Personal Experience of Group 3

-Courtney

• · I was really surprised how everyone was really welcoming to our group. The office was not as small as I had expected it to be, and was bright and open. There was a front desk plus a few cubicles and some enclosed offices. The whole atmosphere was very casual; it seemed to be a fun workplace.
• · The ladies that we spoke with were Karen the editor, and Julie the publisher. Both of the women seemed quite open about what they did, and were very fun to talk with. Karen asked us what year we were, what we wanted to do after school, and also why we were taking a journalism class.
• · I was nervous going into the 'interview,' thinking that it would be a lot more formal then it actually was. The experience was much more pleasurable and relaxed than I thought it was going to be. The office cat helped provide that relaxed feeling.

-Kevin

• · My visit to the Woodinville Weekly really opened my eyes to the world of newspaper publication. Though the Weekly reaches about 30,000 patrons, it still has a very personal, down home atmosphere.
• · The employees have a great camaraderie, and though I have no aspirations to work at a newspaper company, it made me want to join the team. I was impressed with the efficiency of the three staff members who work tirelessly to keep the presses running. However, they always make time to visit with local patrons who drop by to feed the resident cat and check out upcoming issues’ stories.
• · The Weekly’s office space sits in the heart of downtown Woodinville, a bit like the hub of a wheel. Many town folk have been subscribers since the paper’s 1976 inception. They recognize it as the glue that binds the citizens together in an unspoken, yet greatly appreciated way.

-Indeah

• · I was rather anxious walking into the Woodinville Weekly. Although I theoretically knew how to interview someone, trying it in reality was a new challenge. However, my fears were diminished when a pleasant lady—Karen, we later learned—leaned casually out of her office door to ask if we were “…ready to start this thing?”
• · The atmosphere of the WW was amazingly comfortable. The entrance was about the size of a living room, and just as cozy. Comfortable padded chairs were arranged against soft blue and muted green walls. Maggie, the brown and black striped office cat, stretched lazily in her cat den. All residual anxiety melted away.
• · Not only was the essential feel and look of the WW pleasant, but also, the staff was enjoyably casual. Karen immediately asked us a series of questions—including what our majors were, how long we have been in school and why we decided to take a journalism class—cleverly demonstrating how to conduct an interview! I couldn’t tell how many people were listening to the interview, but every now and then I would hear someone behind a cubicle wall giggle.