Chesapeake Bay!

The last week of the WSP SP 11

"I'm on a Boat." -- I feel this is appropriate

Our class took a trip to Annapolis for a beautiful, and educational, day on the Chesapeake Bay!

We spent a few hours on a skipjack -- there are only a few left in the US and it's over 100 years old.

(life jackets and hats were available upon request)

Not only was it a beautiful, warm and sunny day (83 degrees!), but it was also nice to see the Chesapeake Bay in person. 

......and of course... learn about problems facing the bay from the Chesapeake Bay Foundation 

from the Communications Director, Elizabeth Buckman.

Fun Facts About the Bay

• The bay touches six states
• One oyster can filter 50 gallons of water a day
• The bay is about 200-miles long
• Average depth = 21 feet
• Nitrogen Phosphorus is a major pollutant for the bay.

Dave Johnson

DAVE JOHNSON

WTOP RADIO

• 14 years as play-by-play announcer for Washington Wizards
• Morning Jive Radio on WTOP
• Covered Soccer World Cup in Munich, Germany 

Words of Wisdom from Dave Johnson:

"What are people talking about today? Either talk about what is going on or give them something to talk about."

"It's not working if it's something you enjoy doing."

'Develop writing skills -- a good writer will never starve."

"The skill of writing a story helps you tell a story."

"Do a little of everything" (in regard to convergence media: twitter, web, print, broadcasting)

"NO W.G.A.S. STORIES" (W.G.A.S = who gives a shoot)

WSP is Coming to a Close

Washington Semester Program 

Spring 2011

I can't believe this semester is almost over. It seems like only yesterday I was leaving the Windy City and heading toward the Nation's Capitol... Wow, time has gone by so fast... 

I can say that I have truly fallen in love with Washington DC and am so grateful for all of the opportunities I have been given since arriving in January.

This summer I will be staying in Washington, working for a well known author on their website and interning. 

Things I have Learned Since Arriving in DC:

1.  Metro & Public Transportation: 

• It is much more crowded than Chicago
• The rail handles on the train were made for 6ft men
• You WILL meet very interesting people on the train, and especially on the bus
• Get with the flow of public transportation, don't second guess your stop or the line you are taking or else you will be eaten alive by the passengers who are on the go!! 
• The metro system flows like a bicycle spoke -- everything flows toward the inner city and then back out

    2. Social Life:

•  Going out has its benefits...including networking and meeting other young professionals
•  U Street is very popular
• Themed Bars = Pirates

   3. Sight Seeing:

• There are more museums, parks, and historical landmarks than you can imagine. You will never see everything this city has to offer because there is SO much.

    4. WSP:

• The Washington Semester Program is a once in a life time opportunity. I am so fortunate for everything I have experienced and for all of the people I have met. I will forever tell my fellow peers about this program and encourage students to apply for the program.

Politico

POLITICO

Politico is American Political journalism at its best.

Beth Frerking

• Beth is the managing editor of Politico and a true professional. Today she gave us resume tips for young journalists applying for jobs in Washington. In a nutshell... you have to be on your A game.

1. NO RESUME MISTAKES: Grammar, spelling, none. "If you can't even get basic information correct how can I trust you to get things on of national importance correct?"
2. NO MORE THAN 1 - 2 PAGE RESUMES
3. COVER LETTER: Know the company that you're applying to, Know their tone, Know what they are about and what kind of publication it is. 
4. SELL YOURSELF: "I don't care what I can do for you, it's what you can do for me. I need to know that you're willing to do X,Y, and Z. Why should I pick you and don't say, " I think it would be really neat to work here. I need to know why you're better than someone else."
5. INTERNSHIPS = They are stepping stones. You need experience.
6. MOXIE: "I need to know that you're willing to do whatever it takes, even if that means hopping on a plane two hours later."

 Martin Kady

• Martin is the Congressional Editor of Politico. 

1. "Politico explains who is in power and who is in charge of deals that are going on in Washington."
2. "Politico is about pulling back the curtain."
3. You have to be dedicated and quick moving.
4. "You have to ask yourself, 'am I willing to do that? Can I drop everything and go?"

Kendra Marr

• She is only 25 and covers the White House beat

1. Covering a certain beat helps you find out the foundation and facts. It helps you see the bigger picture.
2. You have to be able to drop everything and go.

NRA

Glen Caroline

Director, NRA-ILA Grassroots Division

(NRA - National Rifle Association)

"safety, responsibility, freedom"

Brief History on NRA:

• Founded in 1871
• 4 million members
• Oldest Civil Rights organization is United States

 "The question shouldn't be about the weapon used for violence, it should be about what pushed these individuals to act out."

1.  Second Amendment

-The Right to Bare Arms - "it's an individual right.


    2.  Gun Control as a Failure to Reduce Crime

-Criminals are law breaks. They wont register their guns if they are going to commit a crime anyways.
-Guns are used for self-defense 2.5 million times a year (doesn't always mean gun is fired, just present)
-->3.5 times more than to commit crimes

   3.    NRA Enforces and Encourages

- Project Exile: enforcing existing laws that are already in place
- Right to Carry: 21-years-old and gun class
- Instant Check (although people do slide through the cracks, like AZ crime)
-Wright/Rossi study in 80s
   -->example) bank robber is less likely to rob bank if he thinks other people are carrying guns that could be used against him.

Overall Mr. Caroline was a very significant guest speaker in his ability to present information and guest speaking and has a lot of interesting information and points of view.

Iris Krasnow 101

Iris Krasnow

 Iris is our WSP journalism professor, as well as an author, journalist, wife and mother; but today, she was our guest speaker. 

Life Lessons by Iris Krasnow: 

"Do it in your 20s: all of your freedom and all of your fun."

"Drink deeply of this amazing city."

Balancing Family and Career

• Your gut is always right. Do what makes your gut happy.
• When you have a family and kids, they will become the center of your life, then your career.
• Freelance! Freelance! Freelance!
• Journalists are typically poor.
• Your boss expects your work to come first, not your kids.
• You can't have it all (with family and career)
• Don't just email, knock on the door. COMMUNICATION.
• Truth takes time.
• "Things could always be worse."
• Everyone has a book in them
• Be brief, dramatic, and funny.
• Go forward, not backward
• Never lose sight of your family -- you only have one.

The End of Men

Hanna Rosin 

• Author, journalist, feminist writer
• Writes for Double X
• Writes for The Atlantic
• Previously worked for the Washington Post
• Hilarious video experiment with her husband: 15 Feet Apart 

15 Feet Apart is an experiment where Hanna and her husband spent the entire day with 15 feet of eachother: at work, using the restroom, and even eating out of the same bowl at meals together. It's pretty unique and funny.

Good News for Journalist: There are lots of jobs out there for young, technically savvy journalists

Bad News for Journalist: Speed burns you out;you get tired of it, fast.

Hanna writes a lot for a more direct feminist audience. Why do woman need their own magazine? Woman have different interest than men. In the modern age there is a lot of focus on the improvement of woman and equal rights. For example: Title 9 and McKinsey & Company.

Hanna spoke about the importance of targeting the specific female audience. Females ARE the largest reader-audience.