POLITICO!
What an incredible place it is. The building it's located in, first of all, is absolutely gigantic. Also the home of ABC-7, Politico's office is very wide open, and surprisingly quiet for a hot topic newspaper. We situated ourselves in a conference room over looking one of the many [blank]95 Routes in DC. We met with the gorgeous Beth Frerking and Kendra
Kendra began at Politico a few years ago, while Beth has been around since the start-up. Their stories were absolutely incredible - and it was very encouraging to see a young reporter with great success in the industry. It made me want to graduate TODAY!

Beth is not only an assistant managing editor, but is also in charge of hiring new employees. The information on what she looks for in potential candidates is absolutely invaluable! She was tough, and stern - and everything an incredible boss should be!

We also met with Marty Kady. He was extremely intelligent and kind, and very straight forward about how tough it is to balance work and family in this industry.

It was really great to hear from EVERY angle of Politico - not only in their positions but the stages of life they are in, as well!

On a sad note - only about 8 more classes until the semester is completely over - I can't believe it! This has been the greatest three months of my life, so far. The relationships and connections have been bigger and greater than anything I could have ever imagined.

And the city humbles me - again! I don't believe I'll ever take this gorgeous place, with such incredible people, for granted. Yesterday, after speaking with the NRA in the morning - our class went to the Rayburn Building on Capitol Hill to speak with Representative Carolyn McCarthy.

I admit - she's an incredible woman - although we share very different views. She is the first speaker we've had this ENTIRE semester who not only intrigued me with her story - but made the wheels in my head spin about beliefs I thought I was steadfast about.

After losing her husband, and nearly her son, in a shooting incident on a train in Long Island - Carolyn McCarthy came to Congress to speak up about issues, such as gun control, that are plaguing our country at this time.

Her son, a former Wall Street employ, is still recovering from the incident - but is doing very well and is now happily married with children!

While Carolyn McCarthy and I may stand on opposite ends of the spectrum, this class has taught me that, as a journalist, my mind must remain open and uncritical of others.

Such an invaluable lesson once again taught by one of the greatest programs in the country!

Today was so gorgeous outside! Me and my friend AR showed up to class WAY too early - but it was too nice to waste the time inside the NPB. So, we decided to head towards the monument to see the Cherry Blossoms!

Everything is so pretty and there are people EVERYWHERE. I cannot wait to spend the entire Summer here and explore everything else this city has to offer. After our excursion into the pretty city, we had to go back to class - which wasn't bad because we met RON BONJEAN!

He's a really intelligent man, and he gave some of the best advice of any speaker we've had so far. I couldn't even put a price on the amount of incredible things he spoke about.

He's definitely an inspiration to all journalists, young and old. He owns his own PR firm, now and as the owner of a company, he offered a wealth of knowledge on the subject of what he looks for in his applicants. There are a lot of different things that employers look for, so it was nice to actually speak to someone in our field about what HE looks for.

He also gave a lot of great advice about what to do after college. He made sure we understood how important it is to NETWORK. "This town is built on relationships," he explained. And a relationship with Ron Bonjean is one I definitely want to develop!

He also gave us great insight as to how to grab the attention of employers since they are receiving thousands of applications monthly. The experiences and information I am receiving here are truly priceless. I don't believe that I could have ever wished for a better semester! THANK YOU AMERICAN UNIVERSITY <3

It's Spring time in D.C. - and the weather is awful! I've been sick for a week now - and it doesn't seem to be letting up anytime soon, unfortunately.

This past Monday, my Journalism Seminar met with ED HENRY!

He was probably one of the funniest speakers we've had, yet! It was such a humbling experience listening to his story. He was also in the Washington Semester Program, except he didn't return home for his senior year - instead he stayed in D.C. and worked for

Jack Anderson!

He eventually took enough classes to receive a degree, however he now works for CNN as the White House correspondent - and it's impossible to say if he would be where he is now without having worked so hard as an intern under Anderson.

He jokingly poked fun at multiple students during his lecture - especially one female who was late to class. For the first time this semester, I didn't even WANT to look at my iPhone, laptop, speak with my best friend - none of that. I was completely focused on Ed Henry, and he was absolutely incredible.

