Seems like much more than a year has passed since I sat in my New Orleans' home last August, longing for a winning Saints season. Turns out I didn't get to watch a game. Thanks, Katrina. 

I was born and raised in New Orleans — lived in the same house my entire life. Then Katrina hit. My family was lucky to get out. We stayed until the bitter end, even going so far as to buy enough food, water and flashlight batteries to last the better part of a week. When we decided to leave, traffic was already stalled to the north and west. Our only option was to go east, into the storm's projected path. With three days worth of clothes, my parents and I took backroads that would all be destroyed just hours later.

My home now sits empty with a "For Sale" sign in front, like so many houses in New Orleans these days. Despite my family's good fortune in the months following the hurricane, I felt utterly lost at the beginning of this summer. The realization that everything I knew and believed in had literally been washed away was sometimes too painful to bear. 

When I walked into the Nightly newsroom, I expected a corporate machine that would toss me around and spit me out. Instead, I found a group of people so close they reminded me of friends from home that I hadn't seen for months. I remember bumbling as I introduced myself to Brian, only to have him interrupt me before I could get my name out: "Yes, Jed, I know who you are." In the newsroom, I sit across from Senior Producer Tracey Lyons, a hilarious and wonderful woman with a son close to my age...  who gives me advice about how to be a better son.

Nightly has also taught me something that I forgot in the months following the storm, something that has helped me already and will help me in the future, both personally and journalistically: perspective. Mired in my post-Katrina struggle as well as that of New Orleans, I forgot that we are a part of something so much bigger than ourselves. And that is why the news is so important.   

As we approach the first anniversary of Katrina, the newsroom focus has shifted towards our coverage in New Orleans in the coming weeks. Some people have asked me if it hurts to work on these stories. Sometimes it does, but more often than not it's cathartic. NBC has also allowed me to follow Brian and the team down to New Orleans for our coverage, and with the help and encouragement of Nightly, I think I'll be able to look at Katrina, New Orleans and my own experience in a new light. I imagine there will be moments when it will be hard emotionally, but I'm feeling more confident knowing that my Nightly peers will be there to support me and give me perspective a year later... perspective I hope we can also give to you. 

And with a new coach and some new faces, even the Saints have high hopes this year, in a town that needs all the hope it can get.

Mornings were the best part of my day -- those walks from Grand Central Station to 30 Rockefeller Plaza seemed to encapsulate all the excitement and thrill of a day at NBC Nightly News. 

At the entrance to NBC News Headquarters presides a mural of Zeus (complete with white beard and lighting bolts in his grip). Underneath, it reads: "Wisdom and knowledge shall be the stability of thy time." And there, right then, is when you understand the institution that resides three floors above; its power, responsibility and reason for being. I truly believe NBC Nightly News stands as a similar sentry at the gates: A guardian of the truth and of objective fact.

In this Information Age, there are now more sources for news than ever before. But with this saturation has arrived a confusing noise; it's often unclear what source is truly right, which one is objective. 

The daily goal at NBC Nightly News is simple: Read every newspaper, watch every interview and press conference, skim every wire story, and talk to every correspondent around the globe as many times as possible in order to get it right. 

In the hallways, it's like an episode from The West Wing meets the RAND Corporation think tank: A brisk walk from one side of the office to the other might be all the time you have to convince Executive Producer John Reiss to run with a new angle on a story. C.J. Craig is played by Senior Foreign Producer M.L. Flynn, alongside some new characters: 'Intel Guy' (Investigative Producer) Robert Windrem, who seems to know more about what's going on behind the cloak of federal secrecy than those who are running Langley. Most offices look like they could belong to those of college professors: History books, political theory journals and weapons system anthologies line their walls to the ceiling. It's the best cast of characters you could ask for, whose knowledge and passion for their work is only made better by their quirks and eccentricities.

