Young Black Scholars (Pre-Production)

On Friday Erroll and I had a meeting to prepare for the next show set to shoot on October 27, 2006. In the meeting he proposed my next task of setting up a meeting with the Executive Director of Student Development, Patricia Rillera. She is over the African American Scholarship program of Southern California. This program is set up to contain scholarship for African-American students for their future educational endeavors. I am so stoked to be interviewing and researching a program such as this one. The main reason that this topic interests me such a great deal is because of the assistance that I received to pay for college, tech school and any other activity that I have sought out in efforts to advance myself.

During the meeting, Erroll gives me tips on how to prepare a good set of talking points for interviewing in-studio guests. This preparation process usually takes about two weeks. First, I have to think of a reason that this topic will be relevant to the viewers of All Sides. Secondly, I have to outline where funding comes from and how it is being affected by budget cuts. Thirdly, I must play the devil's advocate and find out why programs like this one are still needed.

This entire process usually requires at least 5-6 pages of questions, leads, notes, etc. This is one part of reporting that you learn only a little about. I am rarely given contact information on my subjects. Erroll makes that all a part of my job. So in investigating my subjects, my skills as a reporter are strengthening. I get them reeled in no problem, we shoot the show, and then look for the next hot topic.

So I will update you on how hard it was nailing Patricia down, and what I've learned about Scholarship just prior to the show. At that point I'll outline the key points and prepare for a stellar show.