I know it's been a while again... I did meet Pat Conroy though!

I'll go ahead an apologize, as I do realize I haven't been posting much lately. I have been very busy between work and searching for a "real" job - you know one where I get paid...

Anyway,

Sometimes journalism is simply the greatest job ever. I realize not everyone will agree with me on that, but for someone like me - it could not be any more true.

A while back I interviewed Paula Deen. A lot of people got very excited about that, and it was an interesting and fairly unique experience that I wouldn't trade, but I got a much cooler experience yesterday.

I was not supposed to work yesterday. I planned on spending the entire day looking up jobs, writing cover letters, and sending editors the whole package. However, at about noon my editor called and said something along the lines of, "Hey, Corey. I've got an assignment and I thought of you first. Do you know who Pat Conroy is?"

"Whoa, are you serious? Yes, I do."

"Well, he's doing a book signing downtown and we're sending a photographer over there. If you'd like you can head over there and talk to some people, you might even get to talk to him."

Funny story, when I was in high school, my English teacher for my first couple of years was June Johnston. Mrs. Johnston was a very influential in my life - whether she knew it or not - she is the person that really showed me that I had an ability to write. 

Mrs. Johnston made us read "The Prince of Tides." I wasn't really thrilled about it at the time, but it turned out that it was an amazing book. In fact, I would list it as one of my all time favorite novels. Since then I have read a couple of Conroy's other books - Beach Music and Lords of Discipline.

So, getting this assignment really had me pumped. There was, though, a chance I would not actually get to meet him or interview him. I was a little worried when I first got to the bookstore. It was slam packed. You could not move in there. 

Fortunately, the crowd died down a bit, and I actually got to spend about 45 minutes in the room with him. Asked him questions, go advice. Let me tell you something, Pat Conroy is a really cool guy. He greeted every person he met as though they were a friend. Shared many, many anecdotes from throughout his life. 

It was a great experience all around, and one I will never, ever forget. 

Yeah, did I mention I friggin' LOVE this internship!

The story was in today's paper, here is a link:

Pat Conroy greets, signs books for Savannah fans

I have had a few other articles published since my last post, I actually don't remember everything, but I found these two quickly:

Blood urgently needed in Savannah - This was on the front page! (I also took the photos)

Gullah/ Geechee launch 2009 festival in Savannah

I am working on five different articles right now. So, hopefully they will get in the paper within the next week or so. I will try as hard as possible to update more frequently, but I'm not making any promises.

This has been Corey. Signing off.

I am Corey, and I need a job

Well, I am now over the halfway mark in my internship - actually I've been over the halfway mark, but I never really mentioned it.

I finally know when I'll be done - Sept. 18 (just in case anyone reading this really want to give me a job!)

This week was pretty fun, wrote a few articles, took some pictures. All the fun stuff!

Next week, I don't really know what I'm doing. I am the only intern left on the metro desk, most of the other interns are heading back to school now.

But, when I find out I will let you all know.

For now, I will post an article I wrote that was in the paper today and an article Mary Landers wrote that I took pictures for.

Article I wrote:

Memorial sculpture revealed at Imperial Sugar

I took the pictures for this one:

Tybee turtles hatch

In other news: I've been spending my off time working on updating my portfolio and resume, and I've been looking for a job. If anyone knows of newspapers that are hiring, please let me know!

I've got nothing else to add right now.

This is Corey, signing off.

It's been a while

I realize I have not updated in a while, for that I apologize.

Honestly when I get home from work I either didn't do anything worth writing about, or more likely, I am too exhausted to write more!

I'm not going to write every little thing I have done recently, but I will post the stories I have had published. 

Just to let you all know, the internship is still going wonderfully. As I have said many times I could not ask for anything more.

Here are my recent stories:

Local camp helps kids with Downs sydrome - By the way this story was Saturday's front page centerpiece! 

Garden City police help battle summer heat

Tybee Museum closed for fixup

Do-it-all jeweler owns laid-back shop

I think that's all of them. I have a few more that I have written that should be published this week.

I'm going to do my best to get back into updating with more information. So, check back often!

This has been Corey, signing off.

Yesterday

Good morning,

I was very tired and practically went straight to bed last night after work, so I didn't post.

Anyways, I started my day yesterday at the Savannah Country Day School where a program called Horizons was being hosted for children of low-income families.

Yesterday, the U.S. Coast Guard brought a helicopter to let the kids check it out and speak with them.

I took photos and wrote an article:

Coast Guard shows off chopper at Savannah Country Day School

Guys, it was so hot out there. Before going to the office, I had to go home and change - I was soaked in sweat.

So, that's what I spent most of the day doing. After that I was on cops beat, but nothing exciting came up. 

I'm working a late shift tonight. Cops beat again I think. Possibly another assignment, we shall see.

This is Corey, signing off.

Articles in todays paper

Here they are:

Paula Deen serves up ham

Wiley's Championship BBQ trains for state competition

Paula Deen, Wiley's BBQ, food, food, food

You always know it's going to be an interesting day when you have two stories to do in one day. Interviews, photos, notes and eventually writing takes time. Especially when both are budgeted for the next days paper - that's called deadline.

Then again, when you draw an article about a professional barbeque competition team and the other one is about Paula Deen, well you figure it's gonna be a good day.

I headed straight to Wiley's Championship BBQ this morning to interview Wiley and his wife for a story about Team Wiley - a competitive BBQ team trained by Wiley, who has essentially retired from competition after 13 years - oh, and he can cook! Awesome ribs, chicken, pork, brisket, the works!

Immediately after getting back to the office it was time to head to the local food shelter in Savannah to interview Paula Deen - yes, that's right I said it, I interviewed Paula Deen, all you food network fans know you are seriously jealous right now!

Anyways, I talked to Paula one on one and talked to her son Bobby as well as some less well known people who were helping with the food donation.

Afterwards I rushed back to the office to write both stories - I'll post them in the morning - it took a little time, but I got it done.

Anyways, I apologize for not updating as much lately, but I'm doing what I can!

Tomorrow I've got a story about Coast Guard Helicopters, should be interesting

Until then,

This is Corey, signing off

Latest article

I've got today off, they basically said I've been working too much so I'm going to take it a little easier - I guess the 56 hour week last week was a little much - oh well, now I've got to find something to occupy my time!

Here is what I did yesterday:

Sidewalk lawns now residents' responsibility