Just for now...

Grab your tissue boxes people, this is going to be the last post from Washington DC - it might get a little sloppy. It is all coming to an end – the internship, the course work, the semester, the year and of course the DC experience. People always say corny things like: “it was so much more then I ever expected” or “I found myself” or “I am grateful for the experience and opportunity to meet the amazing people I now call my friends.” Well, turns out I am one of those corny people…bummer I know, I expected more too.

I was not prepared for this experience. I was nervous about where I was going to live, the people I was going to live with and the opportunities I was going have in the city and in my professional environment. I worried about missing people at school and the TCU football season. I worried about not having enough to do. I worried about changing. In addition to worrying about the WRONG things, I am obviously a worrywart, so annoying.

Well, I live (have lived) in a rough part of town, not the roughest, but definitely on the edge. It has made me a lot more aware of my surroundings and thankful for everything my family has – it also motivates me to strive for better. The people I have lived with have taught me a lot about myself and created quality friendships that I never thought would be possible in such a short period of time. I have fallen in love with DC, but I sometimes wonder if part of the reason I love it so much is because of my better half – she and I have done so much together and made the most of this experience in every way possible – DC will never be the same without her. At dinner one night, we talked about what we liked best about this experience and what we disliked the most – the choice was simple for both (however, I went first and my likes and dislikes seemed to pale in comparison…but I stand by mine) Best: my better half – meeting her, building a friendship and experiencing DC together (the good, the bad and the ugly). It will be difficult to leave (like it was difficult separating for Thanksgiving…we are girls ok? Back off!) but thankfully we are both returning to TCU in the spring so it is just good-bye for now. The bad: the gosh-darn Metro. It seems silly, but I look forward to the day when my time table is no longer ruled by a train that constantly remind me to "Step back, the doors are closing."

I have had MANY opportunities in the city – historical, cultural, political, personal – I never should have worried about that. I rarely sleep (slept) because there is SO much to do and part of the anxiety surrounding the end of this experience is whether we will be able to get everything in before we leave. If not, I guess we will just have to come back! I have missed people at school and the football games at the stadium (RIP) but I have stayed in contact with those people who mean the most and we have bled purple every Saturday from DC as if we were in Fort Worth Texas.

I NEVER should have worried about the opportunities I would have at work – I have become a stronger writer, strategist, communicator and professional. I have been able to develop skills and hone talents. I have worked with several clients, projects and strategies. As I have mentioned before, the Eldercare Workforce Alliance is one of our clients I have had the opportunity to work with and I have enjoyed the entire experience with them. Ok…that's a lie. I had to transcribe fifteen 5+ minute interviews and it got to the point where I was telling the person sitting next to me on the airplane ride back from Thanksgiving what I was doing and who I was doing it for (needless to say, the gentleman wasn’t thinking about the quality of care he would be receiving in 50 years…but he was now – just to clarify, he was probably 10…and he is most likely having nightmares now. But you know what, it is an important issue – the crisis is NOW!) I also have the opportunity to help create an introductory video (using the content I transcribed) for EWA – which is something I didn’t think about needing experience in, but I am up for the challenge and look forward to telling their story.

I have learned how to write a press release, how to pitch to the media, how to run social media ads, how to research clients and information. I have learned how to juggle several different projects and agendas, I have learned how to put together a video (from beginning to end) – all of which will put me far ahead of my peers in the spring when I am looking for a job (ahhhh…I am looking for a job…deep breaths – just keep breathing – song reference? Ehh? Anyone?)

The professional experience hasn’t always been rainbows and butterflies – I have messed up, I have been stressed, I have made mistakes, but learning how to move from those is a skill I wasn’t looking to develop but one I got as a bonus. Working for Tricom has reaffirmed my commitment to public relations and has really got me excited for my career (but I’m not ready to talk about graduation yet, so I am excited in theory at the moment).

I also shouldn’t have worried about changing – of course I was going to change. As some one who hates change and deals with it poorly, I think it's great that I know I am not the same person who arrived in DC three and half months ago. I have grown. I have loved. I have learned about myself as a person but also as a professional. I have become stronger and more confident. And my long term plans have expanded – since being in DC and working on issues relating to politics, I have started to entertain the thought of working on the Hill, which I would have to do NOW while I have the freedom and stamina to do so.

Basically, this experience is in need of several more corny sayings to describe it: “I fell in love”, “I am thankful for this opportunity in ways that I am only just beginning to realize”, “I know that this was the best decision for me and it will be a story to tell the grandkids” and “I will miss the streets, the people, the history, the buildings, the food, the wine, the metro – NO, I WILL NOT MISS THE METRO! – but I will miss everything that made DC such an amazing place to live and work” – I came to DC as a trial run. I hate change and with possibly the biggest change occurring at the end of next semester – I though why not do a trial run…well this was far more successful then I ever could have imagined and maybe I am more prepared then I knew. If you are waiting for the portion of the post where I talk about all the rough times and how difficult everything was, you are going to be disappointed. No matter what happened (bad, worse or awful), I will never let it overshadow what I got – confidence, friends, family, experience, love and education. Kali 4.0 is here people – look out!

Pilgrims and Indians

Four weeks from tomorrow is my last day of work. Four weeks from Friday will be my last roommate dinner. Four weeks from Saturday will be my last day in DC. So the DC experience is almost over - I have started Christmas shopping, picked my classes for last semester and started planning graduation, so not only is the semester over, but college is almost over...I am going to take a few moments to take some deep breaths...and now, I am back.

So before I spend time reflecting on my experiences and being all mushy-gushy...I want to do a traditional thanksgiving post of what I am thankful for this year:

I am thankful for...

