Final Project Proposal

Aspire to fire: the life of a volunteer firefighter

John Kiernan, 10/09/09

For my final project, I would like to do a “day-in-the-life” piece about the College Park fire house. I am familiar with this organization because one of my friends is a volunteer fire fighter there. However, for the purposes of the piece, he would be used only as a point of contact.

To complete this project, I would spend time at the firehouse over a given day or at different times over a span of a few days and document what happens. I am not yet 100% certain what format I want to use to document this, but I believe that an audio slideshow would perhaps work best. Pictures, in the case of a firehouse, have the potential to be extremely rich and full of emotion and color. Additionally, the sound that could be captured at a fire house, both ambient and otherwise, could be excellent and would make a fine combination with pictures. Video may be overkill and would not allow for the “moment-in time” capture.

Viewers would be interested because people love behind-the-scenes accounts of most things. A picture diary of a fire house, especially one in a college town that is largely forgotten by students, would be very revealing. Similarly, because many, if not all, of the fire fighters are volunteers, hearing their insights on their choices would be interesting as well. As much as people hear and talk about College Park being dirty and crime-ridden, a look into one of its positive aspects, that is clearly relevant to and a staple in the community seems appropriate. Therefore, the audience for this piece would be the citizens of College Park and the University of Maryland’s students.

In this picture diary, I would imagine that pictures would capture the every day events of the firefighters, from napping, hanging out, eating, getting ready to go out on calls and them fighting the fires. Interviews would focus what it is like to be a firefighter and to live in the house. Additionally, they will center on why the volunteer and how they balance it with other aspects of their lives. Since I do have a contact in the house, I do not foresee problems with access, save possibly not being allowed to accompany the fire fighters on calls.

This story has until December to be completed. Most of the time will be spent on planning and editing. The actual pictures and interviews will be taken over the course of a few days, at most. There are no other reporters needed, no time restraints on publication, and no costs for the project.