Elise Hu: "Have fun with the internet training..."

LL Robot: "Training? I'm on my own now. I play Anakin Skywalker to Jay's Obi-Wan Kenobi here. Today's my first day as Darth Vader."

My regular work schedule was preempted last week, so I could train to be the secondary "webguy" at my station. Since last Friday I've been pointing-and-clicking all day rather than driving-shooting-editing all day.

My station is part of the IBS network (or, possibly just IB now), so there's a dedicated 'managing editor' at each station. Their online website tools work pretty well, and there plenty of support for the local 'managing editors' at each station.



Anyway, the first thing I did was move right into my cubicle and take over. I replaced the regular webguy's photos of his wife and baby with my own, similar robot-like photos.

And, then...I got to work.



One thing that's kinda cool about posting stuff to IBS, is the little 'send to proof' button. It sends whatever I write to a team of copy editors, hidden away in an underground bunker somewhere. They make corrections to my stuff, and then email it back to me. Usually I only end up accidentally convicting someone making minor grammatical or spelling errors.

I'd say the biggest challenge for me, is conforming to the AP Stylebook. After years of being exposed to flashy television writing (and lazy bloggin') I've found the transition to be soul shattering. Although occasionally, I'll have fun dreaming up little (non-postable) AP headlines like: College Student Watches Herbie, Fully Loaded.

Overall, the website work isn't that bad. It can get kinda repetitive, and certainly suck the living soul out of anything that isn't already AP wire copy before it's rewritten.

For example, this is what this blog post would look like written in AP style:

GREENVILLE, S.C. - The regular internet guy at WYFF went on vacation June 14. A replacement editor has been working in his absence.

Photographer JL Watkins said, "I am having a swell time filling in for Jay, but writing in AP style can get kinda repetitive."

Watkins said he is planning to post more news about Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes sometime Wednesday or Thursday.

Jay Murdock is expected to return next week.

See what I mean?

I can't really complain. It's been a fun week working on the internet, and I only have a few days left before I'm put back out into the humid, scorching Southern summer (which just started today, but really started a month ago).

Yikes! Sorry to cut this short, but I gotta get back to work...