My name is Emma Frieze, and I am attending the Washington Journalism and Media Conference as a National Youth Correspondent from July 14-19. Stay tuned for updates on the conference and my experiences!
Around 7:15 a.m. on Friday, July 19, 2019, I rolled two suitcases out of a dorm room and shut the door without believing I would likely ever open the same door again. The occurrence was the day’s first goodbye. I walked down a hall full of other girls with their own luggage at their sides. Some of the girls I knew, some I did not; all I might never see again. I made my way to the elevator. The doors opened. I squeezed myself into a full elevator compartment; there was no room left for any other passengers. The doors closed.
The doors reopened to a lobby, where I saw more people, more suitcases. Goodbye, elevator. I quietly stepped out onto a carpeted floor and kept walking until I had left the building and was outside. Goodbye, Hampton Roads residence hall. I left my suitcases on the sidewalk in a designated square that had been drawn with chalk. Then, feeling free from the weight of my bags, I meandered on, taking a winding sidewalk through a campus lightly touched by morning light. I could not have forgotten it was summer because even early in the morning, the Virginia air was already hot.
I had my last breakfast at Southside Dining Hall. I am sure I had one last bowl of yogurt with fruit and granola, one last muffin . . . maybe two. I had conversations with friends I hope to never forget who, within hours, would be scattered across the nation. Goodbye, friends. Goodbye, Southside (and Southside blueberry muffins). I attended my last Color Group Meeting (back at Hampton Roads, though I had already said my goodbyes), returned my room key, and received a certificate for completing the WJMC program. My color group took our final photo together. Goodbye to the Maroon 22.
My certificate for completion of the 2019 Washington Journalism and Media Conference. Personal Photo.
We attended the Closing Ceremony at Dewberry Hall in the Johnson Center. The speaker was Sam Wolf, who was the Assistant Director of Logistics with the Advance Team this year and has been with WJMC since he was a National Youth Correspondent in 2014. As this year’s correspondents start a new chapter post-WJMC, Wolf starts a new chapter in Australia. As a conference, we said goodbye to Wolf and wished him luck in his future endeavors. We then watched a recap video of our time at WJMC. Next, it was time to say goodbye to Dewberry Hall and to the Johnson Center.
My parents and sister arrived at around 10:30 a.m. to pick me up, and it was time for me to say more goodbyes. First, though, I wanted to show my family the technology at George Mason University by ordering Dunkin’ Donuts from a Starship delivery robot! (Learn more about the robots here: https://www.washingtonpost.com/video/business/technology/this-self-driving-robot-delivers-food-to-george-mason-students/2019/01/24/a0aa36b1-9b0d-4bba-8b3c-6463e4667212_video.html?utm_term=.61ca1ec2c9de). I said goodbye to my faculty advisor, Chris Mauthé, and junior faculty advisor, Megan Mittelhammer. Then, my family took an Uber back to my family’s hotel. We had lunch in the “Mosaic District” of Fairfax, which is primarily a shopping, dining, and entertainment area. Then, we headed back to Ronald Reagan International Airport for our flight home. It was a day of sad goodbyes: goodbyes to new friends, goodbyes to incredible WJMC faculty, goodbye to George Mason University, goodbye to Fairfax, goodbye to Virginia, goodbye to Washington D.C. However, it was only goodbye for now, and hello to a world seen with fresh eyes because of the things I saw, the experience I gained, and the people I met at WJMC.
Asking a question at the National Press Club, Tuesday, July 16, 2019. Photograph by Meghan A.T.B. Reese.
It is July 30 as I am finally uploading this, and I promise all planned WJMC National Youth Correspondent posts will be uploaded today. I am not going to do more Reading Reviews at this time, so I can focus on my upcoming return to school. However, I will be posting WJMC Day Five (this post) and Day Six today, as well as something of a “reflections” post. Thank you for reading!
