while Ken shot on the tripod with other
camera
• Helped with Off the Plate promo (:20)
o Pick music to go in background from music library
o Layout footage from Mandola’s
o Transitions, effects, super, text, etc.
• Add sound effects to SXSW open
• Anchoring practice:
o Practice reading off of screen anchoring on-camera with Paul Brown
o Recorded on camera to go back and review; will set up another time with Paul to work
with him again and get more tips
Additional Notes: I love my internship so far! It’s been great working in promotions at a newsroom
because I get to combine my specialization (Public Relations) with my minor (Broadcast Journalism). I
have loved working with Final Cut Pro because it’s been a semester since I’ve had a broadcast class.
My supervisor, Ken, is a great teacher and guides me in the right direction with assignments, but also
lets me work on my own when he feels I am capable. I am looking forward to working the Zilker Park
Kite Festival in early March and getting some footage and also creating more promos and graphics for
segments.