He gave me a lot of motivation that I seemed to be losing a little bit of recently due to the daily hustle and bustle of the city and commuting! He gave me a bit of a recharge and a bunch of inspiration to keep me going through this last month!

WOW...only one more month in this incredible city - how upsetting!

It has been a very eventful month between my classes and my internship! The last time I went to my internship I actually went to the PENTAGON with Stars and Stripes reporter, Megan McCloskey.



I sat in on a press conference in the actual press room to listen in on an interview with an Admiral aboard a ship in the Mediterranean Sea! The focus was of course on the controversy in Libya. It was extremely interesting to not only hear from Admiral Gerard Hueber, but to also hear the questions from the 30 some people seated in the room.

There was a military official directing the entire conference. He chose whose turn it was to speak and ask questions. I was able to watch the journalism process in action in the same room as Barbara Starr from CNN and from Dave Martin from CBS, who visited our class a few weeks ago.


I even was back in the Radio and Print offices before and after the actual conference. I was able to speak with people from Stars and Stripes, Reuters, and Politico! It was truly the most incredible experience I have had thus far in D.C.

I cannot express how important an internship is while in this great big city. It's getting me even more excited for graduation - I just want to get out and be the real thing!

I have officially seen the entire White House!

(Well, the parts that the public is allowed to see).

I can't believe how incredible it is. I toured the West Wing last fall, and it was the experience of a life time - but I never thought I'd get a tour of the East Wing, too. My entire class toured every room in the East Wing with my Aunt guiding us along the way. She has been in the Air Force for over 15 years and works in the White House Military Office. She has the job of a life time...not that I know what she actually does, though.

It's unfortunate that pictures are forbidden inside the White House, because the gorgeousness cannot possibly be described! The color coordination of each room and specific furniture and art is chosen by each president through a catalog of archived furniture. I also learned that the East Wing is the First Lady's wing!

The pictures that I was able to see are just priceless. The pictures of the Kennedy's and all of the past Presidents hanging on the walls - it's really something. The tour is so quick though! There were about 10 rooms to see, and then it was done! We were able to take some pictures outside, though - so here they are!

^ My aunt and I.

What an eventful week thus far! It is incredible how crucial networking is in this great city! On Monday, our class took a small field trip to the Foreign Press Center. We had a board of between 4 and 5 people from different countries. It was especially cool to see the foreign students from my class have the opportunity to speak with members from their countries in the press. I didn't realize the issues in their home countries are just as plentiful as the issues in the United States.

Being in the city has also kept me extremely active and interested! I wear a pedometer on a daily basis and I'm taking over 12,000 steps a day! And, with the rise of healthy eating and nutritional conscious being spread throughout the world - the city is a great place to maintain a diet. It's easy to stay active and the greatest time of year for D.C. is quickly approaching: Cherry Blossom time!

I'm really excited to see the city transform for a whole week! I've been told that it almost always rains during the time that Cherry Blossoms bloom, so I'll have to go for a long walk the next time it's nice out!

To be honest, driving into the city every morning never gets old. I am still just as amazed by the Washington Monument, Capital Builidng and White House.

It's such an incredible place!

The Verizon Center and the Washington Wizards!

Yesterday was super cool. We got a tour of the Verizon Center from the CFO of the Washington Wizards. We were taken into the most prestigious areas, such as the Player's Club, the Owner's Club, the Locker Room and even their practice arena!

We accidentally even ran into the GM of the Wizards! The center was so much fun to walk around in, but the overwhelming smell of popcorn was SO taunting. I was ravenous by the time I left.

The Player's Club is on the third floor of the Verizon Center, and the view is incredible! There's an elite group that pays a LOT of money to enjoy the area whenever they'd like for meetings, food, and of course to watch the game!

The Owner's Club is spaced over two different floors. The bottom floor is a living room/dining room area where the owners and their families and friends meet for a meal during the game. The upstairs floor is right above the first rows of seating. There is a kitchen and bar on this floor, and it's stocked with Ted Leonsis' favorite things.

The Locker Room...stinks! :) It was really fun, but it was pretty apparent that a bunch of sweaty athletes have been spending a lot of time in there recently. I put my foot against one of their shoes, and it was so much smaller!

We also saw their Practice Arena, for nights when hockey is taking place, and they can't use the floor. This definitely ranks as one of my favorite trips so far! I absolutely loved the laid back, yet conservatively organized, atmosphere that the Verizon Center has.

