Internship – Sun Media Corporation

Brand new and the final phase of my journalism studies begins tomorrow, Monday Jan 11, 2010. I am looking forward and hoping for the best during my time as an intern at Sun Media (Sun papers). I will be documenting weekly about my internship at the Sun Media so visit often.Share this Post

     

Day 1: Delighted.

Week 1:
15/01/2010
Things are going very well for me so far at the Sun. I am starting to get into the grove of things and hope for a very interesting session here. Liza Sardi, National Lifestyle Editor and my mentor is being very helpful and it always feels good to see someone wanting you succeed and do well.

I started my first day here by working the phones on fact checking and doing research about pseudo products that are produced by companies in order to cash-in in the name of 2010 Olympics Games. I called and spoke with people from these company to see if they have been approached by Olympic organizers about their products. I also fact checked if these products are breaking marketing laws. To our surprise we found out that many of these companies have been refused sponsorship by the Olympic organizer and allowed sell their products freely, without sending any part of the profit to the athletes. Who most of them have hard time securing sponsorship and always struggle for lack of funding to take their career further. Second On Tuesday, Jan 12. I pitched to Liza about a story on Airport security and up-coming big events such as the Olympics and World cup. I am hoping to resume this story as soon as I finish the second item that I am hoping to add in my portfolio. It is an assignment Liza handed to me to come up with 25 or so facts (750 words) and draw up quiz to go along with the facts about the Olympics.

At the moment I am working on a story Liza wants me to do about the threat of earthquakes in Canada – especially in B.C. – I have spoken with two sources so far from Geological Survey of Canada and Natural Resources Canada from Ottawa and B.C. respectively.

That is my rant for this week – Oh I have called in sick today Friday as I have nasty cough and a sore throat – Called and left Liza message that I was unable to make it today.

WEEK 2.
22/01/2010
This week I handed in the Olympic facts and quiz that I was working on last week. And yah I also handed in the earthquake in Canada story. On the facts and quiz, which by the way they just ‘loved it’. At least that is the feedback I got. The earthquake story is too long 700 words, otherwise is good to go and feedback on that was, if the piece was for Globe and Mail, New york Time or the guardian, it would not need any chopping and it would run in any page; but the piece is for the Sun papers and needs some chopping. But Liza advised to do that together as it will be simply a tightening exercise. She also asked me to add one more voice in there so the piece can be hooked with Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympic Games. So I did that phone work and got a prof from U of T to tell me that the possibility is very minute but earthquake are unpredictable.

This week I also met Sun Media’s Food editor, Rita DeMontis. It was just a coincident (or Karma perhaps) that we run into each other at the elevators. She told me that Liza had mentioned to her about me interning at the Sun. And she said may be I could do something for her as well. Soon an idea popped out about this cookbook I saw earlier this week and asked her if I can review it for her Food section. She agreed and I am in the process of getting my hands on the cookbook – The Settlers Cookbook by famous UK journalist Yasmin Alibhai-Brown.

I am still learning my ropes but one thing is for sure I am getting to like it more and more everyday.

Signing off until next week.

WEEK 3.

29-01-2010

Research, Research, Research was the theme for this week. I can also add interviews as well as I conducted/interviewed Mark Engstrom, a Senior mammal curator at ROM for Groundhog story, Karen Stewart, divorce expert for Valentine’s Day story and Susan Blue, a program coordinator with City of Toronto’s Healthy babies program for a story I am researching about rise of premature babies in Canada. I also got an orientation on Wednesday for editing The School of Life, an advise column on Sun papers/blog and posting back to the website. On Friday I did the editing on my own for The School of Life entries and the reply from its expert Robin Anderson to be published on Feb 1 and 2 Sun papers and on the website: http://blog.canoe.ca/advice?cat=1189. Finally my earthquake story got to go on the bulletin board’s Sked as National News to be published on 1/2/2010, the Olympic quiz and facts also are on bulletin board hope its picked up coast to coast along with the earthquake story. Monday I have been assign to do some research and write up a short article about 400-500 words on Canadian Fur industry. Tuesday I have one-one on video with a doctor who is introducing the Liposonic machine, a revolutionary device for reducing waistline. Hope everything goes well.

Cheers,

WEEK 4.