Family, Health, Love, Democracy, Life, The Holiday Season, My Gut, Friends, Friends who are like Family, Christmas music, Wine (red, white, slightly too pink...whatever), TCU Football, Uncle Bob, Fans, Taylor Swift, TCU Alumni, the color Purple, Laughing, Peak Foliage, History, Vision, Socks, Pixar, Number Cruncher, Washington Post Top Ten, Luck, Sei, Glee, Growth, Recovery, Pumpkins, White Chili, Austin, New Orleans, Extended Family of Friends who are like Family, Chocolate Pie, Direction, DC, Support, Compassion, Strength, BBM, Zip Car, Water, Light, Sunflowers, Mistakes, Cabs, Parents, Pictures, Humor, Theaters, the Ability to Listen, nude shoes, visiting friends, cupcakes, water fronts, experiences that pushed me out of my comfort zone, karoke, chapstick, Sophia Kinsella, Creativity, Intelligence, Common Sense, Talent, Pumpkin Pie, Credit Cards, Brothers, Education, Scarfs, Funny Girl, Change, Mexican Food, Safety, Disagreements, Candles, Paula Deen, Opportunity, Challenges, Familiarity, Netflix, Dutches, Frozen Yogurt, Big Beds (that dont even have to be bed bug resistent), Drops of Jupiter, social media, cookie dough, sarcasm, hope...

I wish everyone a loving and peaceful holiday - Happy Thanksgiving.

I'm a big kid now.

This semester has been a tease. After about 15 years of schooling, I was ready to jump on the real-world band wagon of earning a salary, paying bills and planning out my 401k...and part of me still is. But the other part of me wants to remain comfortable and protected in the arms of college.

Obviously torn, this semester hasn't done much to alleviate this inner conflict. On one side, I am working every day, attending happy hours, being social on the weekends, cooking dinner and carving pumpkins (we did this just last night so it is fresh in my mind...) - everything I would equate with a "grown-up" lifestyle. The other side: attending class two nights a week, writing papers, taking mid-terms (granted, it is a take-home test), going to mandatory programing and picking classes for my spring semester....well, all that reminds me I am still a student above everything else.

But I went on a job interview this week - like a job job interview...and suddenly reality hit. I am no longer in the comforting arms of college. I have to make decisions. Like life altering decisions. I have to begin my career. The career I have been working towards for (at least) the past four years. And no matter how much planning and thinking I do, there is still part of me that is jumping off the cliff without looking beforehand...and anyone who knows me, knows that is NOT how I operate.

Speaking of this week - apparently I pissed off some one in the Karma department off, because I swear I took one step forward and THREE steps back this week. I ran into people I didn't need to (ever!), had alcohol poured on me, lost my debit card, my car didn't start in Cleveland the morning of my interview (granted, it was frickin' 26 degrees - I wouldn't start either...), disagreements, misunderstandings, wishing I could be there for the people I love, out of the blue phone calls...I mean really. This all started a week ago yesterday - so I am hoping the worst is over and I can continue on with my life...knock on wood, throw salt behind your left shoulder, keep your fingers crossed and maybe, just maybe go ahead and sacrifice something (although, after taking a class about Peaceful Solutions to Violence - maybe sacrifice an article of clothing...my professor wouldn't like me calling for people to commit a violent act and he kinda controls my grade...).

So I guess, I am a big kid now - looking for a job and hoping to find a balance between what I need and what I want. Scary stuff, but thank goodness we have entered the holiday season - Christmas music makes everything better! OR Taylor Swift's new album. I LOVE IT - which doesn't surprise me, Tay-Tay got me through some rough times before, she just knows what's going on. If you get a chance, listen to "Back to December"...just sayin'.

Chapters 1-10

I think I will be a zombie for Halloween. I have the dark circles under my eyes, a staggered walk and the inability to string words together in complete sentences. I can just throw on something from my mountain of dirty laundry and I will officially have the best costume of all time. Umm, no. Although the idea has merit, I seem to look like that everyday (with the exception of the dirty clothes…I DO wear clean clothes) and it’s time for a change of pace – at least for one night. Life in DC has just continued to move faster then ever and now that I have reached the halfway point, I find myself dreading the moment I leave. December has always seemed far away, but now it is just around the corner…nope, nope. Talking about this subject ends here. I just can’t think about it.

Recent social events include watching Bob’s (that’s Bob Schieffer for people who live under a rock) band play at the Rock and Roll Hotel, exploring the Georgetown waterfront, frequenting Molly & Malones (a.k.a. supporting the Rangers in their quest to take a chunk out of the chip on the Yankees’ shoulders – that’s right, I’m talking to you Derek Jeter), two-stepping with Bob and his friends at the National Press Club, checking out the American History Museum and trying some Tappas yumminess. My roommates continue to be the ultimate support system and I am thankful everyday that they are here with me. I can tell the stress level has gotten a little higher – the dance parties in the living room have happened more often (not sure how they feel about everyone knowing we dance to the Backstreet Boys and Whitney Houston around our coffee table – so just don’t say anything). I have also come to respect my roommates as professionals – not that I didn’t respect them before, its just that I have seen their passion and commitment to their chosen field and I can’t help but be proud of them and their accomplishments.

Additionally, FALL IS HERE!!! I didn’t know how much I missed it…three years of jumping from scorching summer to chilly winter-ish weather has totally messed up my relationship with Fall. But Fall and I are back together – not Facebook official or anything, but it is definitely a serious infatuation. We are going to Mount Vernon on Saturday to see all the leaves that changed and hopefully we will do some pumpkin carving soon – (that was really a warning to our kitchen floor….)!

So my professional life – still challenging, still engaging and still reassuring me that I want to do this type of work (public relations/strategic communication for those random people currently reading my blog) for the rest of my life. Yesterday, I helped out with another Eldercare Workforce Alliance advocacy day!! I was excited about having the opportunity to work with them again and in addition to working on the press releases and doing media pitches, I also conducted some of the interviews that will be used on the new EWA website (coming soon, so get excited)! Once again, I was moved by their professional and personal stories – I truly hope that I am that passionate and committed to whatever I choose in the future…they inspire me to be as involved, if not more so. The workload has been trying at times, which is contributing to the zombie look I have going on currently, but it is good experience. It is good experience. It is good experience (that is what helps me get up every morning!)

