Press Gallery

Today we went to the nation's capitol for an inside look at journalism from above the chambers of Congress. Only we had special privileges. As journalism students, we were escorted through the press gallery by Superintendent Jerry L. Gallegos. We had the opportunity to sit in the seats above each chamber where writers assigned to Congressional proceedings have recorded the nation's history through newspaper stories. It was interesting to hear of the history of journalism on Capitol Hill and the of minority journalists rising through oppression to become honored in the galleries themselves.
I have been to the Capitol before, most recently in April with a school history trip. So, most of what surprised me came from our look into the life of a journalist. I found it quite empty in the press gallery. I anticipated many more reporters attempting to find their stories. However, after consideration, I realized that Congress holds the same type of proceedings every time they meet. So, it is not surprising that most of what happens in the chamber does not get covered in the media.
I also found the history behind minorities in the press very intriguing. The fact that blacks and women were unintentionally barred from the right to cover Congress was fascinating.
I'm not sure how I feel about actually working as a writer covering Congress. I think that learning how the system works and having access to the congressmen would be interesting. But, I'm not sure how long I could stand hearing them talk about all 480 proposed museums and exhibits. I suppose I expected more active reporting. I don't think I really absorbed the process of reporting on Congress' actions.

House Press Gallery -- Amanda Shi

In the midst of the hustle and bustle of DC, lies the political heart of the country. After our trip to the House Press Gallery, the fast-paced world of political journalism was presented to me. When we first walked into the press gallery, I was surprised at how much smaller it was than I imagined. Sitting in on a hearing was really exciting for me, just because it made me feel included in a moment in our government’s history; even if it was only the passing of a bill for a mule museum. Another element that surprised me was how fast, and sometimes incoherent, the members’ talked during their reports. This trait is why I don’t think I’ll be a reporter for political events, just because I couldn’t understand half of what the members were saying. If there were some sort of teleprompter, then I would be interested in writing pieces on these events, because politicians are unpredictable and interesting to me.
I learned many things on this trip. Journalists have a challenging job, especially political journalists. There is always so much happening in the world of politics and to keep track of it and report it to the masses is both exciting and intense. Journalists also have to have a good ear for important slices of information and be able to pick them out during a hearing such as the one we attended. That to me seems very challenging, because I have a short attention span if the subject presented does not particularly peak my interest. On this trip, I also learned a lot about my state’s senator, Jim Webb. Being newly elected to office, it was interesting to see what senator brings to the table. I learned that he was fighting for the rights of minorities, which is very important especially in Virginia. I haven’t always been interested in politics, but this trip had intrigued me and I think I will be more in tune with the political world from now on. Maybe someday I’ll even write a few political news pieces.

WEEK TWO

Week Two is off to a great start. Congressional reporter Sue Davis shared key tips to covering the House -- she says comfortable shoes are the first step.
Mary McClelland of Young Voters Strategies shared her enthusiasm for getting millenials to the polls. Watch out boomers if she's right about the power of her generation.

Not Your Average Three Weeks in the District...

During the three week course, students will tour the House Press Gallery, cover a congressional hearing, attend a Pentagon press briefing, interview the First Lady's Press Secretary, visit the photography department of National Geographic magazine, tour a newsroom, and interview journalists. As they experience the relationship between journalism and politics in the nation's capital firsthand, the students will develop stories on teen voting in light of the 2008 election.

Welcome!

Welcome to the Georgetown Journalism Workshop blog. From the halls of Congress to the Pentagon, students are seeing how Washington journalists cover the nation's capital. They will use this blog along with faculty and staff to share their impressions and
reactions.