Today was an exciting day on Capitol Hill! After breakfast, we boarded the buses and arrived at the United States Capitol building to take an all-WJMC group photo. Throughout the day, we were required to stay with a partner when walking around, so I first connected with a girl named Mindy whose plans were similar to mine. I first saw the Library of Congress Jefferson Building and then the (bare minimum of) the Supreme Court Building. It was also interesting to me to find a building corresponding to my religious denomination right in the same area.
2019 National Youth Correspondents pose for an all-WJMC photo in front of the United States Capitol on Thursday, July 18, 2019. Photograph by Meghan ATB Reese.
At 11:30, I had a Congressional appointment with Senator Jerry Moran from my home state of Kansas. Unfortunately, Senator Moran was not able to meet with me because he was called to vote; however, I did get the chance to introduce myself and shake his hand. I was also able to have my scheduled meeting with Morgan Said, Press Secretary for Senator Moran, which I greatly appreciated. Said was very attentive as I explained my concerns about recycling access in rural Kansas communities and my involvement in WJMC. She also shared her own experience as a high school student attending a journalism event in Washington D.C. and provided insight as to how I could be further involved as a journalist and environmental advocate in my community. I really appreciated the time she gave me to voice my concerns and have a conversation.
Everyone I met in Senator Moran’s office was very kind to me. I was even offered a private tour of the United States Capitol building! I gladly accepted the offer and went on the tour with a fellow National Youth Correspondent named Jillian, who was from New Jersey, and an intern named Will, who was our guide. My favorite parts of visiting the Capitol were getting to see famous paintings and statues and learning the history behind different areas of the building. It was also interesting to notice the aspects of the Capitol’s architecture that were adopted by the Kansas State Capitol, which was constructed between 1866 and 1903 (according to the Kansas Historical Society – see https://www.kshs.org/kansapedia/kansas-state-capitol/12121).
I had a great day exploring the U.S. Capitol! Photograph by Meghan ATB Reese.
After our visit to the Capitol, Jillian and I walked to the National Air and Space Museum to board the bus to George Mason University. We did not have time to visit the museum, but it was neat to walk past the tents set up on the Mall in honor of the 50th Anniversary of the Apollo 11 moon landing. Once everyone (and the buses) had arrived at the National Air and Space Museum, we left Washington D.C. Next, we had about two hours to prepare ourselves for the WJMC Gala. I also took advantage of the time in my dorm room to begin packing for my flight the next day.
Soon, it was time to board the buses again, this time for the WJMC Gala at Westfields Marriott. WJMC National Youth Correspondents and Faculty alike were dressed in semi-formal attire for an evening of dinner and dancing. First, we took color group photos taken on the lavish chairs and couches of the Marriott and had fun doing “Kardashian” style poses. Then, we had a delicious three-course meal with salad, chicken, mashed potatoes, vegetables, and even a piece of rich chocolate cake! Our festivities concluded with a dance, the highlight of which I believe is when everyone started singing “Don’t Stop Believin'” by Journey. This part of the Gala was a testament to the power of music and the human connection. It was also a lot of fun! When the Gala ended, and I boarded the bus for the last time, it was hard to believe it was really over.
My dinner table at the WJMC Gala! I miss getting to see these people every day. Personal Video.
I was well-pleased to say the least with how the Simulation had gone. However, the day had more in store . . .
. . . namely, a power outage.
(Side note: Thank you to everyone who has stayed tuned this far. I know it has been five days since my last post, so thank you for being patient as I get caught up!)
It was supper time, and I was planning to leave the Johnson Center for Southside Dining Hall after a successful Simulation. I had noticed as I was leaving the room I had presented in that some of the windows were wet with water droplets hanging onto the outsides. However, I had no idea of the magnitude of what was brewing outside. I walked down the staircase to the main level, where I saw several dripping-wet people rushing through the main doors to get inside the dry building. I had luckily brought my umbrella, so I opened up my bag, pulled the umbrella out, and braced myself to step into the rain.