Today, we went to Sirius XM Satellite Radio HQ here in D.C.!

Our tour guide was none other than Bob Edwards. He has his own show called the Bob Edwards show!

He's really down to earth and gave a lot of great advice about how to get into the industry. He spoke a lot about the history of Sirius and XM satellite radio stations. They were once separate companies and actually complete rivals in the business. Sirius and XM were the only two companies that had the government's approval to begin satellite radio. After much battling and millions of dollars spent trying to bring each other down, they decided to merge.

The merge cost many people, hundreds in fact, their jobs due to too many alike stations (i.e two reggae stations, two alternative rock stations etc.) Also, due to the merger between the two companies, there are two offices: one is in New York, and the other in D.C.

We visited multiple studios and even got to enter the 60's studio. I even had the opportunity to speak on-air! I requested "All You Need is Love" by The Beatles and we discussed my hometown on air! It was so cool.

We also had the opportunity to step inside the performance room at the station, which has been seen by some of the most incredible performers in history. I sat in the same chair as Paul McCartney! :)

Today was by far one of the most fun trips we've taken in the city, I absolutely love the studio, and I've added yet another potential summer internship opportunity!

J.J. Green

The National Security Correspondent for WTOP radio among many other broadcast positions. This was thankfully not the first time that I spent an hour and a half learning entirely new information about the world that we live in. He impacted me not only with a healthy fear of the people around me, but a great understanding of the values and morals of the United States.

J.J. Green spends his days focusing on the safety of the United States. He studies it, he's mastered it, he knows all about it. He is a wealth of knowledge, like I've never seen before. He has so many interesting stories and accomplishments under his belt!

He has completely scared me out of my mind about the idea of terrorists, their capabilities, and how the cyber world has made it easier than ever to attack other countries.

J.J. spoke a lot about the issues he covered in the past, but he also shed some light on a couple very real situations that are threatening our very existence. There were four Americans killed near Somalia, the Gulf of Aden is now a pirate hot spot. There are also reports of multiple hostage and terrorist situations in the Middle East. But...Pirates? Really? Even more disturbing is the idea that the mentor to some of the most disturbed terrorists of our time is not only alive, but is still practicing his beliefs in Yemen.

The world has become an extremely scary place, and J.J. Green will be the type of man that saves us from it!

I finally found an internship! I started at Stars and Stripes newspaper on Friday! (Please visit www.stripes.com!)

It was so cool. I even had the opportunity to meet Howard Witt, the managing editor of the paper.

His website can be found here: http://howardwitt.com/index.html

He has done a lot of amazing work and research.

Sharon Moores, a former editor, said "The Stars and Stripes newspaper is published overseas, therefore most of the reporters are overseas as well -- Europe, Japan, Korea, Afghanistan, Iraq. There are a couple of Pentagon reporters in the D.C. office, but most of the journalists there are editors. They edit the stories and design and lay out the pages. Editing gives you a great idea of story construction and what makes a good piece; layout and design are all about presentation of the paper, how to sell it, how to make it look interesting to a passerby. There are several editions of the paper -- Europe, Mideast, and a couple of Pacific editions -- so there are several deadlines from 2:45 to 8 p.m."

It is such an incredible newsroom. I attended the "Page 1" meeting - which is where the cover page for every edition is discussed. I was able to see a lot of their personalities shine through, and most of them were REALLY funny! I couldn't help but be a little weery of the puffy eyes, overwhelming smell of coffee, and the amount of fully caffeinated sodas in the conference room. It was a very...strange...flashforward to my future - I still don't know how I feel about that!

This is going to be one of the greatest experiences of my life - the man who is setting my entire internship up (Sean Moores) is literally making sure I will see EVERY aspect of the newspaper business. I will be editing, shadowing, and even writing!

Tip 1) Never give up - especially in the city. It's taken me 3 weeks to find another internship (my first one didn't work out), but I found an INCREDIBLE internship. Just...make sure you keep looking.

Tip 2) Use every available resource! I received this internship from a NEIGHBOR.

Tip 3) Keep business cards FOREVER. I've received over 20 business cards, and I've made sure to keep every last one! I've even e-mailed a few of our speakers to keep in contact.