Moving forward, I know things are going to continue to be challenging and hectic. And that means I need to channel some leadership qualities (this is a horrible segway into the professional reflection topic, but I am a zombie, give me a break). Effective leadership for me is having the ability to inspire, support and objectively evaluate the people around you, in a political, corporate, personal or social sense. I think effective leaders need to be excellent communicators, listeners, managers and writers. I also think leaders need to have confidence as well as established ethical and moral boundaries. These qualities exist in several of the people that I work with. A staff that is this small needs to have a combination of these skills or else the company couldn’t be as successful as it is. I have been most impressed by my co-workers commitment to their clients and this field. I see the same passion I saw with the EWA advocates – I can’t help but be impressed. I need to spend some time after finishing the internship and experience in DC to identify what I was impressed or not impressed by…I have found that first impressions and thoughts aren’t always true and it takes time and effort to really understand what is going on. And with that deep final thought, I will bring this novel to an end.

Time flies. It doesn’t really matter if you are having fun or watching paint dry. Time just flies…especially on the weekends. I can’t even remember what a weekend feels like, which is probably because there is always football to be watched, sites to be seen and fun to be had. These past two weekends, I have had friends from out of town visiting…and I love them both for spending the money and taking the time to visit and I wanted to make sure that they have a good time while they are here – but that takes a lot of E-F-F-O-R-T. I believe they both had a good time (not like they would tell me if they didn’t) and it was a good break from the usual…oh wait, nothing about the past two months has been “usual”. I have never had to be as flexible as I have been while in DC - I am a planner and if something doesn’t give, well it is pretty much like my very own emotional and mental WWIII. But I have survived and I sent my friends back to their loved ones in one piece. We did Washington right and did so with high marks – TENS across the board (even from the Russian judge). So, my social life and experience in DC is amazing…but different. DC (socially, politically, environmentally, professionally...) is vastly different from Boston and Fort Worth, therefore adapting to a completely the different environment has been difficult. Additionally, I have never work 36 hours, taken two 3-hour night classes, participated in TWC programming, attended galas and events, attempted to see the sites, museums and surrounding area. All in four months. So I am in uncharted territory, mentally, physically and emotionally. The environment is different, as is my daily routine as is my lifestyle. The “go, go, go” mentality, combined with “work hard, play hard” philosophy matched with an overall lack of time – life is different, challenging and exhausting. But fun. ;)


So I am keeping my head above water in regards to my personal life, what about my professional experience here in DC? Working for Tricom has been a blessing, especially compared to what I hear other students are doing. But even before I had talked to anyone, I knew this internship was exactly what I wanted it to be: a stepping-stone into my professional career. I do not feel like an intern, I feel like a contributor. This internship has been the most successful relationship I have ever had and I hope it is a mutually satisfying one. I am learning, developing and perfecting skills and techniques that I will need for the rest of my career, while positively contributing to Tricom’s reputation and work ethic (with the exception of the whole carrying case glitch – epic failure. I will now quadruple check everything before I hit order). The most challenging and satisfying part of my job is when I get three or more projects all at the same time. I feel the pressure. I experience the thrill of working within a deadline. I like being busy, and there is always so much going on in this PR firm (i.e. if I got a dollar every time I heard Scott say "I have been talking to some new clients" - well, it would be like I has getting paid for this internship...) – I am never bored.

Highlights include: helping with the EWA interviews (which I will get to do again in a few weeks!), attending a National Public Lands Day site event (where the sweetest girl scout said “I Barack Obama, hereby proclaim…” – oh goodness, you had to be there!) and making media calls (no, I am not crazy – I love calling people and convincing them that I have the BEST story E-V-E-R).

I haven’t run into any problems at the office in regards to professionalism – everyone is supportive, complimentary and caring. Additionally, my objectives and ultimate goals for this experience have already been met and exceeded. I look forward to perfecting my skills and taking the public relations professional world by storm in eight months (give or take a trip to Europe). I am keeping my head above water (professionally and socially), while enjoying the calmer/quieter moments – I can’t ask for anything more.

I cheated...

Unfortunately, I have something to admit, something that I am not proud of. On Saturday October 2, 2010 at 3:55 pm, I broke my promise, I unlawfully went against everything I believe in and tainted a relationship I hold very dear to my heart.

I cheated.

On my blog.

I published my first post on Tricom Associates' blog - HippoBLOGamus.

And for that, I am kind of, a little, maybe, sort of sorry. Mostly I am excited and would love for everyone to read my blog post and let me know what you think!!

To my blog - it won't happen again. At least not until next week. When I have another post due.

So. How am I doing?

The novelty of living, working and exploring DC is rubbing off, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing. But I have quickly lost track of time, acquired several different demanding projects and feel the need to create 10 extra hours for everyday. Personally, my relationship with my roommates has continued to grow – I love each of them dearly and am so thankful for their support, humor and constant kindness. In the coming months, we have a birthday to celebrate, friends from school and home visiting, galas and receptions to attend, a ballet to watch and many other grand and exciting plans!

And thankfully, work is just about as exciting as my personal life. These past two weeks, the time between 9:30-5 has flown by and I have gotten up everyday excited for what I will be able to tackle next. Last week, I spent a lot of time creating media lists. A lot of time. A lot a lot a lot. The comprehensive program, CisionPoint, combined with a busy server meant that we were going at the speed of a limp turtle. However, there was a sense of accomplishment once they were finished. BUT there was also a sense of dread as it was time to begin making media calls. I tried to be as “cool, calm and collected” as possible going into the media calls but on the inside I wanted to crawl out of my skin and hide under a table. I wasn’t afraid of talking to people on the phone (although I do prefer talking in person) and I was confident in my ability to sell my story – it was all of the pressure associated with this being my first attempt at media calls and everyone could hear me when I mis-spoke, made a silly joke or just plain froze on the phone (due to the location of my desk and my booming voice, no had a choice but to listen to me while I was making calls – the other intern chose to move to another room – smart girl).

