Wednesday, December 2, 2009
We've Moved!
Please go to siwjournalismblog.com to read current, up-to-date entries on internships, current student experiences, resources, links and photo highlights.
Thanks for visiting,
AndreaGenevieve
Tuesday, August 4, 2009
D.C. & Me
Here is a little video I made that briefly describes my semester and how much I grew from the experiences I had here.
There is much to be learned and get exposed to but you must keep an open mind, sharp eye, and a thirst to absorb what you DON'T know. Trust me, you don't know it all so just accept that you are a tiny guppy in a large ocean and learn from it. If you do this, I promise that you will walk away from your time in D.C. thoroughly satisfied.
Thursday, July 30, 2009
Thanks for the Memories
To the Summer 2009 Semester in Washington Journalism Program: Thanks for the Memories
-Walking into the apartment and screaming for Joey's name to no avail

-All the Nats games, no matter how crappy they were
-Getting rejected from giving the doorman at some hotel a dollar because I wanted to tip him by folding it up in my hand and handshaking and giving it to him but he didn't understand what was going on
-Trips with Biz-mark
-"President Obama! President Obama!"
-Fourth of July on the National Mall
-The pillow talk with Josh
-Josh, Thomas and Jordan and the Secret of Joey
-Random text messages/phone calls/facebook messagees from Lauren Hogan
-Lauren Steier's love of Nebraska no matter how crappy it was
-Asking the security guard at the Washington monument how tall it was and him trying to give a smart answer but failing miserably
-Being at the Rhino bar the same night as the Real World People
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The report between Margaret and Josh about their Georgia roots-Going to the zoo and getting my picture of the "hungover panda"
-Brittney Cooley giving me the nickname of "panda", also comparing her boyfriend to Seth Rogen
-Camping -- Chanel keeping the fire alive by throwing batches of leaves into it
-"Too many Squantos, not enough Indians."
-"So you write blogs? Is that what's going on here?"
Wednesday, July 29, 2009
College Summit's Hilarious Team Building Activity
This clip is so funny and makes you think twice about cheating!
The most interesting intern in the world
This is my short one minute project. (Don't worry I'm not that arrogant, it's a play on the Dos Equis commercials!)
Me in a nutshell ,sort of.... (haiku outake)
Friday, July 24, 2009
About Me in One Minute -Margaret Kreger
Tuesday, July 21, 2009
I'm Not Just a Journalist
When asked to describe myself in one minute, I had an hour's worth of words to use. Then I was asked to describe myself in a minute's worth of video and that was hard. After much thought and preparation, this is what I came up with. Below is me,Brittney Cooley and my Haiku.
Monday, July 20, 2009
This is my story: Chanel Smith
For one of the recent Semester in Washington Journalism assignments students were asked to create a 1-2 minute haiku using a small Flip video camera. Watch and see what students came up with. If you had to make a video about yourself, what would you say?
Why Goat Aren't Mowing The Lawn at Capitol Hill and Other Answers from Lawmakers
The questions come from CNC’s website, www.askyourlawmaker.com. Users submit questions and vote on other questions. Reporters and interns ask the questions that get the most votes. Later during the summer, I got to ask Rep. Lee Terry (R-NE) why we haven't legalize marijuana. Fortunately, he was more polite than Rep. Waxman and didn't treat me like some sort of pothead.
In addition to running that website, CNC also covers Capitol Hill for radio stations across the country. Stations from different states submit requests for stories about Congressional business relevant to their states. Then we report, write and track the stories. This allows stations that don’t have a bureau in Washington D.C. to get news from Capitol Hill.
Take a look at CNC’s website, and the Ask Your Lawmaker site. You can hear me ask Waxman about goats mowing the lawn and also submit your own questions or vote on existing questions.
Turn on yoru speaklers if you just want to hear Rep. Waxman comments or more informative answers from Rep. Mike Honda (D-CA). Also, if you want to find out why Rep. Terry is not in favor of legalizing marijuana take a look at this article and let me know what you think!
Thursday, July 16, 2009
A quick look into the day of a photo intern
For one of the recent Semester in Washington Journalism assignments students were asked to create a 1-2 minute haiku using a small Flip video camera. Watch and see what students came up with. If you had to make a video about yourself, what would you say? Take a look at what its like to live as a photography intern here in Washington DC.
Tuesday, July 14, 2009
The Thrill of it All
He moonwalked into our lives and forever left his mark on popular culture around the world. We grew up dancing to thriller, singing along to numerous renditions of his songs, and screeching “Hee—hee” as best we could.
He was King of Pop, but Michael Jackson’s legacy didn’t stop at his music, or even his dancing. Though he is known for his record breaking music, his outrageous style is equally recognizable for all those who haven’t been living under a rock for the past four decades.
Michael was among the few artists capable of collaborating his music with his presence to create a revolutionary trademark. Who could picture Michael performing “Billie Jean” without the infamous glove? For years after the Triumph Tour during the 80s, when Michael first rocked his signature crystal studded glove, people from every corner of the world caught on, even on the day honoring his funeral services. In fashionable respect, the Jackson brothers wore sunglasses, a gold tie, and of course, a single white glove as they carried out Michael’s casket.
After the release of Thriller, the Jheri Curl was suddenly sexy, and aviators were no longer for pilots. From his extravagantly sequined blazers to his too-short patent leather pants, Michael’s eccentric taste for clothing and accessories have manifested its way through the wardrobes of many.
So, the next time you are trying on that black fedora or strutting a military jacket, remember who that is in the mirror because no message could have been any clearer: Michael’s legacy style will continue for many decades to come.
From Southern Girl to Big City Reporter

