Having been back from Washington for more than a month now, I have spent quite a bit of time updating my contact book, sorting through my Georgetown class notes, and wrapping up other loose ends. I’ve also been thinking through how I benefited from the summer. Since many friends have asked me what I learned, I will briefly outline some ways I profited for those of you who are wondering the same thing.

Professionally
1. How DC works politically and professionally. With my press pass I had access to diverse events around the city. Seeing so many things was an education in itself.
2. I formed a network of people with similar interests. Both in class and at work I found people who share my photographic interests or my political values. I hope to continue to draw on the experience, insight, and imagination of these coworkers and friends.
3. I also learned how to apply for highly competitive internships. I was far too timid in seeking internships in DC for this summer. My method of sending off an application, resume, and portfolio, then timidly waiting for a reply is not sufficient. To penetrate competitive DC news rooms you really need to contact the appropriate manager directly to get the ball rolling. I think that in some offices the summer interns have been chosen long before the actual applications have come in. Also important is knowing people in the industry who can recommend you and make calls for you. The same applies with most competitive internships around Washington.

Journalistically
1. While I have long had an interest in journalism, this summer gave me a better opportunity to immerse myself in that world. I now have a much better picture of the landscape of the news industry and the political leanings and coverage style of specific organizations.
2. Through my work at KRT I got a crash course in hard journalism. Terms like pickups, daybooks, and stakeouts now mean something to me. I also have a better idea how large news bureaus plan their daily coverage.
3. Trying to keep up with current events for class discussions led me to develop a news routine–a set of websites and publications that I check regularly for news and opinion. I continue the never-ending process of figuring out how to most efficiently follow the news.
4. In my journalism class I gained more experience with weaving facts into a story, rather than just giving a factual report.
5. In following the news and looking at case studies, I gained a new awareness of the importance of the news cycle. Important events that fall at a bad time in the news cycle can go almost unnoticed. A public statement issued at the wrong time of day, or followed by some more noteworthy news event, can be lost to the public eye. Savvy politicians and public relations professionals have long realized the importance of using the business cycle to their advantage. They time events carefully and try to ensure that their news isn’t overshadowed by some other news story that could have been predicted.

Another question I have been asked many times is whether this is what I want to do when I graduate. My answer? Yes and no. I loved the variety and the political/journalistic side of my work, but I found myself wishing for more creative options in my photography. Furthermore, I don’t see myself working as photographer long-term. My interests and training are leading in the direction of a career in business and technology.

I think an understanding of journalism and current events is important regardless of my career, and this program has helped develop an area where I was deficient. In a broader sense it has added to that broad category of "life experiences" that contribute to an individual’s education.

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I intend to write one more post for my blog sometime this week. That will probably be the last post for this dispensation of my blogging life. I would love to start a personal blog at some point, but it may be a while before my schedule permits.