Florida

There's plenty of photos and some footage from our midterm seminar in St. Petersburg, Florida, at the Poynter Institute. But this image shows best my state of mind that week: a time to reflection over what happened since I got here. A vacation for the mind - and, as you can tell by that shot taken at Bill Mitchell's house, on a delightful welcome dinner.
Those days at the Poynter were really awesome. Their insights on new technologies, the old good storytelling techniques but, most of all, the training and coaching tips.
Bill and Paul, the main teachers, showed how even a young journalist can contribute a lot for the newsroom. They made me think about how young journalists and interns sometimes lack the confidence to perform great works, and, looking back, how I could have developed skills more quickly if I was exposed to coaching in a regular basis.
We had to simulate a training session, and mine was a really shame in my point of view. Even talking too much, I ran out of words sometimes at questions made by other fellows. I learned the importance of controlling the time and having an realistic objective for the session. Planning is fundamental.
I went back to NY -- where I was "based" in the studio my girlfriend rented -- with loads of tipsheets and some books. Moreover, with a renewed confidence in journalism and in my (and my fellows') skills. I'm pretty sure I'm able to learn a lot more in those 9 weeks I have left in Philadelphia.