Newscast #3- Julia Mellett- Fall 2018

After my first story was picked up by ESPNU, I knew that I had a reputation of solid work to continue. The WVU and ESPNU partnership goes back quite a while, so when I was chosen as one of two sports anchors, I understood the responsibility I had to portray WVU and the Reed College of Media in the best light.

Of the three stories, the story that I pitched about WVU tailgating was going to be my favorite. I could tell from the first time that I mentioned it in class. There was so much potential to really showcase who I was as a sports reporter, and obviously the chance at the package making show and being picked up by ESPNU was an added bonus.

When Taylor Hall and I went to the WVU Football game against Kansas at Milan Puskar Stadium, we began our reporting at 8 a.m. We went to the Blue Lot, one of twelve tailgating lots around Morgantown that fans can buy parking passes for, and began walking around. At 8 a.m., hours before the noon kickoff, fans were already setting up tents and firing up grills. As we walked around, we talked to many people about what tailgating has meant to their families.

What neither Taylor nor I expected was how passionate the fans were about WVU sports and how the act of tailgating has spanned generations. Strollers. Canes. All ages were represented on Mountaineer game days. 

As we walked, we watched people grill and play games like cornhole and ladder ball. We saw faces and school buses painted gold and blue.

After growing up in Morgantown, I knew what I was getting into when I chose the story that I did. The people that appear in my story have all been tailgating since the 80’s, when the stadium moved out to Evansdale.

What I really wanted to capitalize on in my story was what a bonding experience Mountaineer tailgating is. I played cornhole in my stand-up, and honestly, that was one of my favorite parts of the package. It allowed me to show my personality in an interactive stand-up, and after my second package, it was refreshing to have something more creative to show.

Not only did Professors Dahlia and Gilmore and our executive producer Meg like my story on a personal level. In addition, my hard work paid off when my story made show and was picked up by ESPNU. I’ve gone two for two of stories making show and getting picked up. I like those odds for our next show!

This week, I was able to anchor and show my package, which is always so exciting for me. The anchors and people in the control room were all more in sync than the first show, and because of it, the product was even better. The stories were better and more interesting. The anchors were more polished, myself included, and when the newscast is shown, it is obvious that we are all having a good time.

By this point in the semester, I know both my strengths and weaknesses, and moving forward, I can’t wait for our special edition show. I have a great story started! Watch for it in two weeks!