On my first day, I booked three radio interviews and by the end of the next day, I had nine radio interviews booked and one special interview set up with the Washington Examiner. I was pleased. I was actually more then pleased. I felt like I found my footing and now had concrete results to prove that my ability to communicate is as good as I tell everyone it is. I fell love with PR all over again – it isn’t an easy job. You have so many obstacles (people don’t want to talk to you, media doesn’t trust you, the public doesn’t trust you, they don’t see the story the way you see the story) but when you overcome all of that, it makes the success so much sweeter (started singing spoon full of sugar again….hopefully you have been reading my blog posts or you won’t understand my sense of humor at all). This past week, I switched clients and made more media phone calls for them on Monday. On Tuesday, I got to travel a bit – like to the Phoenix Hotel by Union Station where I helped interview advocates who here educating their member(s) of Congress about the need for education, training and funding to care for our aging population. These individuals had amazing personal and professional stories, which made their call to action not only believable but also heartfelt and very emotional. One woman talked about how she and her coworkers paid a special tribute to veterans by washing their feet and taking the time to talk with them on Veterans Day. Another gentleman talked about his fear for his 30-year old mentally retarded son. He looks beyond the immediate crisis he, as a 50 year old man, will be facing and said something like "imagine my 70 year old retarded son fending for himself in this system when I'm gone". His message really hit home for me and after I wiped away the tears and managed to take his picture without shaking the camera, I felt compelled to go up to the Hill myself and demand to talk to a representative from Massachusetts. And I hope I never lose that passion – the passion incited by people. People who I will represent and help make a difference (I still hold onto that ideal - I will make a difference).

The people I work with are amazing and I have a great relationship developing with each of them. Luckily, there are only seven people working in the Washington (Virginia) office of Tricom Associates. They are a family, most of them spend way too much time together and they are extremely talented individuals that feed off of one another to create amazing campaigns and projects. I really thrive in an environment where people can talk about anything (life, politics, family, news...) and where people enjoy a good laugh. I need humor to get through my day but I also need other people to have a sense of humor. Otherwise, I fear they will find my jokes too sarcastic and annoying - thankfully this isn’t one of those situations. I also work particularly well with people that enjoy collaboration. My ideal work environment would be were people strategize aloud and with each other. I subscribe to the belief that two heads are better then one and I know that allowing myself to think aloud and bounce ideas off of people will produce the best idea I am capable of coming up with.

I think my supervisor, Scott Triebitz, and I are still feeling each other out. He is a no-nonsense kind of guy and I know he has an infinite amount of wisdom and advice to pass down to me – I just have to tap into it. I don’t feel comfortable going up him quite yet but if I needed to, I would walk right in their and demand his attention, while he is on the phone and answering e-mail and signing off on the latest press release draft. And I think that’s where my hesitation comes from – knowing that he is such a busy guy, that if I am going to take up 30 seconds of his time, it better be for a good reason. I also fear his brain. There is so much history, politics and experience in there, that it is very intimidating. Additionally, after our program on Monday, I realized how little historical and political knowledge I have stored in my brain – something that I have been working on, this week I am going to memorize the first ten presidents and interesting facts about each of them. Baby steps, but it will make a difference in the long run.

I am just looking forward to the next couple of weeks and I know I will have plenty more stories and experiences to share.

Transition Period

I have had four whole days of work in D.C. (well technically in Arlington, Virginia) and everything has gone smoothly (knock on wood that my luck continues). I managed the Metro with no problems or delays, scouted out all the cool places to eat and attend happy hour around my workplace and arranged my desk so that it is distinctly mine. Unable to fit in a direct visit to my office before my first day, I arrived at my workplace a full 40 minutes early, not a bad thing but I definitely left later the next couple of days. Everyone (meaning the seven people who work for Tricom in the Virginia office) was very welcoming - I could tell this was going to be an excellent professional and academic experience. At 10:30, I attended a staff meeting and saw/heard just how busy the firm was going to be during the next three weeks - several different clients with a variety of needs, projects and concerns. I started to feel a little overwhelmed (I can't imagine what everyone else felt) and was thankful to move onto getting my computer set up and learning different programs. I left at five full of excitement for the future projects and opportunities I heard about. But for some reason, despite all of that, I felt like I as in a state of limbo. I worked in a professional environment all summer dealing with international demands, complex IT issues and marketing objectives but taking three weeks off from that fast pace has now put me slightly behind the eight ball. I couldn't seem to find my footing the first couple of days - like being back in a work environment was brand new to me. Even though most of the week was filled with formalities, introductory information and research, I was completely exhausted. I was constantly on my toes, looking for ways to show my employers how eager and talented I am while always coming up with the "RIGHT" answer for their questions. Having been warned about the "sacrifice by fire" mentality some organizations have during the first week, I think I was waiting for the other shoe to drop. Nonetheless, I am happy with my workplace and the opportunities I will have during the coming months (especially in late September where everything seems to be happening all at once...and October...and November - so for the next four months). I will be able to do A LOT of writing, media relations, event planning, social media strategy, etc. Basically, Tricom does everything and that means I will get my toes wet in just about everything to do with PR. In the first week, I wrote two press releases, began formulating media lists and attended a webinar about the social media plan for one of our clients. I have had little practice with writing professional press releases or forming media lists so I was excited to jump right in and learn about these skills. I can already see the benefit of doing this internship before graduation in May - hopefully potential employers will see it as well.