After the settling in and finishing the rigorous week long boot camp, I was sent out to my internship at the Hispanic Link to make something of myself. My first day in the office, I was sent to the press club to a luncheon to hear former Vice President Dick Cheney give his speech to the press. I couldn't believe it. My first official day as a reporter and I was standing just a few feet away from Dick Cheney.
As the week continued, I was given my own business cards, a congressional press pass and open access to just about any event I wanted to cover. It was incredible! Who would have thought that a small town southerner would be reporting in Washington D.C.?Time passed and there were more events, more celebrities and more stories. But the big city glamor began to fade away. I missed my family and friends, my boyfriend,
fishing at the lake, my swimming pool, the summer gardening and so much more.My hopes of making it in the big city began to dissolve as I realized that my home in the south is where I belong. Never in a million years did I think that I would be saying this; but I am. I'm a southern girl who's heart is in the south.
Sunday, July 12, 2009
Accomplishing my D.C. list of things to see and do
, but in fair warning, any time you knock out one or two things, you might find there's four more things you need to check out. Some of the things I have seen or done (which I couldn't have left D.C. before crossing them off) we're seeing the Giant Panda's at the Zoo and going Paddleboating in the Tidal Basin.
With my list of activities finally starting to turn into a list of accomplishm
ents, one of my most memorable experiences has been the Marine Corps Silent Drill Team at 8th and I.
Growing up the daughter of a Marine, the parade was something I've been wanting to attend for a long time. Finally, for my 21st birthday, my not-real-uncle, Uncle Gil, invited me to the parade, where I got to see Chesty (The Marine Corps Bulldog Mascot), honor our nation's finest and of course, meet some very good looking Marines.
Tuesday, July 7, 2009
Hungry Big Fish to Humble Guppy
Coming from a relatively small school in the northern plains of Colorado to our nation's capitol was a big step. A step that I thought would be challenging but never uncomfortable. The truth is I was forced out of my comfort zone. I went from popular school politician to little-known student "X" in a matter of days. I was the big fish in the pond that suddenly found himself swimming i
n a vast ocean with fish he never knew existed. It was scary at first, the water was cold and uncertain. Then slowly the water warmed and I acclimated to my new water. I am now a guppy. A guppy swimming among the big fish of Washington DC. Going unnoticed and ignored. Left to grow and learn the ways of these new waters on my own.Humans often associate growth and change with pain. My growth and change has been pleasurable and of great value to my future. My arrival to the Semester in Washington Journalism Program was the start of a journey that is far from over. I realized that I do not belong in the form-fitting journalism world. I was not interested in broadcast or print or anything in between. I was interested in political messaging. Instead I got social media and New Media Strategies. This is a temporary stop in my navigation of this new ocean. A launching point to further exploration.An exploration of journalism I never thought possible. For this guppy, journalism is discovery.
Friends, it is beneficial to become humbled, to shake off the shackles of a small environment and thrust into the abyss of uncertainty. True growth comes in this way.
As a big fish in a remote Rocky Mountain pond, I was hungry for more. This summer my hunger was satisfied... temporarily. As a guppy, my hunger only grows.
I have joined other guppies in the quest to satisfy thier hunger and we continue to swim up the narrow streams of success. Each guppy sifting through the muck, seeking truth, growing, and finding meaning. We will part and swim the many tributaries of journalism until we are again big fish, ready to be humbled again.
On set with the Georgetowner for a Photo Shoot
Sunday, July 5, 2009
Hypocrisy Watch with Thomas Young (Taken from HW with David Shuster)
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
Print, My Final Frontier
Hot National Soccer Team coming to DC
Finally, a team we can all agree on
Nationals or Orioles? Democrats or Republicans? 9:30 Club or Black Cat? This city can't seem to agree on anything. Don't worry, the U.S. soccer team is here to fix that.
After their incredible and improbable run at the Confederations Cup in South Africa, the U.S. is ready to show off their new skills to a home crowd -- in D.C. On July 8, The U.S. will play Honduras in their second game back in the States (the first is in Seattle, so it will probably be rained out) since almost defeating Brazil to win the Confederations Cup Sunday.
In case your TV only picks up Wimbledon and you missed it, the U.S. team had a 2-0 lead at the end of the first half only to give up 3 goals in the second half of their first FIFA tournament final ever. (Did we mention Brazil is now on a 16-game unbeaten streak?) How did the boys in red, white and blue get to the final, you may ask. By beating the No. 1 ranked team in the world, Spain, 2-0 in the semifinal.
It certainly seems the U.S. is finally able to compete in that little-known sport heading into the World Cup, but they are still missing one thing: Fans.
We're not talking "buy a bobblehead of your favorite player" fans, we're talking soccer fans. "Make a cape out of your country's flag" fans. "Don't stop yelling until the team goes into the loccer room" fans. Fans that the world should be scared of. Fans like the Screaming Eagles.
D.C. can set the tone. The U.S. already played Honduras once this year -- a close game that ended with the U.S. winning 2-1 in front of more than 55,000 in Chicago. RFK Stadium only holds 45,600, but that should be more than enough if they cheer like DC United fans.
Tickets are still available in four of the five sections, so if you want to be able to read the names on the jerseys or save some money chilling with the pigeons, RFK's got you covered. Camden or Nats Park? CNN or Fox News? Next Wednesday it doesn't matter, just get out and cheer on a team that deserves your support.
Monday, June 29, 2009
10 Feet From Obama, Helen Thomas Picture... GREAT SUCCESS
Last Tuesday, Rebecca Cooper (the anchor I work with at WJLA/NewChannel 8) and I set out for the White House Rose Garden, but when we arrived we were informed we'd be crammed into the Press Briefing room (which isn't as big as it looks) because of "humidity". Reporters later said, "It was the most packed [they've] seen the briefing room since the Monica Lewinsky scandal during the Clinton administration."