Luckily for me, the front doors led to a flat patio with an overhanging roof. If I had not had impermeable building material over my head when I stepped outside, I would have been instantly drenched. Rain was coming down in thick sheets, and its direction was non-vertical. My first evaluation of the weather situation was that I could endure it; I unfurled my umbrella and let it billow out. However, a stranger standing near took notice of my action and gave a warning (paraphrased here):
“With that small umbrella? It will blow out of your hands as soon as you step into the rain!”
Embarrassed and beginning to reconsider, I turned back to the door. Other students had been filing out to make or consider a journey to Southside Dining Hall, and at that moment, some members of my color group stepped out. They looked first at the showery sky and then to me. After a quick discussion, we decided to go back inside the Johnson Center to eat at Panera Bread. It was back inside for us and my tiny umbrella.
Panera was immediately to our left as soon as we stepped indoors, and it sounded delicious. I eagerly walked in the doors and into the ordering line. I stepped up to the counter, ordered my food, and slipped my card into the chip reader to pay . . . darkness. Everything fell silent for a moment as the lights went out in Panera Bread. I was silently grateful I had not been waiting for my food when the ovens, refrigerators, everything lost power.
The manager let all customers know that no more orders would be processed and no more food would be made, and I wrote down my phone number and email for him in case my transaction had gone through after all. Thankfully, I did not believe I had been far enough in the payment process for that to be so. It was a case of good(ish) timing: I might have been better off to come in Panera Bread much earlier, but there was no guarantee; if I had come in just moments earlier, I would have been short of not just food but also money. There was only one thing to do (besides skip dinner, which I did not view as a good option): make the trek to Southside. The main hall of the Johnson Center had retained power or quickly switched to a backup generator, and I hoped the dining hall might be in the same situation. Thus, I left Panera Bread, walked out of the Johnson Center, reopened my umbrella, and, abandoning the convenience of a roof over my head, stepped out into the rain.
My steps were quick as I headed toward Southside, my umbrella surprisingly sturdy considering its size and thin material; the stranger’s warning has been kindly meant but unfounded after all. I made my way to the dining hall with no issues greater than slightly damp dress pants. Not too bad, I thought. Once there, I found some friends and was able to eat a pre-prepared dinner (in a lighted room!). In the end, I was satisfied because I had gotten supper and a story, great news for a hungry student journalist.
After our meal, I returned to the Johnson Center. This time, no umbrella was needed. The power was not fully returned, but we were still able to enjoy our planned evening activities with just a little reshuffling. Firstly, we discussed our trip to Capitol Hill the next day after splitting into groups based on our individual plans. Then, we divided again to each go to one of numerous Career Exploration Sessions, which had been moved to new locations due to the weather situation. I attended the session led by Rondene Grinam, Integrated Marketing Specialist at Gartner, Inc. and former Assistant Director of Integrated Enrollment Marketing for George Mason University. Fun fact: Grinam is also a WJMC alumna! After hearing Grinam talk about her career path, I was so inspired that I told my faculty advisor that Grinam is the professional I want to be five to ten years from now.
Our last activity for the night was listening to Meghan ATB Reese give a talk. Reese is a producer and photographer for National Geographic. We were also honored to have her as our photographer for WJMC. What I found most interesting from her talk was hearing about how she has navigated through different projects throughout her career and discovered what is and is not a good fit for her. Reese was not deterred by having to present in a makeshift auditorium in the commons of the Johnson Center or by a lack of effective microphones; instead, she remained patient and professional until alas! the lights turned back on to their full. It was a bright ending to a great albeit partly cloudy day.
After hearing from Takayama-Pérez, we split into groups for Health, Violence, and Education Meetings. I met with Celeste and Elle to discuss some ideas I had for our Simulation topic in education, trying to put aside my nervousness. It was time for the Simulation to begin . . .