The above does not even begin to describe the exhilaration I felt inside one of the country's most respected journalistic communities. The 20+ minute broadcast is an amalgam of all the news that has been printed, reported and broadcast that day. It is as objective a news source as is humanly possible, and it's written and delivered in such a way as to be easily understood.  While it lives off of commercial revenues, among those who work in the Nightly newsroom, the broadcast lives because it is a
necessity and honor to bear the stories of the world. The motto for the last year has been, "NBC Nightly News with Brian Williams: Reporting America's story." Had I the guts to walk into NBC News President Steve Capus' office during my-two month tenure here, I would have made one suggestion: Change the motto, make it: "NBC Nightly News with Brian Williams: We've cleared away the noise; come take a look... and listen."

On my first day as a Nightly News intern, I was told that this would be like nothing I had ever experienced. I was already overwhelmed by the towering shape of 30 Rockefeller Plaza, the glittering studios and the sight of many broadcast personalities, often viewed from my television set, and now sprung into real form. Whether it was behind the lens or in front, I learned that every role in the newsroom is an integral cog of the news mechanism that comes with responsibility, talent, and, most importantly, a drive to be at the top.

My fellow interns and I have come a long way from loading ink in the copier to a gained insight and special knowledge of almost every aspect of the newsroom.

I had the opportunity to experience different positions at Nightly, and  one afternoon I got to sit next to director Brett Holey during a live broadcast. If you have never been in a live control room, let me tell you, it is a very unpredictable environment. Mr. Holey and the producers are so professional that they can make the show look simple, but from inside the darkened broadcast epicenter I saw what could only be described as controlled chaos. There were times when things didn't go as planned: Before one broadcast, we were faced with a bad satellite feed, and two packages from our Middle East correspondents were placed out of order. Mr. Holey fixed the problem expertly, and the viewing public was none the wiser. And so the show began and I, mesmerized, had much to learn. 

Weekend director Patti Lang gave me another offer that I couldn't resist: Put on the mask of an anchor and attempt to do my first desk read in the Nightly studio. It was great to be the center of attention as the Nightly staff placed me in Brian Williams' chair and piled on the layers of makeup that cover any imperfections. The mortified look on my face in the television monitor said it all: I was a true novice. As the studio lights came on, I was not prepared for what I was about to do. But, off I went stumbling through the news that the prompter displayed. Still a few years until I catch up to NBC's finest. 

Before I go, I have to mention Pentagon Correspondent Jim Miklaszewski. He was my role model throughout this internship, one of the few in this business who can understand the plight of a tragically long last name. I have him beat by one letter, but it gives me hope that my hefty last name won't end up on the chopping block completely. Everyone at Nightly was so helpful and always willing to offer a little bit of advice or professional expertise. I have no way to thank them all, but if you're reading this and met or helped me this summer, please know you made a tremendous impact on me and have inspired me to continue pursuing a journalism career.

Here are some of my observations regarding Nightly News and broadcast journalism from the "inside" of the establishment:

Corporate interference: I arrived wondering whether the journalistic ethics of NBC News were ever violated because of ownership by a mass conglomerate (all the broadcast networks are owned by massive corporations). I received a strong response from the anchorman himself: Brian Williams was quick to point out that NBC covered the EPA's decision to force General Electric to dredge the Hudson River for PCBs just like other news outlets. I decided to do a fact check. Sure enough, on August 1, 2001, Brian himself anchored one of the newscasts during which Nightly covered the story. Journalists are journalists, and I now know that at NBC, they value their journalistic integrity.

Length of Nightly News: The most frustrating aspect of Nightly is the constraint of time. While 23 minutes may be enough time to cover most of the major events that happened in the world that day, it is certainly not enough time to cover the events and provide necessary context to fully understand them. Although discussion on this blog is urging it, moving to an hour-long broadcast is not forthcoming. Executive Producer John Reiss explained that it is not happening for a variety of reasons, primarily because the affiliate stations have no interest in carrying a second half-hour (on a breaking news day, in the event Nightly News wishes to expand to an hour, 80 percent of NBC affiliates must first agree to carry the expanded broadcast). I am a huge fan of Nightly and hope that it remains your main source of news, but to be a fully informed citizen Nightly should not be your only source of news.

