Oklahoman interns NewsOK.com Blogging Community

Here’s the funny thing about good-byes:

You can see them coming, but when you actually have to say those two dreaded words. . . it’s never easy.

That’s how I feel today, with less than four hours left in my Oklahoman internship.

I couldn’t agree more with Richard and Dontay: This experience has been invaluable to me beyond words, and looking back now, I can’t believe how much I’ve learned.

Like I’ve told my editors, the only reason I came to Oklahoma was because of the glowing reputation for The Oklahoman’s internship program. I had no ties to this state, so there was no other incentive for me to come here. Yet I couldn’t be more glad with the choice I made! This internship program surpassed its great reputation, and I’ve found Oklahoma has the same “Midwestern nice” qualities I’ve been familiar with all my life, which is a comfort and a joy.

Like Richard, I also find myself wondering, “What if?” [What if I didn’t find the courage within to take risks and travel to places I’ve never been?] Well, then I’d certainly have regrets.

But that’s not the case. I’ve treasured every moment here in Oklahoma - even the stressful ones.

I came here wanting to improve my writing and gain experience in multimedia - and I feel like I did just that. Plus, I’ve had the pleasure of working with some amazingly talented reporters, editors and photographers, who’ve each helped me become a better journalist.

I’ll walk away from here with improved skills and new friendships that I hope will last. [That means you, fellow interns!]

It’s sad to be saying good-bye. But as I’ve been saying to my colleagues here, it’s only good-bye for now. This certainly won’t be the last you hear from me.

Thank you, Oklahoman, for everything you’ve given me this summer. It’s been a wonderful ride.

~ Kristen M. Daum, City Desk intern at The Oklahoman.

The last days are upon us. Seems like it all just started and now everything is about to come to a screeching halt.

I can say that I’ve definitely enjoyed my time here. Heck, I enjoyed it so much I’m going to apply again for next year’s internship and try to come back and do it all over again (but that’s only if they didn’t get tired of seeing my face and I didn’t screw up too bad in this years internship!).

Whether I come back or not, I definitely learned a lot. Found out I’m a solid writer, but not nearly as good as I thought I was before I came here.

The experience of it all was great though. Covering events I’ve never covered before. Learning about sports that I’ve never even followed before and hardly know anything about. I also met so many new people and was able to go to so many different places I’ve never been before.  The most important thing is I know I became a better writer through all my experiences.

So now you’ve heard about me. What about you?

1.) How did you feel about the internship overall? Would you like to work for The Oklahoman in the future?

2.) What will be your lasting impressions of Oklahoma? What did you like and dislike about it? Did it match the stereotype you had in your mind before you came?

Thanks so much everyone! Good luck in your future journalism endeavors! Who knows, maybe one of us is the next Tim Russert or Barbara Walters or Stuart Scott or Keith Olbermann or …….??????????

- Dontay Allen, Sports

Since this was our last weekend as Oklahoman interns, it was a chance for many of us to make some lasting memories with the friends we’ve made this summer.

Friday night was a night out at the Oklahoma Redhawks game - courtesy of OPUBCO/The Oklahoman, which provided us with free suite tickets and an all-you-can-eat promotion pass (Thank you, OPUBCO!).

Some interns brought family members or friends to share the night with, while the rest of us made use of each other’s company to share in America’s past-time. But either way, good times were had by all!

Ironically, rather than watching the ballgame, many of us spent the night chatting together with the other Oklahoman employees who joined us: Joe Hight (director of information and development), Patti Shubert (executive assistant) and Jim Beckel (photographer).

I’m sure we provided them with some added entertainment with our intern cameraderie and antics — and maybe a little terror too, in Jason’s case…

The evening passed much too quickly, and before we knew it, the ballgame ended. Even though the Redhawks lost at the bitter end, the night still closed with a bang…

 Then on Saturday, a few of us met up again for an ol’ fashioned board-game night.

Jason and I faced off in a game of Scrabble - since I wasn’t fully convinced of his mastery over the game. He soon put my doubts to shame as he won with more than twice the score of mine. That put me in my place.

When Amy, Jenn and Dontay joined us, we switched to Scattergories, which led to much laughter as we began to question the worth of each other’s answers during the numerous rounds we played.

Some of the best moments?

– Dontay fast becoming the underdog and likely winning more rounds than all of us.

– Amy calling me out on “flakes” actually being “snowflakes,” so I couldn’t use it as an answer for “F” under “Things that are cold.

– Jason and I having some kind of telekinetic link and coming up with the exact same obscure answers as one another.

– Jenn being constantly distracted by my playful kitten and coming up with random answers.

So, as you might tell, it was an exciting and fun-filled weekend with some great friends. It’s amazing how fast you can get used to being around the same friends all the time, and before you know it - that time is up.

One more week of memories, my friends… Let’s make ‘em worth it.

~ Kristen M. Daum, City Desk intern at The Oklahoman.

The crowd at last night’s Redhawks game in Bricktown got a little more entertainment than they might have expected.

Among the ballplay, hotdogs and other traditions of America’s past-time were some performers of overnight pop-culture fame: The ZOOperstars.

The ZOOperstars were featured on NBC’s “America’s Got Talent,” showing off their acrobatic hilarities to a national television audience.