I left my WJMC Day Four (Part One) post hanging on that remark, and I appreciate those of you stopping by to check out this post to get the rest of my WJMC Day Four story (four days later!). As I stated in my first post, my day started out with breakfast at Southside Dining Hall and a Color Group Meeting. Then, I witnessed firsthand the eye-opening photographs of Carol Guzy, four-time Pulitzer-Prize Photojournalist. After lunch, I attended a college admissions session. Then, it was time to do a journalism Simulation.
As soon as we were dismissed from the college admissions session at the Johnson Center, I went upstairs to my assigned Simulation room. Once there, I met up my partners Celeste and Elle. We were in the Education 1 room, which meant we were tasked to research a topic in Education from the viewpoint of The Atlanta Journal Constitution. Our job was to come up with a Solutions Journalism piece to pitch to our “editors” (our color group faculty) on a “slice” of Education topics. We chose to research Early Education / Access to Childcare as our slice and ended up somewhat narrowing our topic to Pre-Kindergarten.
What makes Solutions Journalism different from other journalism is that it is not just reporting a problem, it is not releasing breaking news, and it is not commentating or advocating for a solution. Instead, it is focusing on a long-term issue and researching a potential solution to explain objectively but with a sense of hope. Before our Simulation, we received some instruction on what is and is not Solutions Journalism. We were taught:
1. “Solutions Journalism features a response to a problem.”
2. “It provides available evidence of results, looking at impact, not just intentions.”
3. “It provides insights, not just inspiration, that can help others respond.”
4. “It discusses limitations and avoids reading like a puff piece.”
We were also taught how to recognize and avoid writing “imposter stories”:
1. “A story that claims a program is 100% successful”
2. “A story that does not describe limitations to a solution”
3. “A story that worships a hero and over-claims a solution”
4. “A story that proposes things that do not yet exist”
5. “A story that is just inspirational or heartwarming”
Standing in front of our Solutions Journalism pitch poster. L-R: Me, Elle, and Celeste.
After fewer than two hours in the Education 1 Meeting, my team and I had our Solutions Journalism piece ready to pitch. To combat the question “So What?”, we provided real data from the Georgia Partnership of Excellence in Education (GPEE) that explained the need for early childhood education because of its impact on parents’ abilities to work, elementary-school test scores, and the overall economy. We had been tasked to ask the question “Why Now?”, and we answered it by reminding our audience we were in back-to-school season and informing them the GPEE had released their annual Top Ten Issues to Watch in 2019 report just this January. In the report, “Early Learning – Quality Early Care and Its Economic Impact” had been listed as Issue 2.
To answer the question “Why Me?”, we detailed our qualifications for writing this story and also stated our readership already had an interest in this topic (based on our findings of related articles from the actual online newspaper The Atlanta Journal Constitution). We also provided a list of people to contact / interview for a story hook and also for expert consultation.To conclude our pitch, we proposed the solution of an existing early childcare program in Austin, Texas called “Success by 6.” We did this by comparing Success by 6 to the Georgia Early Education Alliance for Ready Students or GEEARS (an existing program in Atlanta), discussed the successes of Success by 6, and evaluated the limitations of attempting to implement a program similar to Success by 6 in Atlanta.
Our pitch was attempted to be done within the two-minute time limit (We ended up having to request a small extension after a brief Q&A with our “editors” due to the amount of information we had been able to gather and wanted to present). There was still so much to be researched that we had not gotten to in our limited two hours; however, our faculty “editors” were very understanding that we were on a time-constraint. My group and I were very pleased to receive compliments on our presentation by both our faculty and fellow students. Overall, we felt proud about what we had been able to accomplish in such a short time-frame. I definitely learned a lot about Solutions Journalism through this Simulation, and I thought it turned out to be a really fun project!
I was well-pleased to say the least with how the Simulation had gone. However, the day had more in store . . .
Stay tuned once again for the next installment of my WJMC Journey!
