Category: Meet This Week | Main

Meet This Week: Anamarie Rebori, intern

July 11, 2008 12:11 PM

Meet our ‘do-it-all’ intern Anamarie Rebori. She is a rising senior at Drake University majoring in broadcast journalism. Since she first arrived from Lee’s Summit, Missouri, Anamarie has performed every task that’s been asked of her with a smile. Interns help with anything and everything that needs to be done throughout the week, from logging the funnies to greeting guests. She reflects on her time as a "This Week" intern:

What has been the best thing about your internship?

Network news is interesting in itself, but I have also loved being able to work in Washington, DC. I was new to the city, and getting to know a new area has been both a challenge and joy. Not many college students get to work alongside different politicians each week. Being surrounded by the excitement of the upcoming presidential election has been like no other internship experience I have had thus far.

The worst?

I am not a morning person so getting up at 4:15 am on Sundays for the show has definitely been a challenge.

How have you grown from the experience?

Not only has the internship helped me grow in my professional ambitions, but moving to a city far from my home has been a great experience. It was definitely intimidating moving to a city where I did not know the area or people, but it has shown me that it is important to try new things, and so far I have loved DC.

What's your fondest memory?

My fondest memory was when I got the chance to meet Charles Gibson. I have always been a fan of his work and when I met him, it reminded me of what a great opportunity I had been given through this internship.

What you have learned about the field of journalism?

Having now interned at both local and Network news, it has showed me both the similarities and differences between the two. This was the first time I have worked on a weekly show, and I have learned how much work goes into planning one show. I have seen everything from booking to researching, and I have thoroughly enjoyed watching the process. It has been completely different from my previous internships, and I have been fortunate to see the many sides of broadcast journalism.

Is the internship what you expected?

This internship has gone beyond my expectations; I did not imagine I would be able to interact with all aspects of the show, including the guests on Sunday. I have been given responsibilities that have challenged me to become a better journalist. Now having been a part of a key political show in a crucial election year has continued to inspire me.

How did you get into journalism?

I have wanted to be in broadcast journalism since I was in Junior High, when I first worked on our schools weekly newscast, so when it was time for me to choose my major in college it was not a difficult choice. I have had several great internship opportunities that have continued to propel my excitement for the field. I started watching the news at a young age and the idea of telling people’s stories has always fascinated me. I admire great journalists and hope to become one someday.

What is your post-graduation plan and has this experience changed it at all?

Before this internship I had always planned on looking for a reporting job in a small local television market, but working on ThisWeek has helped me to evaluate all my options both in local and network news post-graduation.

What are you favorite shows, anchors, and correspondents?

Of course, George Stephanopoulos. Growing up I would watch Good Morning before I went to school and had always admired their morning newscasts. Joan Lunden was the first journalist I could remember that really inspired me to want to be in the profession. I have also enjoyed watching Charles Gibson and Diane Sawyer; I think they bring a lot to the profession.

Any advice for those in the future?

For future interns, I think it is really important to be persistent in seeking opportunities because those opportunities could turn into future jobs. With every internship you encounter so many new opportunities and build strong contacts for the future. Also, to work hard and show you potential at every task, even if it is something that may not be the most challenging or enticing, employers notice responsibility and handwork.

July 11, 2008 in Meet This Week | Permalink | User Comments (8)

Meet This Week: Ray Baker, Intern

April 02, 2008 2:45 PM

Meet "This Week's" Ray Baker, intern extraordinaire. Ray is a senior at Howard University with an affinity for politics and sports. At "This Week," Ray helps with the Sunday Funnies, show production, research, and pretty much everything else.

How did you first get interested in media?

I first got interested in media as a high school student. I won a speech contest that a local news station was sponsoring. It was about then when I found out I could make a career out of talking. When I got to college I learned that, although I can have a career in talking, I really need to be informed and be sure I'm speaking truth. Otherwise it becomes what the Egyptians called "tef tef."

What is something you've learned during your internship that you never thought you'd learn?

Something I learned that I never thought I'd learn was about the business of television. There is so much preparation that goes into making sure everything looks right. I had no idea how much preparation was needed to make sure television looks flawless and effortless to the viewers.

What are the best and worst things about your internship?

I think my professors would want me to give an academic answer as to what the best thing about the internship is, but truthfully the best thing about this job is Donna Brazile. She's great and it really has nothing to with her political views. She's just a brilliant, hilarious, down to earth woman. So I'd have to go with Donna Brazile and the scrambled eggs on Sunday Morning come in a very close second.

