Working in the Field

Interning. It's great when I can pitch a story to the West Bend Daily News and see it show up a few days later. It sucks when I e-mail a press release and then drown in follow-up calls that are never answered and never returned. Sometimes, I am on a roller coaster of emotions. Am I actually good at this? I cannot tell if I enjoy working with the media or if I loathe it. It's a love hate relationship. Building a bridge seems to take at least two personal phone calls and a few great story topics. Burning a bridge takes two seconds and just one too many follow up calls. What's to be done? My boss is amazing at media relations. Maybe it just takes time, practice, multiple scripts and a few sweaty palms. I must admit that I am getting a bit better after having contacted the media a few times, at least physiologically. I can control my heart, breathing and sweaty palms a bit more. But then again, one rude journalist and I am back to square one. Gotta thicken that skin. Media relations must get easier, just has to get easier, WILL get easier....but my hands still get a bit sweaty.