I’m proud to announce that today marks the one year anniversary of the creation of my multimedia blog, ‘Billie with an I.E!’

This blog is a product of my multimedia internship with The Baltimore Sun last summer. The first assignment to all interns like myself was to create a blog and maintain it throughout our time there.

Once I started, I couldn’t stop, and when my internship ended I was certain that I’d use the blog to build on what I had done at The Sun. I have no shame in admitting that this blog has become somewhat of an addiction. It’s become a part of me, and I treat it as work rather than a hobby. 

I originally intended to use ‘Billie with an I.E.’ as a means of reflecting upon my own work so that it improves every day, and I can say that that objective has remained well intact. The photographs, videos, slideshows, podcasts, and articles that I produce have improved substantially because of this blog. Writing about the work that I post has served as an enjoyable form of self-criticism for me. Posting regularly has become a device for displaying the successes in my day-to-day work, as well as for pointing out the improvements that could be made. 

I also love the sense of permanence that blogs carry. They provide the precious ability to instantly find work from long ago and see it with fresh eyes. It’s only been one year, so I still vividly remember most of the work I’ve posted, but I’m seduced by the prospect of looking back on those works five, fifteen, maybe fifty years from now and reading about how I viewed the world this year. 

Finally, as I graduate college and begin to enter the job market, it’s been a valuable tool in marketing myself and my work, and I truly believe the skills maintaining this blog has given me puts me at an advantage over other similar candidates.

This year, I published 120 posts, and by the end of today, ‘Billie with an I.E.’ will have reached 10,000 page views overall!

Thank you to both my regular readers as well as the occasional passers-by. I hope that a photograph here has brightened your day, or that a video taught you something you didn’t know, or that a post has sparked conversation.

If that’s happened at least once, I’m happy. 

Here’s to another year!

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Although I didn’t shoot footage for this video myself, this was my last assignment a Multimedia Intern for The Baltimore Sun. I spent several days editing this footage from reporter Jamie SmithHopkins, who wrote about Wallace Farmer’s unique story. It can be read here in its entirety.

This was the most difficult yet most rewarding editing job I had during my time there. I’m proud of myself for making sense of over two hours of interview footage and condensing it down to a fluid short story.

Though I didn’t realize it then, I think the reason I’m so satisfied with this video is because, at the time I was working on it, I could relate to Mr. Farmer in a strange way: both of us were men walking away from something we loved. For him, it was a home that he hoped to spend many more years in.

For me, it was another incredible learning experience.

Under the guidance and expertise of the Multimedia department, I worked on numerous projects and had various responsibilities throughout the summer. Primarily, I shot, edited, and produced video and photographs for breaking stories in the news, features, sports, and arts sections of the newspaper. I conducted interviews and created and pitched story ideas to editors and reporters. Additionally, I updated the newspaper’s website with photos, videos, and multimedia slideshows.

I never felt like an intern. From day one, I was given significant responsibilities and assigned to cover newsworthy stories. I was included in news meetings and was always encouraged to contribute my thoughts.

I’m confident that the multimedia skills I learned will benefit me as I pursue a career in journalism. I was lucky to work alongside some of the best journalists in the business, and I’m thankful for all that I learned from them.

Most importantly, I thank my Mom and Dad, family, and friends. Without their love, support, and guidance, none of this would have been possible.

Thank you to Professor David Zurawik for helping me secure this internship, and for his inspirational teaching and unyielding encouragement and motivation.

Thank you to Mary Corey and Sam Davis for ensuring that I had an enjoyable and productive internship experience.

Thank you to the my Editor, Steve Sullivan, and the Multimedia Department, Chris Assaf, Kevin Richardson, and Leeann Adams, for showing me the ropes, breaking me in, giving me feedback and criticism, and involving me in their daily routines.

Thank you to my fellow interns Kirby Mills, Kate Klots, Gabby Siskind, Colin Stevens, and Kate Smith, whom I had the pleasure of getting to know, reporting with, and learning from.

And to everyone else who helped me along the way!