I know that my Day Four (Part Two) and Day Five updates have not been uploaded yet, but I promise they are coming soon. My days have been really jam-packed, and having the gala (more on that later!) and needing to pack tonight has put me a little behind on my blogging. I will definitely be catching up soon (I will try to resume either tomorrow or once I am back home in Kansas this weekend). It is hard to believe that my WJMC adventure is already reaching its conclusion! I will miss the amazing people I have met here and will always remember the opportunities I have been given at WJMC.
Greeting the new day with a smile. Personal Photo.
Today started off with another breakfast at Southside Dining Hall. Then, I reported to the Johnson Center at around 8:30 a.m. for a Color Group Meeting. We had a brief, 45-minute session in which we learned our partners, topics, and assigned newspaper for a Simulation. I was excited to learn I had been assigned to my topic of choice (Education), the Atlanta Journal Constitution, and partners Celeste Zirm and Elle Monfried for the project. For the Simulation, we were tasked to do research on a choice topic in Education, so we would be able to pitch a Solutions Journalism piece to our “editors” (a.k.a. our faculty and junior faculty advisors) later in the day. Celeste, Elle, and I quickly decided to focus our research on lack of access to early childhood education and began throwing around ideas.
Before we could start our real research, however, it was time to make our way downstairs to Dewberry Hall to hear a talk (I learned today that I have been improperly using the word “speech,” so I will try to do better!) from Carol Guzy.
Yes, you read correctly: Carol Guzy, the four-time Pulitzer Prize-winning photojournalist.
The emotions behind the stories Guzy has captured throughout her career are nearly indescribable, and her presentation was a gripping, heart-wrenching experience. One of her photo essays was about her own mother and sister whose lives deteriorated as they spent their final days facing dementia; I cannot imagine the courage it must have taken for Guzy to capture such a personal story with the pain and grief she was feeling as she documented the experiences of her loved ones. There are no words to express the raw feeling in my whole being as I then saw photographs of victimized children who became amputees as a result of Sierra Leone’s civil war. Images such as these knocked on my heart as tears streamed down my face. Guzy may be the most incredible photographer on this earth.
Carol Guzy speaking at Dewberry Hall, George Mason University Johnson Center. Personal Photo.
Next came lunch, which was followed by a College Admissions Session with Amy Takayama-Pérez, Dean of Admissions at George Mason University. Takayama-Pérez discussed what to look for in a college and how to stand out in the admissions process. Much of her information I had heard before because I have already begun the process of filling out and submitting college applications. However, from my experience, I will say the topics discussed during this session were very relevant and useful to the college search and application processes. I also appreciated the insight she gave me personally when I asked her a question regarding how college admissions weighs the ACT versus the SAT if there is not one specific test required by a school. (Her answer, paraphrased: Both are weighted equally by most U.S. colleges. This is good news for me as an ACT-taker who is already applying to college and who has not taken the SAT in high school!).
After hearing from Takayama-Pérez, we split into groups for Health, Violence, and Education Meetings. I met with Celeste and Elle to discuss some ideas I had for our Simulation topic in education, trying to put aside my nervousness. It was time for the Simulation to begin . . .
. . . More to come tomorrow! Thanks for reading this far.
At 8:30 a.m., we headed to the Mason Arlington campus to hear from speakers Brian Lamb, Founder and Former CEO of C-SPAN, and Mikayla Bouchard, Assistant Editor of The New York Times. The speaking event began at approximately 9:30 a.m. and lasted above two hours. Lamb’s presentation was very interactive and consisted mostly of Q & A about media topics such as the debate surrounding Equal Time Regulations, President Trump’s use of Twitter, the purpose of journalism, and the importance of objectivity and balance in media. Bouchard, on the other hand, focused her speech on how The New York Times is using innovative multimedia platforms to reach modern audiences as well as her personal journey into the newsroom.
Brian Lamb speaking to National Youth Correspondents, Multipurpose Room, George Mason University Arlington Campus. Personal Photo.Mikayla Bouchard presents to the Washington Journalism and Media Conference, Multipurpose Room, George Mason University Arlington Campus. Digitally Enhanced. Personal Photo.
