So despite the excitement of being a real reporter, I feel a bit discouraged. All I had to do was write "notes" which are small news briefs written about press releases or FCC reports. All FCC reports and most press releases are written in jargon that is nearly incomprehensible to the average reader. There are tons of names and idioms and basically.... I had no flippin idea what they were about. But the thing is, the people who read this publication I'm working for are rich, smart techy people who understand all these things.
Our publication, Communications Daily, is subscribed to by all the people who work at the FCC! So I have to understand these things, write about them in that same type of language, and make sure it's accurate because readers pay $5,000 a year for this publication. The hardest part was when I had to write a bit of a longer note about an FCC report about some technology item I so did not understand. I won't go in to detail, but it took me three hours to figure out. When I called my parents tonight telling them I felt a bit discouraged, they reassured me that this was great experience and that I most certainly could do it.
Honestly, I think I just need some sleep. This is a lot different from anywhere I have lived, and I'm still adjusting. I don't really know anyone here, so I'm a bit lonely, but I know I will feel better after a good night's rest. I really am grateful to be here. I know this is the best experience I could ask for, working as a reporter for a high-priority publication that writes about telecomm and business legislation. It's a stretch, but I know I will grow from it.
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