As I mentioned in previous blogs, our study abroad group spent months researching North Carolina connections to the Olympic Games. I had sent a message in my sorority GroupMe asking if anyone knew of any NC ties. One girl named Carly Rein texted me saying her family would be at the games with their horse who would be competing for Team Canada.
I thought this story was unique. Although neither Rein nor her parents were the ones riding, they had all-access passes like any athlete would. The equestrian competitions were held at the Palace of Versailles, but on a day Rein came into the city, I set up an interview with her!
This interview process was full of learning moments. We set up the interview outside of the Musee d’Orsay to film the interview and grab some b-roll. Afterward, my TV partner and I raced off to go to the quarterfinal women’s soccer match between the US and Japan. Later that day, my partner realized his interview had no audio– the microphone had died. This meant neither of us could produce our TV and radio packages. I texted Rein to explain the situation and ask if she’d be willing to meet again. Thankfully, she agreed.
The second time around, Rein met us in the alleyway we used for the Matt Andrews interview. We re-recorded everything, captured more b-roll—including a shot of her exclusive equestrian pin—and finally got what we needed. My partner and I edited our pieces and sent them off.
Then, my stomach dropped—Rein texted to let me know I had misspelled her mother’s name. I was crushed. That kind of mistake is something we talk about constantly in class—how getting names right is non-negotiable in journalism. I immediately contacted my editor at Chapelboro, who reassured me it was an easy fix and told me not to stress. I’m sharing this because, unfortunately, mistakes do happen. What matters is how you respond. I took responsibility, apologized to Rein and my editor, and moved forward. I’m thankful for learning experiences like this as a student that I can learn from before hitting the workforce!