Today was one of our more low key days in Iowa. Right now, it’s 27 degrees, and earlier today the wind was blowing the falling snow every which way before that snow hit the ground. Needless to say, candidates cancelled their events and us journalism students stayed near the hotel working on evergreen stories about the caucuses and candidates, and then, once most of the work was done, we went out and worked some more while also having a little bit of fun.
My story today was on presidential candidates stances on vaping. In December, the legal age to buy e-cigarettes and tobacco products was raised from 18 to 21. Seeing that I was at home in Wichita for winter break at this time, I followed the story on my local ABC-affiliate station to see how this would affect local vape shops. Yesterday, I had the privilege to visit one here in Des Moines and hear its manager speak on the issue. I felt so affirmed in my craft when I was visiting the shop. I watched some of the people I look up to the most in December report on this story, and now it was my turn to do the same thing for my audience back in North Carolina. It was one of those moments where I believed I was real, legitimate a journalist.
I was the photographer for this story. That means I took the video, edited the video, and did whatever was needed from the reporters while they wrote the story. While my long-term goal is to be a reporter, it was fun to play photog for the day and see what that job is like. Unlike usual, I didn’t do my hair or makeup or where a fancy dress. I wore leggings and a t-shirt and sifted through hours of video to make the package as visually pleasing as possible. It was nice to switch things up.
If you’re interested in reading our story, click here. Our interviewees had extremely unique stances on vaping, but I won’t spoil the story as you can read it for yourself.
Once the story was finished, some of the journalism students headed outside into at least six inches of snow to film standups for our reels. And while each person had the chance to film a unique standup, we also had a chance to laugh together in the freezing cold watching each other mess up or do the standup just right. We’ve been reflecting on how we spend all day together covering events yet are still more excited than ever to sit down for dinner together at the end of the day. Like I said in my last post, the coverage is life changing, but so are the friendships and memories.
Tomorrow, we’re back in action covering presidential candidate Joe Biden. The roads will be most likely be cleared, and some of the snow may melt overnight (but the high tomorrow is only 26 degrees). I’m so thankful for my time here in Iowa. From running around with a tripod for Elizabeth Warren’s gaggle to our mock Iowa caucus on the second floor of the hotel, every moment has been a learning experience and one that I will remember forever.
Elon University - Iowa: The Trail Starts Here 