But on Friday, the ZOOperstar performers entertained the few thousand baseball fans gathering in downtown Oklahoma City!!

Here’s a glimpse of what the crowd was able to see in Bricktown Ballpark:

~ Kristen M. Daum, City Desk intern at The Oklahoman.

Stay tuned for more blog updates this weekend
about The Oklahoman interns’ night out at Friday’s Redhawks game!

Yesterday at The Oklahoman city desk, we had the annual lunchtime BBQ on the OPUBCO grounds.

That meant an hour-and-a-half away from the stressful rush of the newsroom to relax, enjoy good food and good company in the pleasant July sunshine.

(And since the heat hasn’t been nearly as bad as what it usually might be, it was indeed a pleasant afternoon.)

Each city desk staff member signed up to bring a food item for our BBQ spread.  And it ended up we brought so much, there’s still food left over here in the newsroom — although it’s mostly cookies and chips.

At around noon, the city desk’ers trekked out to the covered pavillion (including BBQ grill) on the OPUBCO grounds to enjoy a quality summer day in Oklahoma.

City Editor Michael Baker became master of the grill — serving up burgers and brats for his staff. Meanwhile, the rest of us laid out the condiments, plastic flatware and desserts.

As the meat came off the grill, we all settled down to a hearty lunch and friendly conversation.

But, of course, the noon-hour passed much too quickly, and we soon found ourselves trekking back up to the OPUBCO Tower and our 8th floor newsroom.

As an intern, I soak up moments like yesterday’s - because I know in just six more work days, I’m gone. It’s still hard to believe: I feel like I just got here!

While this experience has certainly been memorable and valuable to me, it’s not time for good-bye’s just yet. . .

~ Kristen M. Daum, City Desk intern at The Oklahoman.

I’m obviously somewhat unfamiliar with Oklahoma customs - thus, my appalling reaction to one recreational past-time: Noodling.

Sunday’s Oklahoman featured a multimedia package on the nine Okie Noodling Tournament. Again, I’m a little taken aback that this is considered a sport - but even more so, that it’s a full-blown tournament!

In my ol’ stomping grounds of the northern plains, deer-hunting and regular fishing were the typical outdoor activities. Certainly, there was nothing that involved sticking your hand in an unseen hole just to have an animal bite your arm up to your elbow!!

I get a confused look on my face just thinking about it, but when I actually see it being done, I cringe:

I can see the argument for getting an adrenaline rush out of it, but it just looks and sounds painful! I have to give credit to those of you noodlers who are brave enough to try it and thrive from it.

The closest thing I’ve ever come to noodling: Testing my worth at the Bocca della Verità in the church of Santa Maria in Cosmedin in Rome. The legend goes that if you place your hand in the “Mouth of Truth” and are found unworthy, the mouth will close on your arm.

Apparently, I must be worthy, or just plain lucky - because I still have my arm.

… but I don’t know if I can say the same for noodlers. Catfish might be a little less forgiving.

~ Kristen M. Daum, City Desk intern at The Oklahoman.

For those of you who didn’t read today’s The Oklahoman, (and tsk-tsk to you if you didn’t), two OKC-area residents were arrested yesterday for possessing 9 pounds of opium gum.

I don’t know about anyone else, but I don’t recall opium gum being available at the checkout counter when I was younger. And I loved gum. I remember all the brands: the ubiquitous ones (Wrigley’s Doublemint, Juicy Fruit, Big Red), the slightly better brands not found everywhere (Bubbalicious, Fruit Stripe) and if you were really lucky, they had Big League Chew, one of the greatest inventions in world history.

But alas, no opium gum. And apparently the stuff is pretty potent, because 9 pounds of it is worth 20 years in prison and a $1 million fine. Call me old-fashioned, but I think the two OKC citizens arrested for this should have just stuck with Big League Chew. It’s clearly much cheaper, and I can’t imagine anything gun being nearly as delicious.

Jason Singer, Sports/Metro Intern

Hello, Readers:

Check out NewsOK’s podcast page to hear the interns reflect on their past six weeks at The Oklahoman!

— Kristen, Adrielle and Nathan, on interning for the City and Business desks and the Data team.

— Monica and Hailey, on interning for Metro and State.

— Mike and Dontay, on interning for Sports.

And now, we’ve got less than two weeks left — Who would believe two months could go by so fast?

~ Kristen M. Daum, City Desk intern at The Oklahoman.

Most of you probably know about the shooting of the 12-year-old at Luther, who later died.

Yesterday, Tim Monies and I went to Luther to get exclusive video from the family, as well as some photos and additional information. This first link is the article from when he died, the second is the follow-up from yesterday and the third is a video exclusive with his grandmother.

It’s interesting because she talks about how the family feels about the boy who discharged the gun, as well as where responsibility falls and donation of John’s organs.

Check it out if you get a chance!

– Monica Albert, Metro Desk intern

Just want to share this video that I did this week.

These kids have a lot of fun and play really well. I met them a couple of weeks ago on an assignment and wanted to go back and do a video story to portray their emotion and energy…… and humor.

-Amy (Photo)

Jefferson Middle School Drum Line - Playing everything from Metallica to Mozart, the Jefferson Middle School drum line in Oklahoma City has energy, teamwork, and a lot of fun.