My roommates and I were talking the other night about whether or not we feel like we have changed since arriving in DC. and I feel like I have changed a lot despite being here for only four weeks. Living in the city full-time has been a huge challenge for me. I have only spent long-weekends or vacations in a city - I have never had to commute, plan, survive or live in a city like this before. The experience has made me more responsible, conscious of my surroundings and confident in myself. I feel like a “big girl” taking the Metro to and from work with the 5 million other people who travel at peak hours, packing my lunch each morning and fighting to stay calm, cool and collected when people are grumpy and disrespectful. I feel like a “city girl” with my snazzy Smart Trip, Washington Examiner under my arm and high-heels in my purse.

My roommates have been a blessing in more ways than one. We helped each other navigate through the city and joked when we made a mistake. We listen to what each other have to say and work make one another feel comfortable in safe while living in DC. Even though we all came from TCU, none of us had never met or interacted outside the classroom. We bonded quickly over our two week Washington DC crash course and beyond - we eat together, drink together, watch movies together, joke together, vent together and even though I miss having my own room, I wouldn’t change my living situation for the world. I have already discussed my less then smooth transition back into the work force but I also notice a difference in working for a company that is solely a PR agency. I really wanted the opportunity to work for a smaller, PR firm because I have only worked for large corporations within their huge Marketing/Communication department. But I feel a lot of pressure to perform, to use all of the skills and lessons I have learned in three years of college and apply them to the real world. It is much easier seen then done and now I see the importance of having a variety of internships – you do need to figure out what you want to do but more importantly you need to figure out what you CAN do. I think I know what my strengths and weaknesses are – but I have a feeling that I could be wrong. Hopefully this internship will help me figure what I am really good at (and more importantly what my passions are) and then guide me to where I want to be in the future.

At Tricom, I have a variety of responsibilities. I am there to contribute – help with media lists, press releases, determining client objectives and message, generate media attention, facilitate events, work with clients on their social media – I believe I will have the opportunity to do them all at some point, but nothing has been set in stone by my boss. Everyone came back from vacation the same day I started and I can already see that it was incredibly inconvenient timing. They are stressed, which means they don’t have time to talk to us, let alone teach us anything. But I know the time will come. Tricom has a lot of clients which means I will be able to work on a variety of creative and strategic projects. I also know that I will learn something – everyone has told me what an amazing mentor Scott is and I hope to just pick his brain and get as much information and expertise out of him as possible.

At the end of the week, Scott mentioned that we wanted us to work on blogs, the website and the Tricom social media presence. I was slightly disappointed to hear this because I have had the opportunity to do this type of work and I really would like to explore aspects of the PR field. I will wait a few weeks to really talk to Scott about the opportunities.

I have learned quickly that in order to succeed in this field and especially in the DC area, you need to form excellent relationships with members of the press. This includes TV, radio, newspaper, magazine, Internet and bloggers. Rooming with two journalism majors (print and broadcast), I can see the benefits – we can help each other out. I go to them first with news, they break the news first and accurately. When they are looking for information, I provide it for them and maybe get my organization a mention they wouldn’t have had before – it can be a mutually satisfying relationship or it can be detrimental if you don’t take care. I see the importance in networking and communicating and I hope to work on those skills while in DC where they expect such behavior from new-born infants.

Despite everything, I am anxious to start working with clients and long-term projects – something that will hopefully occur sooner rather than later. I will keep you updated.

Reality Check

Today was the first day of work. Today was the first day of work. Today was the first day of work...

Reality hit hard when I realized I couldn't wake up whenever I wanted to, see whatever amazing monument, museum or events that I wanted or finish off the day at some amazing restaurant. Now I have to do what I really came to D.C. for…bummer.

This weekend made it even more difficult to go back to work - it was an extension of the amazing week we had off. We went to see Arlington National Cemetery, walked around Old Town Alexandria, ate at an amazing restaurant by the water, watched TCU win their season opener at Cowboy stadium, worked on my paper (a little), had a movie night, went to a National’s game and finally, ate at Ben’s Chili Bowl (everything is covered in chili, which means everything was A-M-A-Z-I-N-G). All of these experiences made today a difficult pill to swallow…but hearing about all the amazing opportunities I will have was like a spoon full of sugar (Mary Poppins reference…everyone get it??).

Tricom is an amazing PR firm. I think of it as the little PR engine that could - the Arlington office has seven people...so you can put extra emphasis on "little". They produce quality work and provide personal support to a variety of different clients with different needs, wants, objectives and budgets. This is all done with small budgets and an even smaller staff base – but it is all about quality over quantity. I learned about one of our clients today and was blown away by what they are trying to do:

The Eldercare Workforce Alliance is advocating for education and support of professional and non-professional workers who take care of aging Americans – something everyone should think about as almost all of the baby boomers are now over the hill. The most interesting part of their mission is how they want to educate and support non-paid caregivers (family, friends, spouses, etc…) – empower them to care of their mothers, fathers, sisters, brothers, aunts, uncles and so on. It is such an interesting stance and if you want to learn more visit their website (click here). Tricom will be doing a lot of work for them (especially at the end of this month, wink wink) so keep your eyes peeled.

I am truly looking forward to work tomorrow…even though as we speak I am fighting to keep my eyes open. To see any of the work I do – follow Tricom on facebook and twitter (their links are on the left side of this blog) – the more followers the better!!

Off to bed - First night of class tomorrow, first night of class tomorrow, first night of class tomorrow…

D.C. Wish List

Places to see before December 18th...

