kkguitar25

C-SPAN

kkguitar25 — Fri, 15 Jul 2011 04:30:27 +0000

Yesterday, I was able to be part of the live audience of C-SPAN’s “Washington Journal”, with moderator Steve Scully and guests Governor Tim Kain (former governor of Virginia) and political pundit Tucker Carlson. I got to ask the latter a question–on TV! Here’s the link for the video (my part begins at 9:17):

http://www.c-spanvideo.org/program/Tucker

P.S.: I loved Tucker Carlson’s oufit!

My Trip to the Newseum and My Debut as a Broadcast Journalist

kkguitar25 — Thu, 14 Jul 2011 05:02:21 +0000

I went to the Newseum of Washington D.C. on Monday, and yes, it is a museum about news (and more!). It was really cool, and I highly recommend it. I visited the Pulitzer-Prize-Winning Photojournalism exhibit, and the images made an impact on everyone in my group. Many people were most affected by the photograph of a starving African girl kneeling on the ground in pain as a vulture waits a few feet behind her. The photographer of this image, Kevin Carter, did not help the girl because he had been told not to for health reasons. After walking away, he cried under a tree for six hours. After winning the award, he was so distressed about his lack of action that he committed suicide shortly after. We had a debate afterwards about photojournalists, and how they should determine whether or not to take action, or just to capture the shot. I believe that a photojournalist should ask himself or herself this question: “Would I help more people by taking action at this moment, or by taking this photograph and sharing it with the world?” That way, the journalist can decide whether they wish to save the photography subjects (if appropriate), or is they should share the evils of the world by taking the photograph and sharing it.

Later on, I visited the Hurricane Katrina exhibit. It was quite clear that journalists felt that New Orleans was not getting enough aid, and many accused the situation of stemming from racism. The front pages from around the world that concerned the issue were heartbreaking.

Proof that we need journalists to ask tough questions

America will always have pride. It saddened me to see people wading in water in front of their homes. I thought it was upsetting to recognize exterior decorations hanging outside of a house, such as an ornament on the door or a family’s last name, because that made the devastation even more real.

I love the above photo, because it truly captures the resilience of New Orleans (something that Ms. Hoda Kotb mentioned so much in her book). This woman is wearing bright yellow, waving balloons and ribbons, and is dancing in front of her reconstructed home. How lovely. With the Superbowl win for the New Orleans Saints in 2010, the region showed even more hope and progress.

I left a little note on the guestbook that read,

I got to see the Berlin Wall–the largest piece in one place–and a real guard tower. The picture below fascinated me.

It seems so unreal, as if it were taken from a movie.

Next stop was to the FBI exhibit, which had pieces from the Lindbergh baby kidnapping, gangsters, the Unabomber’s cabin, the Oklahoma City bombing, and the D.C. Snipers. The latter is a very interesting, yet scary, case. The photo below is of a caption from the D.C. Snipers exhibit that shows how media can take over a situation (such as the recent hysteria it create with the Casey Anthony trial), and get in the way of finding truth and real answers.

I also noticed that the initial suspects for the Oklahoma City bombing were two Middle-Eastern men, which further supports the stereotype that has been created in America today. I think that 9/11 was the single most influential turning point in the first decade of the 21st century. No doubt. Because of the situation, airport security has been increased (full body scans?!), stereotypes have become more severe, and various government sites are now off limits to tourists. But most of all, 9/11 was a horrible day. So many people experienced emotional trauma, whether it be caused by losing a loved one, watching people jump from buildings, and overall worrying. Once the planes hit, everyone panicked. Why wouldn’t they?The 9/11 exhibit was very emotional for me. The video featured a film clip of the second plane “lowering, and then turning” into the second building. I had never seen that video, especially from that angle, and it brought tears to my eyes. It symbolized that hate that is in the world, and the fear that will forever live on. Here’s another couple of powerful photos:

I met Hoda Kotb today!

kkguitar25 — Wed, 13 Jul 2011 04:54:05 +0000

What an amazing experience I’m having at the WJMC Conference. It’s truly amazing. I’ve learned so much from every lecture, and I even got to meet the famed Hoda Kotb this afternoon. She gave an enthusiastic speech detailing the travails of her journey that led to where she is today. My favorite parts of the speech–I’m sure they were everyone’s favorite parts–were when she imitated her Egyptian mother’s accent and when she blasted Wiz Khalifa’s “Black and Yellow” and Flo Rida and Akon’s “Who Dat Girl”. She’s just awesome. So genuine.

It was my mission to get my Hoda: How I Survived War Zones, Bad Hair, Cancer, and Kathie Lee book signed by her and to get a photo, and I didn’t care if I had to stay until after everyone left in order to accomplish my goal. Well, I lucked out, because I ended up being the third person in line for the book signing. I told Hoda that my dream job is to be a talk show host, and that I really look up to her. I had a girl try to get photos of me standing next to her, but all four pictures came out blurry, and Hoda was barely in them. I stayed for awhile longer, despite the directions to leave once my book was signed, in order to get a better picture. I recruited another girl as my one-person paparazzi team, and this time, success! Dean Andrew Flagel said, “Hey! What photo round is this for you?” He said it with a smile, but I explained, in a regrettably whiny tone, how the last pictures were terrible. Hoda heard me (she was trying to rush through all of the books–she didn’t want to leave without signing them), and quickly took a break from signing to pose. The photo is slightly blurry, but still amazes me.