06-02-2010

The first thing Monday I worked the phones and continue to do research on the fur in Canada. Furriers did not want to speak with me on the story I was going to do about the fur industry (Can I blame on PETA). So the story did not grow and I ditched it because furriers voice was important for the story. Monday I also continue editing the advice column and for the first time I was assign to draw up the polls that goes with the advice column as well. Had to do some math. So it was fun!. Tuesday I was assigned for On Camera one-on-one with Dr. Nowell Solish, a cosmetic dermatologist who is using liposoniq, a revolutionary equipment for reducing abdominal fat without any downtime. The interview went well after a small glitch.The camera man was late arriving at the Doc’s office. But the Doc was gracious enough to wait few minutes. There were other reporters there as well, Chris Rayes from CP24and the Global reporter with their cameramen. The experience was great. Also did some more editing and drew up a poll. Wednesday I got my Olympic stuff back. And was assign 2 stories. First was to find out how many surgeries Canadian heading to be done outside the country. I did some research and knew who to contact – soon I had a story. Second one was assignment to speak with Valerie Gibson, a relationship guru . On apparent newest trend. The use of injectables cosmetics by some women to specifically enhance their online dating site profile pictures. These women visit spas and specifically asking and want to look more refresh, youthful and relax on and off the camera. I spoke with Dr Wong, a cosmetic physician, who is conducting the injectables treatment on the women. By Thursday afternoon the copy was at Liza in box but she was not in as she had to go for short trip out of the country. I email the Health theme story on Saturday. On Saturday I also spoke on the phone with Mark Holmes for a Black History Month piece. Hoping to finish that by Monday.

Until next week! CIAO

Week 5:

Feb 13, 2010

I continued to edit the advice column and coming up with question for the online polls Mon-Fri. I started the week by researching on ADHD and on Olympic rowing Gold medalist Adam Kreek. Apparently Kreek has decided to use his status speaking out about his ADHD. Disorder he endured when he was growing up. Tuesday, I followed up with Dr Wong, the cosmetic physician as there were some dots not connecting with the editor for my Botox story. Also because they had issues!!! with Valerie Gibson, the relationship expert I used for my story. So had to take her out of my story. By end of the day Tuesday I had a gut feeling that this story will be shelved. Disappointed because I worked hard on it and directed to Valerie Gibson by the editor who later on did not want anything to do with her being in the story. Another lesson to learn. Wednesday was the day I interviewed Adam Kreek – Soon I was done with the interview, I was handed another assignment. It was to do a story on an upcoming report to be released to the public next day Thursday by Canadian Institute for Health Information (CIHI) on the H1N1. Reporters had the exclusive access to the report and it was to be turned around quick. Again went on research mode right away. Next day Thursday I interviewed the author of the report Kathleen Morris and turned around the story at 2.30 P.M., before the end of e-embargo (Time the report was going public) 3:00 P.M. PHEW!! – It was the first time I turned around the story in just hours time.
Friday I completed last interview for Black History Month piece – Because of CIHI/H1N1 story I had to put the Black History Month story on hold so on Friday I resume by speaking again with Mark Holmes and also spoke with Canoe.ca Chief Editor David Newland before handing in the piece by the end of the day.

Happy Family Day

Week 6
February 16 -25
Monday was day off due to Family Day. So first thing Tuesday I started with what has been a routine for me and to be honest I really enjoying it – editing the advice column, drawing up a poll, checking & editing the poll result from the previous day and posting all the items back to the site. I finished writing the Black History Month piece during the long weekend and sent to Liza on Sunday night. The piece ran across the country online and on in Toronto Sun and London Free Press on print on Thursday, February 18. Despite being a shorter week due to Family day holiday, I did three stories this week. Black History Month, H1N1 and coffee preference piece (A fun must read piece on what your coffee says about you).

Week 7
Feb 26 – March 5
Friday continued editing advice column and drawing polls. Also checked the wires for story ideas. Monday started working on a story about latest trend “Potentialist” – A new tribe in Canada!! that came out of the recent economic downturn. A new study shows that 31% of us are “potentialists” — taking initiative after the recession to live more enriched lives and follow passions including traveling, philanthropy, learning a new language and re prioritizing to spend more time with family over our careers. That was the story about. The rest of the week continue to edit advice column and drawing polls. Also on Friday started to research on story about forgiveness – the hook being Adam Giambrone and Tiger woods public apologies. I also continue to do the advice column and polls all week.

Week 8
March 5 – 12

I interview couple of people on Saturday March 6 on the forgiveness piece and started to write on Sunday – by the end of the day Monday I was done and handed in the piece. Tuesday I learn the piece on forgiveness was too short and was asked to get another voice for the piece plus more content as the editor is planing to use the piece needs to go on whole page. So I started working on it right away Tuesday and I finished the piece on Forgiveness on Wednesday – I handed in at the end of the day. Thursday and Friday I worked on three stories – GetGameSmart, Stuck at the Prom and Sunlight Clean Green Kids grant program – By the end of the day Friday I had 2 stories done and handed in – I still did not get my forgiveness piece as Liza seem busy with the Oscar so hope will get it back on Monday.I also continue to do the advice column and polls all week.

