week 2's stories are posted. i worked on a video of a local church's drum corp and stills from a wheelchair yard sale.

This was my first attempt at video and I'm happy with the results. I had some great coaching from Andre Jones. I learned a ton about what to do next time. So much to learn, so little time left. We're already reporting on our final stories from the beat and I'm contemplating stowing away in the Poynter building so I don't have to leave.

exhausting and exhilarating.

our first stories published on www.pointssouth.net

check 'em out.

from the tour o' the neighborhood on day 2...










this kid walked it out for us in his pottery studio. rad.

long first week at poynter. i'm still figuring out the blogging policy here, so forgive the long silences.

the first 5 days felt like 5 weeks already. so much information was shoe horned into our heads in between incredible speakers and walking our beats. i cranked out a short "getting to know you" multimedia of our neighborhood that i can hopefully post here. we'll see.

my team's first project this week has been hectic. the kid's program we are profiling was closed when they said they'd be open, and open when they said they'd be closed. friday it was all supposed to come together but the program suspended classes for an all afternoon dance party. the director of the program offered to have the kids stage the class. he didn't understand my ethical opposition to it. "you a student? we do this all the time for the people working in the media." "yeah, well, not for me." after a talk with my editors and a few beers on friday night i stopped freaking out a little.

tomorrow is the last chance for this to come together in time for our first deadline. fingers and toes are crossed.

one of the reporters and i were wandering through our baking hot beat today and i spotted these kids having a small pool party. i think i remember having the exact same jungle animal print on the side of our pool when i was their age. some good summer fun never changes.







no real use for these in our beat coverage so far, but it was a nice relief to get soaked on the job.

so incredibly tired.

the drive from chicago was uneventful except for tropical storm barry. nashville was an unexpected gem. atlanta, an unexpected traffic nightmare. it rained for most of the drive on day two but as soon as we crossed the florida border the clouds parted and the sun bathed the world in eerie beauty before closing again.



every minute here thus far has been filled with people and class and newness and inspiration. i'm excited to start working the beat, but tonight i am utterly exhausted. starting next week you can see what i'm working on at www.poyntersummerfellows.org. i'm working the east o' 34th beat, so if you hear of any action in the deuces let me know.