It's coming along!

For Igala day, I wrote the preview story as well as covered the event (articles linked), and it was really a great experience attending. Everyone was so welcoming, and I was constantly asked to try the food and take a break from covering it. The kids just did their thing, which really helped with the video because I didn't have to worry about them getting distracted by the camera and posing for it. The food was great, and I did consider whether or not it was ethical to have some food, but I figured that the food was for anyone in the public and no real motive behind giving me some. Also, they dressed me in traditional Nigerian clothing and headdress with signature Igala colors. They definitely got a kick out of it. I should have really tried to talk to some of the kids, but it was really special hearing Patrick Adejo's words and what this event means to him.

I didn't finish the story until 10:30 p.m. on Memorial Day because I really didn't get back to the newsroom until 8. I'm still a slow writer, and it took me an hour to write the story about Steve Jacobs (article linked) before I had to go to Igala Day. I was like the only one in the newsroom because I just got back from shooting the Memorial Day Parade (article linked). I think it was almost breaking news style and I really didn't know that I was capable of writing just quick write-up. I've really tried to keep the inverted pyramid graphic in my head while I write stories, which I think has helped me write better articles. It was also nice to shoot the parade as well. Old habits die hard.