Working environment: During the summer I have had the opportunity to meet and speak with Brian, Tim Russert and others who actually bring you the news. They have all been gracious and welcoming. It is indicative of the family atmosphere that exists in the newsroom. It can be intense here, but there is also a general sense of camaraderie, especially from Senior Foreign Producer M.L. Flynn. M.L.'s maternal behavior makes her both a therapist and motivator to so many people, from New York to Iraq. And as for Brian, one producer told me he is the funniest man in the building. I would only disagree because Conan O'Brien works a few floors up, but I would feel comfortable saying second funniest. Either way, I am deeply appreciative of his approachability and kind words on this blog.

When I was three years old, I had the thrill of meeting Tom Brokaw in 30 Rockefeller Center and walking home with a cassette tape of John Williams' NBC News theme song (jump to 2006: now available on iTunes). My allegiance to this network and this newscast sprung directly from that experience. I can only describe my opportunity to work in this newsroom as a dream come true, especially for a news junkie who is only 19. I gratefully thank everyone whom I have encountered working behind the scenes here in New York. Their work makes Nightly News America's most popular daily source of news and it has inspired me. I also want to thank my fellow interns. My guess is you will see these young adults making a major difference in the field of journalism.

I was pleasantly surprised my first day on the job at 30 Rock. I thought that I was walking into a very corporate environment at Nightly News. My only previous job experience had been working for the family business, and at basketball camps, where the interaction among employees is extremely informal. I expected the working environment and employee interaction at NBC to be vastly different, and I was worried about how I would carry myself. 

All my notions about Nightly proved to be false from the onset.

On my very first day, I was approached by Brian Williams who introduced himself despite the fact that I obviously knew who he was. "Welcome, I'm Brian Williams, nice to meet you!" After telling him I went to UNC, he joked that his wife went to Duke and that might cause a problem. I sat in on the 9:30 and 2:30 editorial meetings that day and realized that the Nightly team had a close bond. Everyone seemed to engage with each other in a very informal and friendly fashion. Everyone's opinion was taken into consideration from the executive producer on down. For me, being able to sit in on those meetings was extremely valuable. I learned that the biggest dilemma the team faces each day is having more news than they have time to broadcast. 

Sure, interns were expected to adhere to a regular routine of running scripts, making copies and answering phones. However, you learn that everyone in this business was an intern at some point and did the same thing. The combination of the long hours and lack of pay made me thankful I don't have a girlfriend, but it was a small price to pay for the experience I received. I learned a lot about how to produce a national news show from the best people in the business. The interns were able to work with producers, research stories, pitch stories, go on local shoots and observe the editing of stories. We also had a plethora of meetings set up by our great supervisor Barbara Duffy. We met with producers, with Brian, Tom Brokaw, veteran executive Lloyd Siegel, and with David Sternlicht from NBC Legal.  Interacting constantly with NBC personnel, both inside and outside of the meetings, naturally helped me from a journalistic standpoint. 

However, I feel the true value of the internship came from simply being around a group of people (other interns included) who are engaged in the world we live in. From reading Bob Windrem's background memos to listening to the great retired Gen. Barry McCaffrey, I had access to knowledge and information that has truly broadened my world. Whatever I do professionally, I will draw from the wealth of knowledge I gained at NBC.   

And yet, despite everything I just said, I think the highlight of my internship could have been answering a phone call for Brian from Paul Newman.

When asked to write a short blog entry on my experience as a Nightly News intern, I paused to wonder how I might condense all I learned, observed and generally absorbed this summer into a few paragraphs. Maybe the best approach to describe my "Summer at Nightly" would be to acknowledge a key concepts that I have a new appreciation for.

