The
first day that I walked into the NDTV office located in the more discrete parts
of Chennai, I wasn't exactly sure what to expect. Greeted in by another
enthusiastic intern, I breathed a sign of relief to know I wouldn't be all
alone at least. She updated me on all the various explorations this internship
had taken her. I listened in, fascinated. Then, I picked up a newspaper, and
began reading, which I soon came to realize was a must in an internship with a
news bureau.
Each
day would usually begin like this, until Sam Sir (the team leader, as I liked
to call him) would announce a shoot to attend. My first day consisted of a trip
to the Police Commission’s Office in Egmore to interview a fan who had lodged a
complaint due to the recent cricket controversies. The IPL scandal remained a
popular subject of shoots for the following weeks of my internship. I was a
regular guest at the residences of Gurunath Meiyappan, Vikram Aggarwal, and
BCCI president N. Srinivasan.
It wasn't just limited to cricket. The next few days I got the chance to visit government hospitals, and check out the latest technology of neo-natal wards. Entering, I caught a glance at six to seven babies neatly lined up under a warm glow illuminated by the heaters above. Another ward gave shelter to new mothers in fragile conditions...
I was able to get a taste of NDTV Profit as well, in which I accompanied a financial journalist to his shoots from interviewing prime developers, to capturing footage of high end luxurious markets. A few of the developers included Mr. Shekar (MD of Lancor) and Mr. Yagnik (MD of Jones Lang La Salle).
Learning about the camera was just as interesting to understand the overall package of a shoot. I was able to learn about lighting, neutral density, zooming, focusing, and more. Attending various shoots helped me to better understand working the camera in different environments, indoor or outdoor. Similarly, I learned what it's like to be in front of the camera by doing a live OB and getting interviewed a few times.
On my last few days, I visited Amma's Kitchen (canteens around Tamil Nadu) and spoke with common citizens. They gave their own opinions about these mini canteens selling hot idlis and sambar for Rs. 1 each! Established all over the state by the Chief Minister, these canteens proved to be popular among citizens.
My internship with NDTV was one of the best learning experiences I had. As an aspiring journalist myself, I was able to learn about being a reporter as well as enjoy meeting and going to different places. Who said work was no fun? Through the knowledge and experiences I've gained, I intend to fully utilize these skills to chase after my dream of becoming a travel journalist one day. Until then, I'll just have to keep practicing all I've learned and hope for the best.
Here's an interview I conducted with reporter Sam Daniel:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QUdYukwECio
I was able to get a taste of NDTV Profit as well, in which I accompanied a financial journalist to his shoots from interviewing prime developers, to capturing footage of high end luxurious markets. A few of the developers included Mr. Shekar (MD of Lancor) and Mr. Yagnik (MD of Jones Lang La Salle).
Learning about the camera was just as interesting to understand the overall package of a shoot. I was able to learn about lighting, neutral density, zooming, focusing, and more. Attending various shoots helped me to better understand working the camera in different environments, indoor or outdoor. Similarly, I learned what it's like to be in front of the camera by doing a live OB and getting interviewed a few times.
On my last few days, I visited Amma's Kitchen (canteens around Tamil Nadu) and spoke with common citizens. They gave their own opinions about these mini canteens selling hot idlis and sambar for Rs. 1 each! Established all over the state by the Chief Minister, these canteens proved to be popular among citizens.
My internship with NDTV was one of the best learning experiences I had. As an aspiring journalist myself, I was able to learn about being a reporter as well as enjoy meeting and going to different places. Who said work was no fun? Through the knowledge and experiences I've gained, I intend to fully utilize these skills to chase after my dream of becoming a travel journalist one day. Until then, I'll just have to keep practicing all I've learned and hope for the best.
Here's an interview I conducted with reporter Sam Daniel:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QUdYukwECio
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