1. United States Capitol
2. White House (tour)
3. National Air and Space Museum
4. National Museum of American History
5. National Gallery of Art
6. Library of Congress
7. Mount Vernon
8. Arlington National Cemetery
9. National Zoo
10. Washington National Cathedral
11. Washington Monument
12. World War II Memorial
13. Lincoln Memorial
13. Crime and Punishment
14. International Spy Museum
15. Smithsonian
16. National Museum of Natural History
17. National Museum of the American Indian
18. United States Holocaust Museum
19. National Postal Museum
20. National Archives
21. Newseum
22. Textile Museum
23. Supreme Court
24. Jefferson Memorial
25. FDR Memorial
26. Korean War Veterans Memorial
27. US Navy Memorial
28. African-American Civil War Memorial
29. Iwo Jima Statue
30. US Botanic Gardens
31. National Arboretum
32. Old Town Alexandria
33. Georgetown
34. Georgetown Cupcakes
35. Pentagon
36. Pentagon City
37. Eastern Market
38. Mount Vernon Wine Festival
39. Union Station
40. The National Mall
....

“And I’m proud to be an American”

We have had the past few days off from our normal schedule of class discussions, site visits and daily blogs (which means from now on, the posts will be a little more candid about my experience here in D.C.). We took time to sleep, shop, eat, drink and of course, see some of the amazing sites this city has to offer!

On Friday night we went to the Washington Monument, the World War II Memorial and the Lincoln Memorial. It was A-M-A-Z-I-N-G and truly made me proud to be an American. I was awed by the smooth stone, size, height, strength, history, beauty and everything else that surrounds these landmarks. The Washington Monument was everything I thought it was going to be. And then ten times cooler – the flags surrounding it and the lights lighting the pillar up…it took my breath away.

The World War II Memorial – who knew?? I had no idea about the pool of water at the center where you can cool your toes while taking in the surrounding granite stones. I quickly found the “Massachusetts” stone and took a picture (in case you were wondering, it is impossible to get the entire word in the shot at night because of the shadows – stupid 13 letter word!) And the Lincoln Memorial, the one I wanted to see more than anything, was so beautiful. Even though I had flashbacks to a movie where Lincoln’s monument actually starts giving verbal advice, I couldn’t help but wish I could have met this man who we know cherish (he has officially made it onto my guest list of people {dead or alive} I want to have dinner with.)

Unfortunately, we were not alone. We visited these monuments at 10 p.m. and hundreds of people were already camping out of the National Mall in preparation for the Glenn Beck rally the following morning…ehhh. I don’t have anything against Glenn Beck or anyone who listens to him or reads his books, but they were just so…annoyingly in the way. We also ventured out the next morning into Georgetown and that proved to be a huge mistake – Metro stops were packed and smelly, no one knew where to go - it was just chaos. Gross, annoying and completely unnecessary from what I watched on TV – but to each their own. I guess.

Additionally, today we spent the day (literally, the entire day) at the Newseum and only finished two of the six floors. This news museum “offers visitors an experience that blends five centuries of news history with up-to-the-second technology and hands-on exhibits” according to their website. Although things started off a little tough with a scavenger hunt – exhibits about 9/11, Hurricane Katrina, Elvis, the Berlin Wall and a 4-D (the 4th D involves the chair you are sitting in to move along with the movie) left me wanting more. Everything was amazingly well-done and thought out – please please please visit if you are ever in the D.C. area.

More sight-seeing during the next couple of days – hopefully heading out to Arlington National Cemetery by the end of the week. Oh and we also hope to get a sugary treat from the acclaimed, people-stand-outside-for-hours-to-get-a-cupcake, Georgetown Cupcake shop since we weren’t able to stand the heat on Saturday. Wish us luck and I will let you know what I think!

And Bob Schieffer will be your moderator….

We had our final discussion today about what we have learned while in Washington D.C. Oh, and Bob Schieffer facilitated our discussion. And our professors watched from Fort Worth. No pressure.

The entire conversation went very well – it was almost surprising how much information and advice we have absorbed. But we proved that we have learned something, even Bob seemed impressed. I think now, we each have to decide what we really want to do with the rest of our lives – both professionally and personally. Not that I have to make that decision right now, but as graduation draws closer…it become necessary to figure out what we are passionate about and what our ultimate dream is – then we have to prepare to make sacrifices to get there.

After living at this crazy pace for the past two weeks, I know we are all looking forward to taking some down time, enjoying the city and experiencing some of the attractions of D.C. I let you know how it goes :)

P.S. Bob wore his purple socks – score.

T-A-L-E-N-T.

I have heard over and over, “it isn’t always WHAT you know, but WHO you know.” It is important to meet the “right” people, build relationships and utilize those connections to assist with the transition from college to the professional workforce. This thought process doesn’t put much emphasis on the importance of talent – a unique, personal ability to go above and beyond in your chosen field – but after visiting “TBD” and “Politico” yesterday, I have learned that some very successful organizations understand the importance and power of having talented people throughout their organization.

“TBD” – local, local, local

This is an interesting start-up website that provides local content, engages its audience through social media and strives to provide information that specific people would like to know (i.e. an excellent iPhone application that tracks the Metro to the minute). Part of “TBD”’s immediate success is due to their partnership with a local TV station – this allows information to immediately be posted online and communicated via a news broadcast announcement.

We discussed their use of social media and every time I asked about it, I feel like I learn something more about this marketing and communication tool. Forums like facebook and Twitter are multipurpose – they can help the organization promote to and engage with an audience, monitor any chatter about a specific organization or product and finally, be used to find sources and stories about events that people care about. This is something “TBD” is doing on a daily basis and learning as they go about how to best serve their very local public.

TBD Faceboook
TBD Twitter

This website concept is brand new, and it is too early to tell how successful it will be (despite the fact it already has 3,500 followers on Twitter and people already know to reach out to “TBD” to receive as well as provide content) but perhaps in the future, there will be a TBD-Boston or TBD-Dallas…keep your eyes open.

