One PA, eight stories…
I had no idea what the CBS Page Program had in store for me but I’m beyond grateful for every day that I get to report to the Broadcast Center.
In late October, I became a production associate (PA) for Whistleblower. I had watched the show before I interviewed for the program so I had an idea of the show but no idea how it was created.
This season featured many different industries: pharma, midwives and OBGYN doctors, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, SeaWorld, Chicago PD, spinal surgeries, a polygamous sect and so much more.
One of our whistleblowers from this season was Shannon Spalding. She blew the whistle on Chicago PD and immediately won my heart for her badass warrior persona. “It was like shock and awe,” she said about her experience going undercover in the Ida B. Wells projects. She wasn’t the only one thinking these thoughts. It was my first time being on a set and meeting a whole crew. Most of the days were cold, quiet and dark (until catering arrived).
The early mornings and late nights made it hard to have a life outside of work. I was working at Trader Joe’s less than part-time until I eventually had to quit. Shoots were seven days a week and when I wasn’t there, I was a graphics/ newsroom PA for Weekend News. I’ll never forget working everyday for a month straight and putting 80 hours on my timesheet for one week alone. This grind was and still is no joke but I didn’t come to NYC to play or sleep. I accepted the challenge and rose to the occasion. I was getting pushed by everyone around me and I appreciated the support. They wanted me there and I felt it.
My first field shoot was in December. I was excited because it was somewhere familiar and I got to help out in a different setting. Too bad I missed my train because I wasn’t early enough and got lost at Penn Station. Luckily the next one wasn’t hours away but 30 minutes later. I still felt terrible that I let my team down after they begged for me to go. I paid the fare difference out of my own pocket and apologized. They understood that you live and learn from mistakes so it made me feel at ease but I knew I couldn’t mess up again.
During these past few months, I’ve learned a lot about production, freelance, being a team player and also being happy about doing tasks that other people might not want to do. I got to help with the R. Kelly and Gayle King Interview, it was great working with such a large team and receiving my first credit with a network. I was juggling the special and my Whistleblower needs but it was really fun. Throughout this whole process I’ve always kept remembering why I wanted to be in this industry: to represent. On these sets and shoots there aren’t many African Americans.
During most screenings I’m the only African American there. The Whistleblower team only has one African American and one Haitian producer both women. It’s not uncomfortable for me to be the only one. It makes me proud and want to stay so that I eventually can create change in the industry. I want more people of color to get inspired to edit, produce, shoot and overall get their foot in the door.
As Whistleblower wraps up I’m ready to work on more projects, grow with CBS News and possibly get back into reporting and editing. I really miss writing and working hard to get my own pieces up. I’m thankful for the amazing team that I got to work with and all their words of wisdom and great journalism and production skills. They’ve all inspired me and made me believe that I can do anything I put my mind to…. even to blow the whistle ;).
Lauren Turner Dunn — Portfolio 