After Bouchard had finished receiving questions, all correspondents reported back to our advisors. We then boarded the buses again to go to lunch at Carmine’s, an Italian restaurant with salad, bread, pasta, and delicious chocolate torte. Mealtimes during WJMC are special because they allow National Youth Correspondents to communicate with each other in a way they are not always able to during other parts of the conference. Throughout our group meals, I have enjoyed connecting with fellow correspondents about our personal lives as well as our hopes for our future professional lives. This was once again true during our meal at Carmine’s.
Post-lunch, we traveled once again by bus, this time to the National Press Building. At once, I felt the importance of the place and felt a desire to prove my worth. This fit perfectly with speaker Daniella Pierre-Bravo’s message of having self-worth and persevering through struggle. In her speech, she said, “Own your story . . . and figure out how to tell it.” Pierre-Bravo’s story is incredible because it is the story of an undocumented, financially unstable young woman who made great sacrifices and did everything she could to get her foot in the door of the media world. Today, she is a successful TV producer and co-writer of the book Earn It!: Know Your Value and Grow Your Career, in Your 20s and Beyond. I was really inspired by her story and, as a result, chose to know my own value and be bold by asking her a question in the microphone. I also got my copy of Earn It! signed, which made me thrilled.
My signed copy of Earn It!. Personal Video. Made with Boomerang.
Daniela Pierre-Bravo speaking at the National Press Club. Digitally Edited. Personal Photo.
After Pierre-Bravo spoke, Michelle Jaconi from The Washington Post took the stage. Jaconi suggested three rules for aspiring journalists:
1. Follow the money.
2. Show. Don’t tell.
3. Don’t stop listening.
The advice about following money did not necessarily mean following the highest paycheck. Instead, Jaconi explained the importance of understanding how a company makes its money and how that drives its production model. “Show. Don’t tell.” related to a person proving his or her worth to a future or current employer by demonstrating interest, good worth ethic, and willingness to do even menial tasks. Jaconi also expressed the importance of good listening skills in the workforce.
“So You Want to Be a Journalist” with Michelle Jaconi. Digitally Edited. Personal Photo.
After Jaconi’s speech, we left the National Press Building to return to George Mason University; we will be remaining on campus until Thursday morning. Once we arrived at GMU, I went to dinner, and I enjoyed spending time at the dining hall with some of my new friends from WJMC. I am increasingly becoming more comfortable around the other members of the Maroon Group, and this was a great opportunity for us to connect. Once I finished eating, I also had the special opportunity to be one of two members of my color group to be filmed for a promotional video. After I was done being recorded, I got a head start on traveling to the Johnson Center to hear the evening speaker.
This is where some advice from Michelle Jaconi’s speech really rings true. She said, “Expect the unexpected,” and I certainly got an unexpected surprise. I arrived early at the Johnson Center and, after touring the campus bookstore inside, decided to take a seat at one of the empty tables in a large, open room on the first floor. As I walked to my table of choice, I noticed there was a man sitting at the next table over; he was writing notes and pausing occasionally to don a reflective look. Suspecting who he was, I chose to sit at the table next to his . . . just in case I should find reason to introduce myself.
As soon as I took my seat, however, I watched as the man quickly got up and moved to another table. I was instantly concerned that, by sitting at a table next to his, I had invaded his professional working space and interrupted his contemplation. I felt bad as I myself value solitude at times especially when I am processing something complex or of great importance to me. I felt worse as I verified his identity with a quick Google search and discovered that yes, in fact, my suspicions were correct: the man was our evening speaker. Not only that, but he was Michael LaRosa, Director of Communications at the House Democratic Policy Communications Committee in the Office of the Speaker. In no way intending to undervalue the significance of LaRosa’s own career, I remember being in the moment and thinking to myself something along the lines of, I cannot believe I just offended someone who works with Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi!