Time. I discovered that it was not unusual to see Brian writing late copy five minutes before air or for a producer to receive a brand new story in the late afternoon and have a perfect package cut just hours later. While this might encourage my habit of procrastination at school, it does reveal the ability of Nightly to piece together 23 minutes of news in the most efficient and intelligent way. The producers and correspondents amazed me with their ability to tell an important story in such short periods of time.

Perseverance. While "I'll try my best" always seemed like an acceptable answer to me, it is not one often heard in the newsroom. Trying your best is assumed; getting what is needed is expected. Producers and researchers valued our intelligence and trusted that we could dig up the necessary information or source for the story. Talking to complete strangers helped me significantly in developing an enhanced set of communication skills. Unexpectedly, many of the individuals I spoke to somehow strengthened my faith in humanity. It seemed many wanted to help in my quest for information and connect to the institution of Nightly News.

Passion. Each member of the Nightly team possesses the utmost love for not just the news but knowledge of the world. The determination of the entire staff to produce a flawless newscast was inspiring; I've never witnessed that dynamic at any other organization. Executive producer John Reiss begins his daily construction of the newscast well before I'm on the train into the city. I remain in awe of Senior Foreign Producer ML Flynn and her extreme dedication not only to topnotch journalism but also to each of her correspondents. She has the uncanny ability to use her motherly-like attitude to calm the members of her international team while also demanding the best from them. A lukewarm fondness for journalism does not cut it at Nightly. It's their ardent passion for informing others, it's their unbelievable aptitude to tell stories and it's their commitment to getting it right that has fittingly placed these individuals at the very top of their profession.

If the passion for the news I describe above is contagious, well, I've been bitten hard. I surprised myself with how quickly I fell in love with working at Nightly. It was astounding to discover I was actually eager to transcribe tapes and even rise at 5:30 a.m. to log the early morning call. Why wasn't I complaining about getting four hours of sleep a night or skipping lunch to research a story? The answer was simple -- I loved it all. Although obviously reluctant to end my internship, I leave with great friendships, clear goals in mind and a definitive ambition (OK, obsession) to be back here one day.

When I first got accepted into the internship program at NBC Nightly News, the truth is, I was thinking about giving up on journalism. I questioned whether the life of a television journalist was really what I wanted. For me, this internship was an opportunity to jump in at the highest level and see if that life was really something to aspire to. Two weeks after final exams ended I quit my job, said goodbye to my family, friends and girlfriend in Texas, and left for a 12-week adventure in New York City.

An old friend told me that when I got to New York I would "catch the bug" and rediscover my passion for the news. She was right. Learning from, and working side-by-side with, the men and women who are the absolute best at what they do has refocused me. I want to be a reporter. I want to tell stories that bring the world to my community.

I couldn't have learned from better people. From my very first day I was amazed at how friendly and helpful everyone was -- from desk assistants on up, even Brian Williams himself. When I was introduced to Brian and told him where I was from, he nodded and told me he remembered reading my resume. The anchor of NBC Nightly News had read my resume. I was floored.

Working primarily in the newsroom at 30 Rock, we interns got to help build stories from the ground up. It was up to each of us to take as much out of that opportunity as we could.

Conducting research showed me how to find the strongest interview subjects and most reliable information. Logging taped interviews and other footage helped me tune my ear for good sound, and my eye for the best video. Sitting in on the daily editorial meetings taught me more about news judgment than I could ever have learned in a classroom. Helping producers and editors scramble to finish stories minutes before air taught me the value of staying cool under pressure. Great producers and correspondents read my writing, and offered direction and criticism. And yes, those daily intern duties like making copies and running errands taught me responsibility. Even the little things matter.

My assignments at Nightly weren't always fun, and I had days where New York absolutely got the best of me, but at the end of the day, I wouldn't trade what I learned for anything. I know I'm a better, smarter journalist for what I did and saw -- and years from now I'll credit this summer for showing me my path.