The worst thing about the job is working weekends. We have to be here pretty early Sunday morning and I'm still a college guy at heart so I'm used to hanging out and partying with my friends on the weekends. But since I've been interning here I have had to stop that.

Who are your favorite television personalities?

My favorite television personalities are lesser known but do really good and substantial work. One guy is named Jeff Johnson. He does some work for BET. Another guy I like is Ed Gordon. Obviously I'm a fan of George. Working with him I get to see first hand how talented and informed he is about political issues and social issues of the day.

What do you plan to do after graduation?

After graduation I plan to work in either community or political organizing. I have some opportunities looming that look promising so I am excited about that. Over the summer though I will be working at a summer camp I've been working at for the last three years. Those kids are important to me so rather than jump right into my career, I'd like to have one last summer where I can give something back to those kids.

If you have any questions for Ray Baker, post them in the comments section and he'll respond.

April 2, 2008 in Meet This Week | Permalink | User Comments (28)

Meet This Week: Jonathan Greenberger, Producer

February 27, 2008 6:31 PM

Meet "This Week's" Jonathan Greenberger, producer for George Stephanopoulos. Jonathan works with George on turning politics into television. He researches the guests for “This Week” and provides George with analysis and results on election nights.

How did you get started in news?

It really started in high school when I was the editor in chief of my high school newspaper, "The Academy Life."  I enjoyed learning about new things and reporting on them and then communicating that with other people, so in college I continued writing for the newspaper at Washington University in St. Louis. Before my senior year of college I interned at ABC News for the Political Unit, and then I returned the following year as a full-time employee.

What's it like working with George on an election night?

It's very exciting. Over the course of the evening we're trying to get a sense of how the story is going to play out - who's going to win and why. We want to keep track of what the exit polls are telling us and what the raw vote is saying. We also spend a lot of time delving into the why - why people voted as they did and how the vote broke down along certain demographic lines. We also want to see what the top issues are for voters who came to the polls that day.

You work with George on research; what's the hardest question he has ever asked you?

George doesn't ask me questions to try to stump me -- he asks me questions because he's interested in learning more about something. Typically what we're doing is analyzing patterns and looking for contradictions. Our goal is to press political newsmakers on their positions on the issues to discover what they believe and why they believe it. Sometimes if it's a more esoteric issue, it will be harder to look into, but that's part of the fun of it.

For you, what's a perfect Sunday morning show line-up?

I think at the top we have a live, in-studio debate between two newsmakers debating whatever that week's big issue is. In the second segment we have a taped "On the Trail" piece with George, both because I enjoy working with him on those and because it really resonates with the viewer when we get George out of the studio and around the country in a more relaxed, “outside the Beltway" setting. I can't say that I have a favorite "Roundtable," but who doesn't love the "Classic Roundtable" with Sam Donaldson, Cokie Roberts and George Will? Then we get others in the mix like Donna Brazile or Torie Clarke or Matthew Dowd… there are so many combinations I enjoy on the "Roundtable."

So how does lunch work around the This Week offices?

Usually around 9 a.m. we start discussing where we're going to go. There aren't that many places nearby, so we end up hitting the same two or three places over and over again. Occasionally it turns into a fight over which of the two or three places we end up going to… fortunately, my colleagues are very nice and they typically let me win.

Have a question for Jonathan? Post it in the comments section and I'll make him answer.

February 27, 2008 in Meet This Week | Permalink | User Comments (10)

Meet This Week: Amy Jo Thomas, Operations Producer

February 08, 2008 4:39 PM

For our second installment of "Meet This Week," I interviewed Operations Producer Amy Jo Thomas. Without Amy Jo, the show really would not go on. She deals with the intricacies of live television and makes sure satellites are there when we need them and our guests arrive in the right place at the right time.

How did you get started in news?
When I was a little girl, I was not allowed to watch TV during the week, so the TV was usually on only Saturday and Sunday to watch ABC’s evening news or “60 Minutes” on CBS. I vividly remember watching former ABC News anchor Carole Simpson lead the ABC broadcast - I thought that I'd like to do that when I grew up. It wasn't until I got to journalism school that I realized I preferred being behind the camera to in front of it.