I was afraid to proceed with the action of my intent, which was apologizing to him for interrupting his workflow. I thought for certain that I could have little to say of worth and interest to a person of such importance and a high public profile. I did not believe that I knew enough about politics, government, or even journalism to initiate conversation. However, I felt indebted to offer an apology to Mr. LaRosa and figured I had nothing to lose by networking. Thus, I walked over, stuck out my hand, and said, “My name is Emma Frieze, and I am a National Youth Correspondent from Kansas.” (Well, I said that with a few “um” sounds in there and also an apology for disrupting his speech preparation).
I had caught Mr. LaRosa by surprise, and he immediately assured me that his choice to switch tables exactly when I sat down had merely been a coincidence. Then, to my surprise, he invited me to take a seat at his table! What I had intended to be an apology resulted in a conversation lasting several minutes in which I explained my background and interest in media, and LaRosa offered his insight on professional life in Washington. I was completely blown away by how easy he was to talk to, and I slowly felt my nervousness wear off. I had approached the conversation believing I had nothing of value to contribute but soon could tell that when I explained my career goals and the goals of other National Youth Correspondents, it was helpful to him because it allowed him to become more familiar with his audience before giving his speech. After our conversation, I thanked LaRosa for his time and stated I was looking forward to his presentation.
My favorite quote from LaRosa’s speech was his “best piece of advice,” and that is “. . . the best plan is to know your plan will change.” As someone with an interest in media but without a definite sense of what I want to do in my career, these were encouraging words. Similar to other WJMC Speakers, LaRosa had his own unique voice and story, and his career has not been a straight path. I was interested to hear he did not come from a family with a background in journalism or politics, so I chose to ask him a question at the mic about his experiences networking in Washington. After the presentation, my faculty advisor Chris was really helpful in making sure I took the proper steps of follow-up with LaRosa as I am inexperienced with this form of networking. I really appreciate Chris’s guidance.
Our final activity for the day was our color group meeting, in which we discussed Solutions Journalism. On Day Four, we begin a research project and will pitch a story to a group of faculty advisors and other National Youth Correspondents. I do not yet know my topic or my partner(s). Admittedly, I am very nervous about this project because I worry about the quality and thoroughness of my work under tight time constraint. However, I hope to approach this simulation challenge with a growth mindset, and I look forward to what may be my most challenging day of WJMC: Day Four.
Yesterday was my first full day of WJMC. It was very enjoyable, and I look forward to the remainder of this week. It is now Day Three, and we are kicking off our morning with speakers Brian Lamb, the founder of C-Span, and Mikayla Bouchard, Senior Staff Editor of The New York Times. I can hardly believe I am about to see both of them in person! Hopefully, I will be courageous and quick enough to stand in front of the mic today and ask a question. I also have the honor of taking over the Maroon Group’s Instagram page for the day, which I am very enthusiastic about.
Be looking out for more updates! For now, enjoy this fun photo from today’s breakfast at Southside Dining Hall on GMU’s Fairfax campus:
Breakfast with National Youth Correspondents Frances O’Shea and Riley Macks. Photo by Riley Macks.
Hello, there! Today was another great day at the Washington Journalism and Media Conference. This morning, I got to experience my first breakfast at Southside Dining Hall. I know this is not a food blog, but I have to say my meal was delicious! A soft blueberry muffin and a sweet yogurt bowl really topped off the meal.
Our attire was casual today, so I was able to wear my WJMC t-shirt, shorts, and tennis shoes. This was convenient because we did a lot of walking today exploring our nation’s capital. First, we visited the Newseum. My experience there was interactive and enjoyable. There was so much to do there; we spent about five hours at the Newseum, and I still did not see every last thing the museum has to offer. Needless to say, we saw many neat exhibits. I have tried my best to preview a few of them through the photos below:
Front pages that covered the 9/11 tragedy, featured in the Newseum. Personal Photo.Berlin Wall panels and tower, the Newseum. Personal Photo.Founder’s quote on wall, the Newseum. Personal Photo.
