finding my place in the GREAT big media world

Tuesday July 15, 2009: a day for the record books.  Sotomayor’s hearings were today, the new Harry Potter movie was released, and I devoured my first Big Mac. Although this conference is about the big picture and training to be top notch journalists, I’ve enjoyed so many of the little happenings that have made my week so enjoyable.  Besides listening to speakers, engaging in heated group discussions, and taking notes during the panels, I’ve done what journalists do best: form relationships. Who would think that five girls who have never met each other could form such a close-knit friendship in three days? If only we had a magic pair of traveling pants, then we’d have a blockbuster hit to coincide with our new friendship. Even though Megan is from Michigan, Liz is from Florida, and the rest of us scattered in between. Whether it’s dancing with the laptops in the dorm room, singing obnoxious movie themes on the bus, or eating our first big macs together in the museum, we come across a dull moment.

            When listening to Wendy Grossman from People Magazine speak about freelance journalism, she spoke about networking and building relationships because these connections can benefit you in the future. By surrounding myself with ambitious people my age working toward the same goal, I am forming those connections. When the conference is complete and we return to our home states, we’ll still keep in touch and help each other succeed. Megan, Liz, Victoria, & Haley: it’s been so great getting to know you all!

Sunday

This is my first day here at the conference and already I’m off to a running start. I’m about to embark on a demanding and life-changing journey that will allow me to explore all the diverse corners of the field of journalism. Today, all 150 attendees had the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to listen to Brian Lamb (the founder of C-SPAN) speak about his experiences in journalism and his views of what the future will bring this industry. After calling five curious yet nervous volunteers up to the podium, Lamb asked each of them: What is journalism? The result of such a seemingly simple question was pure, unspoken panic. The color quickly drained from each of the volunteers’ faces and their expressions mirrored that of a deer wandering across a highway as an eighteen wheeler roars down the lane toward it. Their spontaneous yet well-delivered answers revolved around the reporting of information to the public. As Lamb’s speech progressed, my mind kept encircling around that same question he had asked earlier. What is journalism? It is so much more than simply informing the public. Journalism gives us the inimitable experience of being the eyes and ears for people around the world who cannot witness what we do. Journalism allows people to educate themselves of worldly affairs without having to leave the comfort of the couch or looking away from their computer screen. It’s an industry fueled solely on the passionate desire to achieve which burns so brightly in the world’s journalists. The competition to achieve is cut-throat and only will rise to the top. I’m hoping the conference will help tell me if I’m one of those few. Only time will tell.

         A few months ago while skimming through the countless magazines, college adds, and bank statements I’d received in the mail, I came across a letter from George Mason University for The Washington Journalism & Media Conference. Carelessly thinking it was just another college wanting my money, I absentmindedly tossed it into the blue trash bin residing in the corner of my untidy bedroom. Less than a week later my AP English teacher spoke to our class about taking advantage of all the opportunities that enter into our path to achieving success. My mind kept traveling back to the George Mason letter buried in the depths of my trash bin. Maybe this was one of those opportunities? Maybe this was not a money scam? Maybe this was my chance to discover where my path might be leading me? I dwelt on these ideas for the remainder of the day and by last period I was more than determined to attend The Washington Journalism & Media Conference at George Mason University.

                 Four months later, after overstuffing a suitcase with suits and pumps, battling aggressive airport security, flying on two crowded airplanes, misreading the GPS, and changing time zones, I find myself sitting in a dorm at George Mason University and wondering if I have what it takes to enter the ever-changing field of the media. Just by being apart of this conference I feel as if I’ve got one of my small feet wedged in the massive metal door which opens into the world of Media and I hope that by the end of the week I’ll at least be able to poke my head in and have a look around.