InkTank

WJC, Internships, Relationships and You

By Luke Reiter (WJC Fall '08)

Washington is a weird town.

It has the power to change your thinking, challenge your sympathies and alter your interests––and that’s if you approach it correctly. It’s composed of much more than the silver-tongued senators portrayed in movies, and likewise there’s a lot more to see than the token shot of the national mall (although it is impressive). If there are two things you’ll get in spades upon arriving in D.C., they are new experiences and tips on handling new experiences.

Many of those tips contain piercing insight and are endlessly useful, but don’t become so concerned with following the tips that you miss what’s going on around you. Following a cheat sheet that reminds you what to say, wear, think or do in a given set of circumstances will encumber more than if you had dived in with a little pluck and no plan. I won’t trouble you with the quotidian how-to list: you’ll learn by experience which side of the escalator to stand on, how to sneak onto the Metro without paying (this is not WJC endorsed) and what to order at Ben’s Chili Bowl.

My advice is simple, and it’s more about you than D.C. Heaven knows what you will see and do in the next four months, but I can promise you how much you gain from your time will a direct return on how much of yourself you invest. What you get out of this semester depends on you.

An ode written about life at the Washington Journalism Center

One of the more interesting pages I read this semester. Written to the theme song of the "Fresh Prince of Bel Air."

Scavenger Hunt Spring 2010

Vote!  The WJC Spring 2010 students have made their digital scavenger hunts available via YouTube. We're asking all SIJ/WJC alums to cast your votes by Sunday at 9 a.m. for the best scavenger hunt video. Help your heirs win something cool!

To cast your vote, simply place a comment at the end of this piece with your vote the winning team.

For each team, you'll see their assignment and their video.

Scavenger Hunt Fall 2009

Vote!  The WJC Fall 2009 students have made their digital scavenger hunts available via YouTube. We're asking all SIJ/WJC alums to cast your votes by Friday at 9 a.m. for the best scavenger hunt video. Help your heirs win something cool!

To cast your vote, simply place a comment at the end of this piece with your vote the winning team.

For each team, you'll see their assignment and their video.

How to be the Coolest Kid at the Washington Journalism Center

By Natalie Lester (WJC Spring '09)

Incoming Washington Journalism Center students,

There are a million and one suggestions I could make about your semester in D.C. and a trillion more stories I could tell you about mine.  However, quick advice is usually the best. 

Having an awesome semester this fall will be easy, but making the absolute most of it and having the time of your life takes a little more effort.  To help, I have come up with ten tips to help you be the coolest kid in the program (and you’re taking the tips from the right person, trust me).

Number one: absolutely do NOT box yourself in. In WJC classes, you can sit in the same seat, but make a point to connect at some point with every person in the room.  In your internship, look for stories that are outside of your comfort zone (ask about the popsicle baby story) and meet everyone in your newsroom.  Do not ever be afraid to put yourself out there when if comes to discussions on politics, media, or religion.  No matter if you are in the class, your newsroom, or on the metro – your opinion always matters. Plus, the more people you talk to the more you learn and the more you will understand about different points of view.

Tmatt's Answer to the Struggling News Biz

The lede from WJC Director Terry Mattingly's column today:

WASHINGTON BUREAU: Terry Mattingly's religion column for 7/08/09.

Sex, sex, sex. That seemed to be the only thing United Methodists were
talking about the year that the Rev. James V. Heidinger II took
command at Good News, a national movement for his church's
evangelicals.

Chris Moody (WJC Fall '06)'s email response:

Tmatt's lede: Sex, sex, sex.

I believe that Tmatt may have unlocked the secret for saving the news media. Think about it...we might be on to something. This could be the Washington Post:

Clashes Subside as Troops Arrive in Chinese Region
URUMQI, China, July 8 -- Sex, sex, sex. The Chinese government blanketed this strife-torn city with 20,000 new security troops on Wednesday, as thousands of residents began to flee following the deadly ethnic clashes that erupted over the weekend.

Power of Stimulus Slow to Take Hold
WASHINGTON -- Sex, sex, sex. Five months after Congress approved a massive package of spending and tax cuts aimed at reviving an ailing economy, the jobless rate is still climbing and the White House is scrambling to reassure an anxious public that President Obama's prescription for economic recovery is on the right track.

When a small animal meets its untimely death on your article

By way of Erica Simons, WJC Fall 07 (some advice for current WJC journalism students on taking edits):

Yes, it will look like a bloody mess.

It may even feel as though those red marks denoting your mistakes are slicing into your very soul.

If you are like me and you haven’t had much experience, learning to take edits is one of the major lessons of this semester.

The truth is, an editor changing your lede past the point of recognition and WJC Director Terry Mattingly’s question marks and exclamation points are opportunities for growth.

Journalism: Can I do this?

I have a confession to make. I thought  journalism would be easy. After writing for my school newspaper for two semesters, I had fallen in love. The part of journalism that I had seen was easy and fun. My interviews were interesting. My favorite part was hearing different stories and then being able to write about them.

I heard about Washington, D.C and was determined to go. I was positive I had all the skills necessary to be a good reporter. My natural curiosity and love for meeting new people were the main reasons I was convinced that journalism was for me. I figured that I would take D.C. by storm.

Upon arriving in the city and sitting through my first day of classes I have realized that journalism is much more than attending cool events and meeting fascinating people. There are two aspects to journalism that I have become aware of and that I am nervous about.

Viewer's Choice Awards: Scavenger Hunts

Vote!  This is the first time we've had our digital scavenger hunts available via YouTube. We're asking all SIJ/WJC alums to cast your votes by Friday at midnight for the best scavenger hunt video. Help your heirs win something cool!

To cast your vote, simply place a comment at the end of this piece with your vote the winning team.

For each team, you'll see their assignment and their video.

Incoming WJCer covers Da Bears

Incoming WJC Student Kendall Cramer has been covering the Chicago Bears training camp for a local radio station. Here is the day two training broadcast:

Download 07.24.08_Bears_News2.wav