A long, convoluted post...
This week was loooong. Monday, I worked at Nightline. I stayed through most of the show, and worked with a girl that graduated from Georgetown with Nick. It was interesting putting the show together, but the executive producers didn't really want to let me do anything. One producer was great, though--he is from Omaha, and we've talked a couple of times since I've been there. He's done a lot of investigative work (my favorite!), and just started with Nightline--he worked on 20/20 and Primetime before.
The next day, of course, was the State of the Union address. I arrived at the Capitol at 9:30am, worked there all day, then went back to the bureau at night to help during the broadcast. The Capitol was busy that day, as so many senators and reps were willing to talk before the address. I didn't do any interviews, but I was part of the group of reporters around Trent Lott, John McCain, Harry Reid, Barbara Boxer, Nancy Pelosi, Arlen Specter, etc. They are pretty approachable in that part of the Capitol, they just come out and talk to reporters. The Capitol was so full of reporters and TV crews that afternoon, as everyone set up for the broadcasts later that evening. Statuary Hall and the rotunda of the Russel Senate Office Buliding were covered with cords, cameras, and people. Elizabeth Vargas and George Stephanopoulos were at the Capitol earlier in the day, but I didn't get to meet them. Hopefully, I'll get to work with both of them before I leave. Also, Charlie Gibson was in town for the broadcast. I want to meet him, too, as Danny says he's the nicest guy he's met in TV. Nick also likes him because he was a Peace Corps Volunteer. Anyway, I digress. Back at the bureau that night, I was in the control room, following the speech script line by line so that the producers could do other things and I could catch them up to the right place in the speech. It was pretty cool to be in Washington for the State of the Union, but I would've liked to be at the Capitol for the address--don't know when I'll have that opportunity again :) Some of my fellow grad students got to cover the address from the Capitol. Lucky!
The rest of the week flew by. I put in 40+ hours in 4 days, so I was pretty happy to rest up and lay low the rest of the week while I was home. I did get to cover a press conference on the Gen Re criminal indictments handed down mid-week, and ABC's producer at the Department of Justice was great--he trusts me to cover news for him when he's busy. I sat in the back of a meeting room while reporters from all the networks interviewed Alberto Gonzales--agree with his decisions or not, he's really good under pressure, and never seems to lose his cool (see earlier post about his speech at Georgetown Law). He just ends up laughing everything off, and dancing around questions, so it's hard to be mean to him during an interview. It was really cool to compare the different interview styles the network reporters brought to the table (ABC, NBC, CBS, FOX, CNN). After things calmed down, the producer gave a great tour of the DOJ, and tried to convince me to skip my seminars the next day to see Scooter Libby in court Friday morning. I went to the seminars, but told him to ask my boss to send me over during the juicy scandal trials :)
We had our Washington Program seminar on Friday, with 2 great speakers. One who works for Hearst papers (where we also met Journalism legend Helen Thomas!), and the other who is a Mizzou alum and a media lawyer at a great law firm in DC. I might like to have his job in a few years... Don't worry mom, I'll pay my student loans off before I go back to school!!!
Another highlight of the week--as a member of the National Press Club, I can go to Taco Night every Friday. Free tacos for members and guests, with a $3 drink minimum. Given that Corona is $1.91 a bottle, it's the perfect outing for a bunch of poor grad students!!! We also got into a little verbal throwdown with a recent Northwestern grad--you know, the whole who has the best J-school debate. I've talked to recent Syracuse and Columbia Master's grads, too, and hands down, Mizzou is the best program. Suckers.
One more thing--Cheney's motorcade passed by while I was waiting for the bus home. Motorcades are pretty cool, as the motorcycle cops weave through traffic and clear a path for the limos that speed by... then there's the SUV, windows down, full of military people carrying AK-47's ready to shoot on sight... that was a little scary.
OK, I'm going to wrap this up and go to bed! Another long week is in store... more updates later!
