Monday morning soon after we checked into our new office in Parklands, Anil told us we had to go cover the IACO annual meet. Well, it would just be a couple of interviews.
It was an international meet with delegates from several foreign countries. They’d all come together to discuss the status of the coffee industry in Africa & network with delegates from countries like Brazil where the industry is doing very well.
We reached in good time & set up the camera for video interviews. Anil asked me to take charge of still photos. Me & clicking pictures? That too at an international meet? I was scared of going up to the very front but with some prodding & encouragement from Anil I gathered courage. I stood up & calculated the whole place & went to the very front and started clicking away.
I have been to conferences before but just as a participant and never as a journalist. The experience was amazing and next time I will even be better off and I will not need anybody to prod me next time around. I think it’s never easy… the first time of everything. At times we need a helping hand to lead us and show us the way. Once we’ve been started off it gets all so easy. I’m not the shy type of person. I believe in myself & every time I look back I feel better and at times it’s all that counts.
Claimed another victory when I managed to explain to a delegate Andrew Mathenge why we were there. The chairman of a certain coffee farm near to Nairobi readily agreed & off I was running to Shiro & Anil to pass on the good news to her!
My takeaways from the day:
- Be confident about your work.
- Learnt how to hold the microphone for an interview.
- Don’t click pictures when a video interview is on. The flash spoils the video.
One of these days, I believe that with some help from Joe, I’ll be able to go out & cover an event all by myself. And that’s the day I can’t wait for.