I woke up this morning at 5:30, just like I have done all week. Expecting a great experience for the day, a potentially life changing moment, or even better - a job opportunity ;). I did not, however, expect anything that unfolded this morning. I knew I was going to meet Bob Schieffer, long time news anchor and reporter for CBS. I knew I may have the opportunity to speak with him, get an autograph, maybe ask a question, or even get a picture with him- I did not know that I'd have the chance to do all THREE!

His speech was absolutely INCREDIBLE! He spoke about a time when Lyndon B. Johnson was campaigning for Senator, and he remembers seeing him come down in a helicopter. It was the first time he had ever seen a helicopter, and LBJ was using a megaphone to announce himself - and it scared 11 yr. old Schieffer to death! He said "I didn't know if it was God, or a Monster, or what it was!"

He moved on to politics for a little while and spoke about the cost of politics, elected officials not knowing each other like they did back in the day (when they'd actually meet after hours TOGETHER), and redistricting - which he believes completely erases the chance for compromise. He said that we really should be watching politics in May when the debt ceiling will be discussed.

He then moved onto life in general, and the idea of following a passion. Here's a few of his quotes:

"All I've ever wanted to be is what I am today."

"You have one trip to planet Earth, and iti s your
life...Whatever it is you decide to be - it's YOUR decision."

"Don't be afraid to stretch. Don't be afraid to reach."

"Pick something you enjoy, get good at it, and the success
will come by itself!"

"I'm a reporter, my first question is always, "Why?"

Then he took questions from the crowd, and introduced his assistant. She was extremely young, and very accomplished for her age. She gave a few great tips, such as:

• Use Alumni
  
• Meet everyone you can at your internships, and stay in contact with them.


• Take what you can, even if it's not exactly what you want.


• Offer yourself, even if it's a long shot.

Overall, I'd have to say I learned more this week than I have all semester! Tomorrow I begin my internship at Stars and Stripes! Wish me luck! <3

I didn't think it was possible for this experience to get any better than it already was, but it HAS!

This week alone, I met Dave Martin from CBS, Donna Leinwand from USA Today, and Thomas Clare from Kirkland and Ellis law firm! The contacts that Iris Krasnow has are just incredible!

David Martin is a journalist from CBS on security and national defense matters. His average day usually includes a three mile walk around the Pentagon! He is also on the evening news, sometimes. He spoke with us about the everchanging world of journalism, and how the platforms of many of today's television shows will have to change in the near future. He is a firm believer that the youth of America is taking over! I'll gladly partake in this takeover! :)

Donna Leinwand, a reporter for USA Today, was another guest speaker this week. She was especially exciting because her "beat" for the past few years has been crime and disaster. She went to Haiti during their disaster, and showed us pictures and told stories of the things she had to see. I saw pictures of dead men lying in the road, a hole in a cemetary full of dead and only half-dead bodies. It was absolutely disgusting, but she was there the entire time reporting the things she was seeing. Without her there, we never would have seen these things. Her gag reflex, and reporting skills, are absolutely phenomenal. It truly made me want to explore this aspect of journalism a LOT more.

Last,but not least, we saw Thomas Clare. He's a lawyer at the Kirkland and Ellis lawfirm and he gave a big speech on defamation and libel laws. As an aspiring journalist, it was really great to learn the lines that cannot be crossed. Many reporters seem to believe that due to the nature of their work, they're allowed to break laws to get information - but this is very untrue. There are very particular laws and cases that determine how far a journalist can go, and exactly where they cannot.

I learned a lot of extremely valuable information this week. I cannot wait to see what is yet to come. My next post is about Bob Schieffer!

This week has been amazing! On Tuesday, my class went to National Geographic in the city! We had a round table sort of conference with the Senior Film Editor at Nat Geo! Above, he is holding a fake seal used in the 1999 Great White movie that National Geographic released on the Jaws anniversary. Those of us who were outgoing actually had the opportunity to hold it, so tip 1 for the day is - get yourself out there! Don't be shy!


The seal was made out of three boogie boards in South Africa and then a camera was placed inside the hole on the head. This seal was made so that a photographer could get a shot of the Great White hopping out of the water after a seal.




We saw the video that was inside the seal's head, and the shark approached with such speed! He was up, out, and gone!




