Communicating with community chief goal

It's a summer heat wave and another day at the News-Register. The only thing is, Monday was my first day at the News-Register.

I am an intern, a studious staffer who will work to write that story on the record-breaking heat wave.

After a complex application procedure for the Snowden Internship , I find myself living in McMinnville, about 40 minutes away from my hometown of Canby and about 60 minutes from my school.

I've covered suicide, standing outside a fraternity at Oregon State University. I've covered accidental death, making phone calls to the Deschutes County Sheriff's Office until it started screening my calls.

I've led a staff of more than 80 students to cover community fun and national championship baseball games.

I am the editor in chief of the Oregon State University Daily Barometer and I am studying how we use different media to talk to each other.

That is what working here is all about.

The weather story featured on the front page today is my first foray into the world of McMinnville, but it is very relevant. It is the perfect example of community journalism. I can call the people who know how to keep you safe and cool during the heat wave, break down what they have to say and give it back to you.

I am here to learn to better communicate to you via the words on the newsprint page (and online). This is the goal for my 10-week internship at the News-Register.

Lauren L. Dillard

Reporter Intern

504-472-5114, Ext. 229

ldillard@newsregister.com