We arrived bright and early to the headquarters of FOX 4 in
Dallas. Loaded only with groceries, equipment and a burning sense of
responsibility, we set out to create a truly captivating segment for the
average morning news. As the intern for C. Pharr & Company, I was thrilled
to visit the newsroom for the first time and experience what it was like to
organize and operate an entire segment behind the scenes. I was eager to meet Shannon
Murray, FOX 4 reporter and Amy Kroll, Frontgate's visual merchandise manager.
Luxury home retailer, Frontgate, was about to open a giant flagship
store in Plano and it was our job to showcase some of the amazing products they
sell. Our focus for the segment was items useful for beating the summer heat while
hosting parties on the patio or by
the pool. The products ranged from the Riviera Aruba Designer Umbrella to a stainless
steel Optima Chill Beverage Dispenser, but the biggest hit was the LED Floating
Bluetooth Speaker, which plays music as it floats.
Setting up the segment, we hurried to unload all the
equipment. We meticulously laid out shrimp and quiche, fanning out fancy
lettuce and peppering them with parsley. Everything went smoothly apart from a
few hiccups along the way. Who knew grapefruit juice would be too murky for
live television? We rolled with the punches and used what would suit our visual
needs much better (a.k.a water with sliced fruit). Also,
the umbrella happened to be a little too big, but we worked out that kink too.
All in all, after a few finishing touches, we were ready to roll.
I was amazed by how the staff collaborated with us and fluidly
operated the equipment and merchandise to orchestrate this segment. The segment
was set to air in a couple days, but they taped the recording like it was live-
just like that, all in one take. Despite this, Murray and Kroll expertly
demonstrated the utility of Frontgate's goods. As my first time helping run an
event like this, I was thrilled to meet everyone involved and see the operations
of a real newsroom. I can't help but be thankful for being a part of it.
Check out the segment here and all the
items you might need at your next summer bash!
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