You currently split your time between “World News” and “This Week,” how does that work?
Before I came to “This Week,” I was a general assignment producer for “World News with Charles Gibson.” I produced pieces on an array of subjects from weight loss drugs to the Sago Mine disaster. “This Week” does most of its production over the weekend, so I spend Wednesdays and Thursdays working on “World News” projects, and Friday, Saturday and Sunday at “This Week”... It's a challenge, to say the least, and it is testing my time management skills!

What goes into putting the show on the air when you are dealing with interviewing candidates all over the country?
In this age of news, and of course the busy election year, it's imperative to be able to get interviews from all over the U.S. and, sometimes, the world. My job is to get the live interviews set-up, which includes booking crews, camera and audio technicians, satellite truck operators and make-up artists. I have to arrange for satellite time and deal with any issues that come up that might threaten the live shot. For example, during the Iowa caucus, we had to move a live shot with Senator Biden because of a bad snow storm. In this job, I've become a bit of a weather geek and I'm now an avid Accuweather watcher -- particularly during the winter months.

What's the most difficult thing you've had to deal with as the “This Week” Operations Producer?
Two things keep me awake at night: late guests and the satellite going down in the middle of a live interview. I am often on the phone during the live segments, anticipating the interview after the next commercial block or dealing with production issues -- so sometimes it's hard to really listen to what is said by the guest. Some shows unfold like clockwork, others are a challenge, but usually I begin to relax and take my first deep breath when the Roundtable begins on Sunday mornings.

Which presidential candidates have you met?
I've spent my entire career in Washington, so I've been lucky to meet many leaders, Senators McCain, Clinton, Biden, Dodd and New Mexico's Governor Richardson.  I have yet to meet Senator Obama, Gov. Huckabee or Mr. Romney -- but I'm sure before the campaign is finished, I'll have had a chance to do so.

What's your favorite thing about working at This Week?
My favorite thing about “This Week” is the staff. The entire staff is housed in Washington. New York is ABC's headquarters, but since “This Week” is a political affairs program, it makes sense for the production to come out of Washington. If I have a problem, I can go directly to the decision makers and get an answer, which makes my job easier. And finally, the show’s staff is small, but we know each other well and certainly have quite a few laughs putting the show together - it makes it fun to come to work! 

February 8, 2008 in Meet This Week | Permalink | User Comments (2)

Meet This Week: Mosheh Gains, Production Associate

January 16, 2008 5:37 PM

For our first installment of "Meet This Week," a behind the scenes interview with the staff members who make "This Week" happen, I spoke with Production Associate Mosheh Gains. Mosheh has been with the show for eight months. Previously, he worked as an ABC News desk assistant. As the show's PA, Mosheh produces "In Memoriam" as well as the weekly webcast. He also tracks down all the tape used during the show, and he shoots the "Green Room" feature for our website.

What do you enjoy about producing "In Memoriam" each week?
Death is never an easy subject to talk about or even to cover, but I really try to look at the piece as 'paying tribute to people's lives.'  The one thing I enjoy is learning about people's lives each week and talking to family members.  A lot of times it's just listening to stories, but I love it -- I learn so much about who I am covering.

We frequently get asked about the music played during "In Memoriam." What is the piece you use?
The music was composed by Score Productions especially for our segment. It's a beautiful piece with somber instrumentals that I think really compliments 'In Memoriam' well. Unfortunately, it's not for sale.

In addition to "In Memoriam," you also produce the webcast -- what exactly is the webcast about?
Yes, I produce the 'This Week All Week' webcast, not to be confused with the 'This Week All Week' Blog. (By the way, the webcast was named 'This Week All Week' first!)

It's our mid-week look on the latest political stories.  We shoot in George's office when he's available to do it, or we shoot it in the middle of the This Week offices with reporters from our political unit.

You also shoot the "Green Room" segment on Sundays. What's the funniest thing you've seen happen while filming the "Green Room."
What isn't funny? From Sam Donaldson's 'spats' with George Will, to the time I was paged while I was filming -- I panicked because we were still on the air and I thought something had drastically gone wrong. But, it hadn't, so it was quite funny. 

What's your favorite thing about Sunday mornings?
My favorite thing about Sunday mornings is filming the 'Green Room,' I'm always intrigued to hear what our great panelists have to say on the weekly political issues.  And of course, the bacon in the Green Room after the show ends!

If you have a question for Mosheh about "In Memoriam," the webcast, or the "Green Room," leave it in the comments section and I'll get him to respond.

January 16, 2008 in Meet This Week | Permalink | User Comments (17)