As a production assistant for ABC over inauguration weekend, my duties mainly include getting drinks for people, standing in for distinguished historians during on-set rehearsals and occasionally answering phones. I also get to sit in the control room, which -- as I mentioned before -- is any aspiring journalist's dream.
When I am not dashing around on producers' errands, I spend my time randomly running into famous people at the bureau. So far, I have met Charlie Gibson at a vending machine and Bob Woodruff in line for free hoagies at lunch.
Generally, this is my standard mode of operation:
1. Spot distinguished broadcast personality
2. Squeak excitedly
3. Shake distinguished personality's hand, ignoring their obvious confusion
4. Introduce myself; banter wittily until it gets too awkward for words
It seems to be working out well.
My good friend Alex (otherwise known as The Daily Collegian's arts chief), who's here at ABC as well, saw Joe Biden leaving the Mayflower Hotel yesterday, and various celebrities are expected to be in town tonight for the inaugural balls.
Above all, though, this weekend has given me a new appreciation for broadcast journalism. A few hours ago, during Obama's luncheon at the Capitol, we got word that Sen. Ted Kennedy had collapsed and everyone was instantly on alert. For a print journalism major like me, it's really interesting to see how much coordination goes into breaking a story in broadcast journalism -- not only do you have to get someone to report the story, but you have to find a cameraperson to get the shot and producers to make sure the story goes through. It's a complicated, difficult process, and I'm continually impressed by how everyone here simply knows exactly what needs to be done.
-Aubrey