marygracedickerson

July 13, 2011: Live Taping of C-Span’s “Washington Journal”

marygracedickerson — Thu, 14 Jul 2011 04:20:32 +0000

Today was very cool! We went to a live show and did a taping. The questions were great and although I did not particularly care for Tucker Carlson, it was still interesting and informative.

http://www.c-span.org/Events/Washington-Journal-for-Wednesday-July-13/10737422853-3/

http://www.c-span.org/Events/Washington-Journal-for-Wednesday-July-13/10737422853-4/

Check the videos out! Everyone had great questions!!

July 12, 2011: Trip to the National Press Club and Hoda Kotb

marygracedickerson — Wed, 13 Jul 2011 04:55:57 +0000

Today was incredible. It is late so I will be posting more tomorrow, but I just want to focus on Hoda Kotb’s speech for now. She was so upbeat and positive, even when talking about the hardships and the depressing last few years she has endured. I found it refreshing to see her positivity because in the realm of News and Media everything has become depressing. I rarely turn on the news and hear something positive. She signed my book, which was a highlight of the day. She gave us a couple of good quotes to take with us.
1. “You have to be there”-you must be present and in the moment because it is obvious when you are uninterested and then you could miss an important point or fact.
2. “Bloom where you are planted”-you must take advantage of the moment and even if the moment is not the most ideal moment to grow in, find a way to make it better and more inhabitable.
I am not sure if she was the first to say these but they really stuck with me. My favorite of those to is the first. I often find myself so rushed and hurried that I forget to stop and take in the moment and enjoy the company of the people I am with. Her example was that you could be interviewing someone and if you were not really in the moment it would sound something like this: so you turned left and then what happened? I turned right on to Ocean Street. And then what? I saw Jesus Christ. And then what/where/who/why.( This is not a verbatim example, it is just the rough idea of it) If you are not present in the moment you could miss the defining moment of the interview. This does not only apply to journalism but also in my everyday life. I strive to be positive and present in the moment, and sometimes if I am not I will miss the most important part of a conversation and then have to ask the person to repeat themselves, which is rude. I enjoyed her speech not only because she had some very insightful things to say, but because she was so comfortable and open. We laughed, we talked, and we listened. We listened to Black and Yellow and Who Dat Girl? with her. It was totally unexpected and so interesting. She is truly inspiring and full of life. I absolutely loved her speech. I think I took 50 pictures at least. It was very cool to see her speak today. She is not only wise in the ways of her profession but also in the ways of the world. It was inspiring to talk to her, and to get the true unedited answers to the questions asked by the other corespondents asked. I will talk more about the other parts of today because it was truly a full day. Tomorrow will be interesting because we will be attending the live taping of C-Span and another political show that I have forgotten the name of.

It is so late! Good Night!

July 11, 2011:Trip to the Newseum

marygracedickerson — Tue, 12 Jul 2011 04:05:13 +0000

Today was very fun! We went to the Newseum, and I loved it. I could spend a whole two days there and never get bored. I felt so nerdy, but I could not get enough of the exhibits. I found a newspaper in the Front Pages exhibit from The Virginian-Pilot, my local newspaper, dating back to the early 1900s. The 9/11 exhibit made me cry, but I can never talk about that without getting teary eyed, so that is to be expected. I enjoyed getting to know my fellow members of the yellow group better today. I think it will be a fun week!

After we got back from the Newseum, we had a small group seminar/reflection. I found it intriguing to hear everyone’s take on the exhibits. The one we spent the most time one was the Pulitzer Prize Photography exhibit. There were so many fascinating and moving pictures. There were some pictures that made you want to cry, and others that were incredibly thought provoking. My favorite photo is entitled Memorial Day. It is a picture of a grave in Arlington National Cemetery and there is a grieving woman hugging the tomb stone. The picture was so raw and it was such a special moment to have captured. I could feel the grief of the woman, and the bittersweetness she must be feeling knowing that her loved one died serving their country. I am sure she would have much rather he be alive to continue to serve his country, but she knows that he made a difference in the world. After the color group meeting, we went to dinner and then to the focus group meetings. I enjoyed my meetings and they gave me a new perspective that I had never explored. I especially enjoyed the sports journalist meeting because, although I am more interested in marketing and PR for sports, it was interesting to learn more about the actual reporting side of sports, that does not include the ladies on the sidelines that pretend to know what is going on. I really enjoyed today and I am very excited for tomorrow.

I think I am finally getting the hang of this blogging thing. Even though I tried to do this earlier and I lost what I had written because I lost internet connection. What did I learn? SAVE YOUR WORK!

Tomorrow we are going to the National Press Club! I am so excited, and I hope that Hoda Kotb will take a minute to sign my book! We will see!

Good night, I am pooped!

July 10, 2011

marygracedickerson — Sun, 10 Jul 2011 20:25:48 +0000

Hi! Today has been a long day and it is not even close to being over! The drive up was not too bad. Only one of my suitemates is here so far which is kinda of wierd…our whole suite is just empty. Tonight we have color group meetings and then the opening dinner. Right after dinner we are going to hear Chris Cilliza speak. He works for the Washington Post. It should be very interesting and I am excited to hear what he has to say! I will check in later! Time for dinner! byeee

Hello world!

marygracedickerson — Sun, 10 Jul 2011 18:26:08 +0000

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