Rebecca told me before it began I had to do the "first-time reporters" thing. First I met HELEN THOMAS.... most well-known White House journalist.

Then I stood at the podium President Obama was about to speak from...

Finally, I stood my ground at the front to hold a place for Rebecca to stand (seats reserved for daily press). I did this for about 2 hours (I'm in pink, holding a newspaper)
When the President walked in, the room was silent (with the exception of cameras going crazy).As Obama took the podium to address the US position on Iran, health care and the economy (as usual), I stood in awe of the president. I couldn't pay attention to the words coming out of his mouth because I was in awe of how surreal this was. Finally I came to when he began to answer questions and actually learned a lot. Evidently I was on TV too!!!

This is my favorite moment of my internship so far and I'm so grateful to Rebecca for giving me the chance to go. I'm still hoping to take on the President in a 1 on 1 challenge though. So President Obama if you're reading this... call me and we'll set the time and place!
Journalism is the Moonwalk By Lindsay ONeal
The interns and I were planning to embark on a culinary adventure, that night we were trying Turkish food. And then- it happened. A confirmed report that the legendary Michael Jackson had died. Expletives ran through our heads- no Turkish tonight!
Well, SlateV, the video company I intern with, wanted to do a compilation video as a kind of tribute of Micheal Jackson's moonwalk. MJ perfected the move and it became a pop culture movement. Others tried, most failed.
So, I spent a couple hours on YouTube pulling clips and editing and the V team ended up with a pretty awesome video! Its definitely something we were proud of, take a look!
Like usual, we threw it up on YouTube and it started to gain momentum. First 25,000 hits then 50,000 then 100,000 hits. As I am writing this, it has close to a million hits! And that wasn’t the end of this viral video's success. MSN called us over at Slate, they wanted my video for their homepage-oh wait and Dateline and the Today Show called too.
Pretty darn cool! It is the most successful SlateV video to date and it has opened up many doors for SlateV. YouTube is talking to us about how we can gain more prominence in our partnership and we may have a deal with MSN for sharing video sometime soon!
This blog is called "What is Journalism?" for the students in the Semester in Washington Journalism Program and at least for me, for today, it's the moonwalk.