This man literally has the job of a LIFETIME. He is incredible. I immediately wanted his job, but so did everyone else in the class. Which brings up tip 2 about world at this time - in most cases there is just ONE job, and 500 people who want it. A program like the Washington Semester Program at American University is the type of program that could put you at the top of that list!




The program has provided me with such incredible experiences. I'm currently having trouble finding (another) internship. My professor, Gil Klein, is literally working around the clock for ME. He's using every contact he has, and on the phone yesterday he said "I have people ALL over the city keeping their eye out for you!"

The other day, I was wondering through the city, searching for Washingtonian Magazine. I must have looked completely LOST because a man approached me and said "Honey, what are you looking for?" - - Everyone is willing to help, so tip 3 for today is to ACCEPT it. Some people are complete weirdos, but you can usually tell before they approach you. :)

Have a great weekend!

One of the best things you can do in this city is explore. If you're given a day off, a very rare and momentus occasion, you shouldn't spend it inside. You shouldn't spend it on Tenley campus, you shouldn't even spend it on Main campus - you should spend it in the city. It's such a gorgeous place, and there's never too much to see! Each museum can be seen 10 times before you've even seen all it has to offer, and even then it doesn't get "old"!

Today, I pretty much had a day off, and I'm in the city! I have an interview with Lou Barletta, Congressman and U.S. Representative for Pennsylvania. He's an amazing man - I voted for him ;).

I took a walk from the Washington Monument to 15th and G streets. I'm currently sitting in a Starbucks, enjoying some jazz and the smell of coffee. Seems so cliche - young blogger, blogging from a coffee shop. I needed a break from the cold!

The view from this streetview coffee shop is priceless. There is the National Press Club down the road, the Treasury building right down the street, I can see the monument from the front steps, the capital if I try hard enough. It's incredible. From my bedroom window at Moravian College, I see a sorority house and a fire escape - how ever could I trade that view? It could contribute to my perception.

It's not all peachy keen in the city - there's a homeless man talking to himself behind me, wait now he's right next to me - but that's OK! Because I couldn't experience this anywhere else!

Everyday I realize more and more how incredible this city is, but no matter how much I write about it - there's nothing better than experiencing it for yourself.

SO GET HERE, ALREADY! :)

Well! I've had quite the week here at American University. Yesterday was a very long day, as classes were spread out quite a bit. In the morning, my Journalism class met with our professor Gil Klein. He is a very established man who once served as the President of the National Press Club - and yes, he's my PROFESSOR. It's crazy what this school can offer. He gave us a brief overview of the Constitution because at 2:30, Vaughn Ververs, political journalist for MSNBC.com, came and spoke to us about politics and political journalism.

He is pictured above in blue with AR, myself, Kaela, and Jack.

He first worked on the Presidential Campaign for Pat Buchanan, then found a job working for TheHotline - which was a news company that sent out a 25 page fax every morning to those who requested it. He left TheHotline for a short time to work for CBS and Fox News Sunday. He returned to TheHotline for a little while, but left again to work for Politico. He now works for MSNBC.com as a political editor - and to think, he didn't have any idea "what he wanted to be when he grew up" - and now he's exactly what I want to be when I grow up!

After he left, our class headed into the city around 7:00 p.m. to see the Kalb Report - because Gil Klein is one of the Associate Producers of the show! It was very interesting and an extremely eye opening experience - especially with Bill Keller and Dean Baquet from the New York Times on the show! I actually sat in balcony seating - which is where the women sat back when the National Press Club was an all male club!

Washington is such a historical city! I'm not going to lie - I thought I was going to be robbed at some point because I heard it's not a great place at night, but it was really really safe! There were police everywhere.

Tips:

1) Weigh your options when it comes to commuting - sometimes money isn't worth the amount of time you spend waiting around for class!

2) Prepare for the extra expenses - the metro, food, and random everyday items will add up!

3) DON'T SKIP ANYTHING. You're only cheating yourself by spending your time elsewhere.

Ah, the Newseum! What an incredible place! It's a six floor paradise in my eyes. Amanda, the girl in the black and white argyle sweater, and I, the other girl :), both met at Judiciary Square. We walked to the Bakery Cafe, which is right up the street from the Newseum. If you ever get a chance to enjoy D.C. bakeries - you must! Their food always looks so good!