After the Newseum, we headed to Mason Arlington to hear from Kevin McCarthy, a film critic for Fox 5 DC and CBS Radio. I was very inspired by Mr. McCarthy’s success in turning his love for film into a career. McCarthy said during his speech, “Essentially, the passion of my life . . . has been movies.” One valuable lesson I learned from his speech was I should always ask questions even when I believe the answer may be “no” because the answer may in fact be “yes.” In other words, there is no way to know what opportunities are out there for me unless I seek them first. I also learned about working backwards while interviewing someone, so both the interviewer and interviewee are able to discuss their own topics of interest. Overall, McCarthy’s speech was very useful to me in understanding networking and interviewing processes.
Our departure from Mason Arlington came before 5:30 p.m. At that time, we were shuttled to dinner at Crystal City Sports Pub. I was once again very impressed with accommodations and logistics (Thank you, WJMC Advance Team!). After dinner, all National Youth Correspondents were treated to a White House photo opportunity and a Twilight Monument Tour. I had never seen the Korean War Memorial or any of the monuments or memorials by night; thus, this was a very special experience for me. Soon, though, it was time for our day in Washington to come to an end. We returned to the GMU Fairfax campus via bus this evening, and now it is time to get some rest. There are still four incredible days left of WJMC!
Standing outside of the White House with fellow National Youth Correspondent Frances O’Shea. Photo by National Youth Correspondent Riley Macks.
Taken at The Hub, George Mason University. Personal Photo.
Today was a long but wonderful day. After I arrived at the George Mason University campus, I settled into my room, met my faculty and junior faculty advisors at The Hub, and went on a campus tour. Next, I had my first unofficial meeting with the Maroon Group. I can already tell that I have some pretty amazing groupmates! We played a fun game to remember each other’s names and even had a crazy encounter with one of the Starship robots on campus (Check them out here: https://www2.gmu.edu/news/574036).
Soon, it was time to go to the conference’s Opening Dinner at Dewberry Hall in GMU’s Johnson Center. I must say I was quite impressed by the formality and style of the event. The layout of the dinner was very elegant, and I greatly appreciate the WJMC Directors, Advance Team, and other faculty and staff for all the hard work they did to make it a success. Our speaker for the night was Sonya Gavankar, Director of Public Relations for the Newseum, and she had a very humorous and thought-provoking speech that I found very relatable and useful. I was lucky to be able to ask her a question, and I was quite pleased with her response.
Sonya Gavankar speaking at the Washington Journalism and Media Conference, July 2019. Personal Photo.
During the dinner, we also watched a video message recorded for us by Hoda Kotb, Co-Host of Today. Even though she was not able to speak to us in person, I was still inspired by her message about never giving up. It was really neat to hear a celebrity journalist delivering a message specific to National Youth Correspondents like me. This was one of many aspects of the dinner that gave it a unique energy I had not experienced before. It made me feel like a professional (or a future professional at least) and motivated me to get out of my comfort zone during this conference.
Our final activity for the day was our first official Maroon Group Meeting. We first talked about our personal and professional images, which involved discussing our unique traits. Then, we developed elevator pitches and presented them to other group members on a one-on-one basis. Of course, we also had fun! We laughed out loud, enjoyed debating the proper way to play rock-paper-scissors, played more icebreaker games, and even filmed a mannequin challenge video to the newly released cover of Steve Winwood’s “Higher Love” performed by Whitney Houston and Kygo.
Overall, my first day of WJMC was thrilling. I enjoyed meeting new people and hearing from our first speaker. I also had an interesting tour of campus and a fabulous dinner. When the opportunity arose for me to ask a question, I challenged myself to be brave and stepped up to the microphone. Before WJMC began, I was nervous because I doubted my competence. Now, that doubt is being replaced by confidence, and the nervousness has eased away into excitement. I had a delightful first day at WJMC, and I look forward to my next day of learning and experiencing.
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