The next day, of course, was the State of the Union address. I arrived at the Capitol at 9:30am, worked there all day, then went back to the bureau at night to help during the broadcast. The Capitol was busy that day, as so many senators and reps were willing to talk before the address. I didn't do any interviews, but I was part of the group of reporters around Trent Lott, John McCain, Harry Reid, Barbara Boxer, Nancy Pelosi, Arlen Specter, etc. They are pretty approachable in that part of the Capitol, they just come out and talk to reporters. The Capitol was so full of reporters and TV crews that afternoon, as everyone set up for the broadcasts later that evening. Statuary Hall and the rotunda of the Russel Senate Office Buliding were covered with cords, cameras, and people. Elizabeth Vargas and George Stephanopoulos were at the Capitol earlier in the day, but I didn't get to meet them. Hopefully, I'll get to work with both of them before I leave. Also, Charlie Gibson was in town for the broadcast. I want to meet him, too, as Danny says he's the nicest guy he's met in TV. Nick also likes him because he was a Peace Corps Volunteer. Anyway, I digress. Back at the bureau that night, I was in the control room, following the speech script line by line so that the producers could do other things and I could catch them up to the right place in the speech. It was pretty cool to be in Washington for the State of the Union, but I would've liked to be at the Capitol for the address--don't know when I'll have that opportunity again :) Some of my fellow grad students got to cover the address from the Capitol. Lucky!
The rest of the week flew by. I put in 40+ hours in 4 days, so I was pretty happy to rest up and lay low the rest of the week while I was home. I did get to cover a press conference on the Gen Re criminal indictments handed down mid-week, and ABC's producer at the Department of Justice was great--he trusts me to cover news for him when he's busy. I sat in the back of a meeting room while reporters from all the networks interviewed Alberto Gonzales--agree with his decisions or not, he's really good under pressure, and never seems to lose his cool (see earlier post about his speech at Georgetown Law). He just ends up laughing everything off, and dancing around questions, so it's hard to be mean to him during an interview. It was really cool to compare the different interview styles the network reporters brought to the table (ABC, NBC, CBS, FOX, CNN). After things calmed down, the producer gave a great tour of the DOJ, and tried to convince me to skip my seminars the next day to see Scooter Libby in court Friday morning. I went to the seminars, but told him to ask my boss to send me over during the juicy scandal trials :)
We had our Washington Program seminar on Friday, with 2 great speakers. One who works for Hearst papers (where we also met Journalism legend Helen Thomas!), and the other who is a Mizzou alum and a media lawyer at a great law firm in DC. I might like to have his job in a few years... Don't worry mom, I'll pay my student loans off before I go back to school!!!
Another highlight of the week--as a member of the National Press Club, I can go to Taco Night every Friday. Free tacos for members and guests, with a $3 drink minimum. Given that Corona is $1.91 a bottle, it's the perfect outing for a bunch of poor grad students!!! We also got into a little verbal throwdown with a recent Northwestern grad--you know, the whole who has the best J-school debate. I've talked to recent Syracuse and Columbia Master's grads, too, and hands down, Mizzou is the best program. Suckers.
One more thing--Cheney's motorcade passed by while I was waiting for the bus home. Motorcades are pretty cool, as the motorcycle cops weave through traffic and clear a path for the limos that speed by... then there's the SUV, windows down, full of military people carrying AK-47's ready to shoot on sight... that was a little scary.
OK, I'm going to wrap this up and go to bed! Another long week is in store... more updates later!
posted by t. at 11:14 PM
2 Comments:
Sounds really cool! I wondered about you while I watched the coverage of the State of the Union address. What an awesome opportunity for you!
A.
Charlie Gibson is my favorite as well. Sunday shows have been shuffled a bit around here and now George Stepenopolous (sp?) is against Tim Russert and meet the press. Sorry, but Tim is going to win that battle everytime.
loved the details of the post...I want to go out and have a corona and taco right now...later!
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