Press conferences, interviewing important public idols and unrelenting deadlines are the responsibilities of the professional reporter. Most reporters are busy from the moment they receive their story assignment until the story goes to press.

In contrast, the high school reporter's job isn't as hectic. We normally have a leisurely week or two to research and finish our stories and our livelihood doesn't depend on our consistent writing ability, at least not yet. We do have deadlines and sometimes interview high-profile people, but we don't actually attend too many press conferences. So when I was invited to KVBC studios for an Olympic press conference, I wasn't sure what to expect.

When I arrived at Channel 3, the foyer was decorated beautifully with antique-looking furniture; paintings; rich, thick carpet and tasteful wallpaper. I was expecting the functional-but drab, office-like atmosphere associated with most newspaper buildings, so I felt way underdressed in jeans and t-shirt.

After climbing the spiral staircase, I entered the conference room and sat in a large leather chair. At this point, I knew this was going to be a great press conference. Having recently broken my arm (I won't say how), I readied my tape recorder and settled in among the other ten chairs surrounding a huge conference table. Across the room was a big screen television hooked to the Internet because the actual Olympic press conference was being held in Salt Lake City, and this was the next best thing to being there.

As two more reporters arrived, we were each given a press-packet of information about the Olympics and the press conference got underway. The packet answered all the questions I had thought of in its "Frequently Asked Questions" section, so I got a little nervous wondering what I should do or what kind of questions I should ask or if I should just keep quiet. I was afraid that I would sound very unintelligent and naïve.

NBC Sports and Olympics Chairman Dick Ebersol and other media notables gave briefings about security, camera placement, technology that would be used to broadcast the games, and why some events would be aired live while others would be recorded and aired later. Reporters from all over the US phoned in questions, most of them dealing with air times and how security was being handled in the wake of Sept. 11.

Since the Olympics are stateside, NBC will broadcast more live events and create fewer athlete feature stories. While Sydney relied heavily upon feature stories to fill airtime created by the time difference, NBC will rely more on short features and commentators to give background information and perspective on athletes and events. While the events will be broadcast live to the East Coast, the West Coast will see pre-recorded major games so that advertisers will have benefit of more viewers. Airtime will be from 8-11:30 p.m.

Security will be ultra-tight so Olympians can be safe, and spectators should travel lightly to avoid long lines at security check points.

Commentators emphasized that each of the former Olympics has had its own story and that this year's Olympics would be no different. This year's big Olympic story will eventually reveal itself, and reporters will just have to look for it. This seemed like sound advice for any story.

Reporters were only allowed one question, so I learned the importance of doing prior research so that I could have had a valuable question to ask. In the future, I'll know what to expect and I'll be ready, even if I still have a broken arm.

-Return to February 2002 Issue-