"POLITICO" – Humble Success

Over the past two weeks, I have heard the name “Politico” roughly 50 times from our hosts. This extremely successful, powerful niche newspaper has become the most important news source of people inside the beltway to read (online and/or in print). The reason for their success – talented reporters. Jim VandeHei, co-founder of “Politico”, humbly said that he and his partner really just wanted to create a comprehensive, specialized political news source – and the Washington Post wasn’t giving them the opportunity to do just that. Having gifted reporters that can “drive the conversation” about politics is what good journalism and writing is all about.

Their print newspaper has more of an in-depth analysis of what is happening (and is VERY difficult to find) while their online version is more accessible. VandeHei stated that instead of the majority of their money being put into marketing, they invest the majority of their money into their reporters and allow them to become a brand – a powerful brand that increases the influence and prestige of “Politico.”

“TBD” and “Politico” represent a hopeful "golden age" future for journalism – offering a quality product that is in demand by a specific audience. Newspapers and their reporters should be a brand and it is something that a marketing department can promote easily. This is the future. Hopefully.

She writes, she shoots video, she talks on the radio, and she is on a TV news program…

She is an Associated Press reporter! Today we visited the AP Washington Bureau and for the first time I learned how news organizations are actively responding to the evolution of how people receive and respond to media. “Convergence” is THE hot button term in media and while this is being addressed on a an educational level (by allowing students to practice skill sets in a variety of different formats), professional organizations like AP are also training their reporters in different formats and making them as professionally versatile as possible.

AP is also using their reporters to create a new sense of brand awareness and influence in media. We talked about how half of the world’s population gets information from AP (print, online, mobile) but the majority of those people don’t realize that AP is the original source. There is an obvious disconnect and since AP generates the majority of its money from membership fees, maybe there hasn’t been as much (financial) pressure to address this issue. But it isn’t as simple as running a marketing campaign or using social media to reach a target audience - AP has to avoid becoming competition to its members – and therefore they can use their talented, respected and knowledgeable reporters to promote AP across print media, TV and radio.

I was surprised by how much AP does – print, video, radio, research, fact checking (accountability journalism) – they are much more than a wire service. They go beyond reporting just the facts. Their position, relation and influence on media (specifically political news in D.C.) reminded me of CSIS’s role in the creation of public policy – AP provides content, facilitates conversation and informs the public (through different formats of media) but mostly in the background. AP is slightly more vocal about receiving credit for their contributions but they aren’t in direct competition for readers. Their reputation and ability to be in so many places around the world where news may or may not occur makes AP extremely powerful and influential in the news media world.

I would have liked to ask more questions about their social media strategy – it was briefly mentioned that AP uses forums like facebook and Twitter to monitor for possible stories/sources and allow for the public to bring stories to their attention. This strategy is something that PR practitioners and organization representatives need to be aware of – social media is a multipurpose tool and can only be used effectively if users are aware of all potential uses.

A final thought: people want to engage with news they care most about. One of the AP representatives made an interesting comment about by providing raw content, specifically online, AP allows consumers to make their own judgments about the validity and importance of the story. Additionally, the general public responds better to raw content – not information influenced by a news organization or a reporter’s personal opinion. This goes back to a simple business practice – give consumers what they want…and I believe AP is evolving o doing just that.

CSIS - The New Intermediary

Now that I have been in Washington for a week, it has become obvious to me that the political process is much more complex than I had ever imagined. People are always rushing, informing, debating, advising, pushing… every minute of every day relates to politics in some way. It makes me, as an outsider, wonder how people have enough time in their days to do so much – well organizations like The Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) help make this fast political craziness possible.

As one of D.C.’s most respected and recognized think tanks, CSIS “provides strategic insights and policy solutions to decision makers in government, international institutions, the private sector, and civil society” (according to their website). This self-proclaimed bipartisan think tank conducts research and analysis on hot button issues and develops future policy initiatives. But what the heck is a THINK TANK??

Basically, once people reach a certain position in the political sphere, they have so many responsibilities that there is no time to research, plan and develop new public policies. This is where organizations like CSIS step in and provide research and insight to shape policy specifically in regards to foreign policy, national security and global challenges (i.e. energy and security).

CSIS also acts as a facilitator of conversation, which is why I would qualify them as a developing intermediary between policy makers, media and the public. While at Pew on Thursday, we talked about how companies (advertisers specifically) no longer need traditional news media sources (print newspapers and TV) to be an intermediary for reaching their target market. But it seems that CSIS has such an intellectual and analytical influence of the creation of public policy that they could be the future intermediary or gatekeeper who creates and facilitates creative conversation. Additionally, their scholars and employees work to promote public policy to ensure that nothing falls through the cracks while other issues demand the attention of key political players. CSIS is a research based organization that works diligently to remain at the center of the political party continuum and are doing an excellent job of creating conversation, involving the necessary people and providing the research to support the formation of policies. I believe CSIS is a necessary part of today's political process and I didn't realize just how important until two hours ago.

On the other hand, I was disappointed that they don't see the benefits of having an established presence on Twitter. During our two hour meeting, CSIS representatives mentioned several events and reports that could have been promoted via Twitter and increased their overall brand value. Instead they used e-mail blasts and relied on their reputation in the D.C. area. One of the objectives for their multimedia and social media strategy is to increase their presence outside the beltway - what better way to engage with people outside the district then via the FREE Internet? Perhaps Twitter’s reputation isn’t well-regarded but a strategic Twitter presence could bring prestige to the forum while providing CSIS with increased exposure. I understand they deal with numbers, complex and sensitive issues, but people are moving to the Internet quickly, CSIS should be ahead of the curve.

The site visit was very informative but I wish I could have learned more about their personal opinions on issues like privacy, national security in relation to the wikileaks scandal and how they see social media being used to conduct diplomacy (beyond what is already being done). Great hosts though – be sure to “LIKE” the CSIS facebook page after you finish this blog – also check out their iTunesU account.

5, 4, 3, 2 and 1...