Anyways, we went to the Newseum and it was incredible! I touched the Berlin wall, and even saw a piece of the twin towers from 9/11.

On the bottom floor, there is a great cafeteria and seating area. There is also a classroom, which is where we began our trip through the Newseum. On the second floor of the Newseum, we were able to stand in front of a camera and read the teleprompter! I'm doing all that I can to be a reporter someday, and I felt so comfortable on camera!

On the very top floor there is a terrace that overlooks Pennsylvania Ave. It is such a gorgeous sight to see!

D.C. has been absolutely incredible so far. I, however, am very absent minded and have decided to give three helpful tips on every post - because I've made these mistakes and if I can prevent someone else from doing the same - then it was worth it. Sort of.

1) Don't wear heels in the city. Wear boots, bring heels.
2) If you park at a Metro station, remember the level you parked on.
3) Don't slug on early days - you have to wait until at least 3 to find a ride.

So, today was a great example of everything that American University's Washington Semester Program can provide. Class began at 9:30, but it isn't the normal "class" that you're used to - in fact there aren't many classes here that are! This specific class began with one of the authors of the book "The Elements of Journalism", Tom Rosenstiel. Tom is not only an accomplished author, but an accomplished journalist and researcher, as well. He was truly a pleasure to listen to. I even had the opportunity to ask him a question - which is definitely something that I highly advise while being here. ASK QUESTIONS. Not only does it result in the opportunity to speak with an incredible person, but it expands your knowledge more than any book or lecture ever could. These people live the lives you read about in the books, they're the sources that the authors go to, and it's such an amazing aspect of this program.

After Tom left, the class split for about an hour to grab lunch. Amanda and I headed towards the Metro Station and stopped inside Whole Foods, CVS and finally Subway. There are an array of shops just minutes away from the campus, so it is super convenient! We sat inside Subway until 11:40 - as it was arranged that we would meet our class at the Metro Station to head to Union Station. We were on our way to see the Senate Press Gallery! We were meeting Joe Keenan and Thomas Ferraro - two big figures in the Journalism industry. If Washington Semester did not appeal to you before, it should right now. It is the second week of class, and I've already created more connections in two weeks than in two YEARS at my home school.

We all met and caught a train to Union Station, then we walked to the Capitol building - where Professor Krasnow met us. I've seen the building a million times - but it's still just as shocking every time.

I sat in the same seats that the press do during Senate meetings! It was too much fun. We were able to interview both Thomas Ferraro and Joe Keenan on a personal basis. I even got a picture with him - which I'll post once I receive it.

All in all, today definitely encompassed what American University can provide its students, and it is proving to be one of the best life decisions I've made thus far!

Well, I figured now was as good a time as any for my first blog post because I commute everyday to American University, and in between classes I use the Tenley Campus Computer Room, which is where I am currently located. Speaking of being a commuter, I've decided that it is going to be the topic of my first post, and definitely a theme throughout my entire blog.

So, as the title of my blog states - I have been thrusted into this unknown world that includes a TON of traffic, an extremely crowded metro system, and highly priced transportation.

However, after doing some digging - deep into the hearts of Northern Virginia residents - I found a different, cheaper, incredible carpooling system.

This type of carpooling has been around for over thirty-five years, and it is called the Slugging System.

Every weekday morning, I drive to a parking lot in Tackett's Mill, and after parking my car, I approach a line of cars waiting for slugs. These drivers wait in line everyday for at least two people to enter their car, making it a High Occupancy Vehicle - therefore allowing the driver to enter the HOV lanes and get to work an hour earlier than usual.

The people who get in the car, like myself, are slugs. We park in the parking lot FOR FREE, and then hop into a vehicle FOR FREE. Now, I need to come to American University from Woodbridge, VA. There are only certain places that these cars go, so I choose to stand in the "Rosslyn" line, because it makes my metro commute much cheaper (since I do not have to pay for parking, or to ride from Franconia to Rosslyn).

Then, to get home, you get off the Metro at any of the provided places for slug lines, and they will take you back to the exact parking lot that you were picked up in!

There are MANY other places to find morning and afternoon slug lines, and it is all explained at http://www.slug-lines.com/.

*picture courtesy of http://blog.oregonlive.com/kympokorny