Week 9
March 14 – 19

I am still waiting to get back my stories from Liza – GetGameSmart, Forgiveness piece and Sunlight Clean Green Kids grant program. I got back my prom dresses piece back and it was published on Toronto Sun website on March 15. The delay in getting back the stories is because Liza is out of office because of the March break. She is coming back on March 22 – I m hoping to get back my stories before I submit the logs next week. Meanwhile I am still doing the editing for the advice column.

Week 10
March 22 -25
Monday I started researching for stories about Earth Day/Hour and worked on editing the advice column –however, this week will be the last for that as they are moving the site and QMI is changing the system, the site is moving to wordpress format. I not yet had my stories back, as of Friday, March 25, which is disappointing. I really hoped to get them back and submit along with the log this week. Anyway, I did a story on Wait Times this week – it was yet another of those new reports stories/embargoed stories that needed a quick turnaround. This week I also hand in the Settlers Cookbook review – an intoxicated tale and nostalgic odyssey of East African Asians’ gastronomy to Rita Demontis –The Food Editor. I enjoyed so much doing this book review especially because I am of East African Wahindi – Swahili for East African Asian settlers’ heritage.

Week 11
March 29 – April 2
This week I pitched and was going to do a story on the barriers to environmental action for the Earth Day – I had research the topic to death, as I like to do for all the stories I do. Also had set up an interview with renowned U.S eco-journalist Simran Sethi to talk about the story as she is writing a book on the topic. Then came the announcement by Obama administration on reversing the offshore drilling- the timing of the announcement, which came on the eve of 40th anniversary of Earth DAY seemed very awkward to me. So with my conversation with Sethi I focused on that particular event. I could feel in her voice how disappointed she was on the news and that she wanted to talk about it so I let her. The final result I thought and still think is one of the my best stories so far during my time here at Sun Media. But it turn out to be such a let down, a turn-off and I think it would be one of low point of any journalist. The story was turned down because it would conflict with Sun Media advertisers!! – I will talk about this more in my final report. So I ended up doing other bunch of Earth Day stories.

Week 12
April 5 – 9
I still disappointed about last week’s event. But felt exonerated when Liza told me that the article was really good and engaging – is just too bad she could not use it she said. She also told be if I want to venture it out by pitching it to other publications!!. – I just posted the article on my blog. Hoping Obama can see it!! (humor). Anyway – going along with the Earth Day theme I did couple of stories this week: 1) Green Homes 2) Recycling lessons from the third world and on Green products – to be hopefully published on Earth Day April 22.

Week 13
April 12 -16
Earth Day theme continues….
The last story on the Earth Day assignment is about a post on David Suzuki Foundation website. Apparently Suzuki is urging Canadians to participate in a survey about the use of personal care products. The foundation is asking Canadians to register the chemicals in their favorite beauty products. According to the U.S. researcher these products are soaked with harmful chemicals and Suzuki wants to find out how widespread is the use of these products – I also pitched to do a Earth Day quiz but haven’t heard back from Liza.
Week 14
April 19 – 23
This was slowest, less productive week in my entire time at the Sun -is this the sign that end is near? yah. This week I Just did research on Hayley Wickenheiser, a four time Olympic gold medalist in order to interview her on Thursday April 22. The interview went well and typed up a story that I was hoping to run national but it did not -it was only picked up by St. Thomas Times-Journal. The Earth day stories were all published this week so I am happy.
Week 15

April 26 – 30
In the last week of my placement at Sun Media I was afforded the opportunity to moderate comments for School of Life advice blog. the Sun Media/Canoe.ca blog is in the process looking for yet another advice expert – so they are asking Canadians from all walks of life who wants or thinks they got what it takes to be advice columnist to compete for the spot by participating in a advice competition. Every day until May 7, the blog will post a new advice question on www.canoe.ca/advice. Canadians have to give responding words of wisdom by commenting on the question posted to the blog. The advice may also appear in Sun Media newspapers. So my job was to retrieve these comments/answers and check for any offensive language, homophobic and sexist comments and any comments that could be deemed liable. Ethics and law course proved to be really handy this week. So that's it – The curtain has close on a 15-weeks of placement at Sun Media, learned alot, had real life journalism experience now what?