As I left the National Press Club Ballroom, where the lectures were held, I viewed the photos hanging on the wall of the celebrities that have been in the Club. The first person I saw–and recognized–was Nick Jonas. Shows my years, I suppose!

While all of us WJMC correspondents were waiting in the lobby, Hoda came down, and we posed with her in a group photo. As soon as the girl snapped the photo, the security guard screamed, “NO PHOTOS IN THE LOBBY!” Hoda’s look was priceless. They snapped the photo, but unfortunately, I was cut out. What a great day, though!

: It reads, “Kristi– Good luck honey! XO Hoda 2011″

I’m Here!!!!

kkguitar25 — Sun, 10 Jul 2011 20:01:07 +0000

Yay! Today is Day One of the Washington Journalism & Media Conference held at George Mason University. Once I arrived, I checked in and immediately went up to my dorm to change out of my jeans (it is so hot here!). After settling into my room,–a brand spankin’ new one, may I add–I went on a campus tour. This university is HUGE! It has four campuses, with a total of over 33,000 students. Despite its large size, the school is very well-kept, and nearly all of the buildings are new. Our tour guide said that it is estimated that the school spends about one million dollars per day on construction. I have a big week ahead of me, so I better rest up. I’ll keep you posted on my experience, though!

Here’s a picture of me wearing my complimentary “ Washington Journalism & Media Conference ” T-Shirt!

Exploring Careers

kkguitar25 — Sat, 18 Jun 2011 12:21:20 +0000

As a junior, I am highly aware of the fact that getting into a good college involves having superhuman characteristics. You have to be a star athlete, the president of five clubs, have over 350 hours of community service, and you have to be in the top ten of your class. Now, that’s obviously a little hyperbolic there, but it’s pretty close. It’s important to work hard and get into the school you want, but what if you don’t know what career you’d like to go into? That’s my problem, and that’s why I visited my mom’s friend, Tina Lincer, at Union College yesterday to explore her career.

I’m very interested in English, Communications, and Business. Although I have yet to be in a class that excites me everyday, I think that my business classes have come the closest to being a passion. I love studying advertisements and the media, and how they directly affect people. I always notice certain techniques that marketers use to portray certain messages. I notice what type of things the actors in commercials say–or don’t say–and I realize why certain imagery is used to demonstrate a product.

This coming year is going to involve a lot of test drives for me. I visited Tina yesterday because she writes the text, chooses the photographs, and edits press materials that are sent out to potential students, parents, or even to current students. I immediately recognized the Union College brochures. They stood out from the rest of the college brochures I’ve received (I’ve probably gotten over 300 by now!) because they are printed on nice paper, and are not glossy and superficial. They are well-designed, and colorful. I’m very into grammar, writing, and photography, so I met up with Tina to see if I’d like her occupation. I helped her choose pictures to be put in a brochure for students about various volunteer opportunities available to them. It was interesting to see why some photos were worthy, and others were not. I learned a lot from the experience, and I also asked Tina about the various departments of PR. I learned that I do have a talent for the visual aspect of things. I also realized which types of public relations seemed more appealing to me.

I’m going to be exploring further careers this summer and during my senior year at high school, just in time for college. I’m attending the Washington Journalism and Media Conference at George Mason University this July to determine whether or not I like the field of journalism. I’m going to be taking four English classes in school (AP English, Journalism, Creative Writing, and Social Issues Literature & Writing), and I will be engaged in an internship program. I will be interning at a local magazine (so far I am leaning towards magazine journalism, as opposed to the other forms) and at a marketing firm.

This year will be full of new things, opportunities, and decisions! Wish me luck!

View This Poll[polldaddy poll=5154194]

Yay for WJMC!

kkguitar25 — Fri, 10 Jun 2011 21:06:40 +0000

I can’t wait to attend the Washington Journalism and Media Conference this July. It is being held at George Mason University, and it will be an amazing experience. I read the schedule yesterday, and I am looking forward to the fun events I’ll be involved in. The gala, the C-SPAN taping, the newseum….the list goes on and on! I’m using this conference to help me explore the field of journalism, and decide whether a career in journalism is something I’d like to work towards.

I’m definitely leaning towards studying how the media affects people. Although I have not found my true passion yet, I believe that marketing and business have come the closest. I like seeing how people are affected by what they see and hear, and I thus enjoy learning about the techniques that journalists and marketers use to portray a topic or product a certain way.

I am going to be taking four English classes this coming school year–Journalism, AP English, Creative Writing, and Social Issues Literature & Writing. I am also taking Sociology. I find the communications and business world very interesting, and I am looking forward to meeting all of the other selected students at the conference this summer!

-Kristi