The taping of Face the Nation with Bob Schieffer was an experience. Excitement, humor, hustle, bustle, time pressures, enthusiasm – everything you would expect a in a network TV control room. It’s amazing how much preparation and work there is that goes into a 30-minute news broadcast and today’s episode was particularly challenging. In Bob’s words, they were trying to fit 8 pounds into a 6 pound bag, but every pound was enthralling.

General Odierno and South Carolina Senator Lindsey Graham started the show off by talking about the war in Afghanistan. Sen. Graham, who is on the Armed Services Committee, changed his position by stating he thinks we CAN safely withdraw based on the progress he saw during his recent visit to Afghanistan. Odierno’s interview was also optimistic as he offered his thoughts on whether he thought we won the war Iraq as the final U.S. combat forces prepare to leave the country (see his comments and the entire broadcast here). It was interesting to be in the control room while I was learning about this information as opposed to sitting in front of a TV – it increased the importance of the information, made me feel the immediacy and magnitude of the situation.

Then Bob interviewed a slightly nervous Greg Mortenson, author of “Three Cups of Tea” (this is now required reading for the armed forces) and “Stones into Schools”. Mortenson, despite the butterflies, did an amazing job sharing his story: while climbing a mountain in Pakistan in 1993, he became ill and was nursed back to health by local villagers. When he asked how he could repay them, they requested his help with building a school. Since then, he has raised about $25 million dollars and built more than 150 schools, seven of which are currently under construction.

This man is a hero – making education available, especially for girls, in places where education might come secondary to survival. He emphasized the importance of involving locals, especially the elders, in the creation of the schools (or any other concept American troops are trying to implement) because that is how their culture works. I couldn’t help but wonder, what the war would have looked like if we started off with this concept earlier – what state would Afghanistan or Iraq be in if we had?

Mortenson also shared a wonderful story after the broadcast. A young woman, who graduated from one of the schools, received medical training in pre-and post-natal care (which only cost $800 dollars) and was able to return to the village and decrease the annual average number of 20 women dying from pregnancy related issues to ZERO (and has continued to do that for the past 10 years). This man clearly has a passion for what he does and I wish him the best of luck with everything in the future. He will be visiting TCU in January – keep your eyes open!!

Talking with Bob after tapping emphasized the impact network broadcast has on the political system – he mentioned a phone call he received from the White House. They had "concerns" about his interview General Odierno, which turned out to be nothing more then network competition, but it showed how interconnected media is with political news, especially in D.C.

Another great day – capping off an excellent first week in Washington.

I'm driving the Metro Home

Finally, two days off from the constant "go, go, go" pace we have been keeping for the past five days. Friday was a slow day, but when we finally started going the whole group headed out to Ballston for drinks, The Switch and PF Changs to finish out the night. I can't count the number of times I have said I can't go out to eat anymore, and yet we just keep finding new places to try....

The Switch was a cute movie that definitely redeemed Jennifer Aniston after "The Bounty Hunter" freak accident...and the little boy, Thomas Robinson, was unbelievably amazing in his role. "Beady- eyed little man-boy, beady-eyed little man-boy, beady-eyed little man-boy looking at me" - it was just entertaining and feel-good.

Today, we headed to Baltimore to eat at Obrycki's, which has EXCELLENT crab cakes and was featured in the Discovery Channel's Man vs. Food - and for a good reason. Best crab cake I have ever had and I am thankful we traveled to the scarier side of town to experience this heavenly meal!


Then we headed off to a baseball game - the Texas Rangers were playing Baltimore and lost...so we headed out earlier. Best part of the game: the three little boys sitting behind us telling their dad all the reasons why they need to go to Fenway Park and sit on the Green Monster for a Red Sox game...my little Bostonian heart just went pitter-patter with pride.

Tomorrow we are off to the taping of this weeks Face the Nation with Bob Schieffer. Greg Mortenson, author of "Three Cups of Tea", will be on and it should be a very interesting discussion. Tune in and see if Bob mentions us - 10:30 EST on CBS.

The Freshman 15 of News

Today’s meeting with Tom Rosenstiel, Director of the Project for Excellence in Journalism at the Pew Research Center, was, in my opinion, by far the best two hour site visit we have had in D.C. (CBS comes in a close second). At lunch, we pleaded with Dr. K to ask Bob Schieffer if he could possibly set up another meeting so we can pick Rosenstiel’s brain just a little more. Additionally, I would pay good money to be a fly on the wall during any conversation that Bob Schieffer and Tom Rosenstiel would have – it would be the meeting of unique insights, opinions and predictions by men who have spent their life working to make journalism and public communication better.

Pew Research Center (Pew) is an independent, non-biased public opinion research organization that specializes in research about the public’s attitude towards politics, the press and public policy. The Pew is funded by The Pew Charitable Trust, not the organizations that use the collected data, which means all information is made public and remains accurate and non-partisan. Pew’s research and data analysis does have some media effect by keeping track of how, why and when people do what they do in relation to news and politics.

One of the most interesting statements Rosenstiel made today was: “Old media doesn’t have an audience problem, it has a revenue problem.” Every class I have taken in college has put a lot more emphasis on audience fragmentation and less on advertising dollars being down. But the decrease in revenue is why newspapers are suffering and in contrast the newspaper audience is indeed growing. However, more and more advertising dollars are pushed to the Internet and newer forms of technology (i.e. mobile and iPad). Additionally, the biggest change has been that companies and advertisers don’t need to use news media (newspapers and even TV) to reach their intended audience anymore. Everything has moved to the “free world” – for example classified ads made up the biggest portion of a newspaper’s ad revenue but now, 70% of those ads have moved to the internet on sites like Craigslist – leaving newspapers with nothing to fill the void.

But not all is lost. News media (both print newspapers and traditional news TV) have a place in our world and they are necessary. Rosenstiel has a new book coming out in November of this year called “Blur: How to Know What's True in the Age of Information Overload” and he talks about 8 different functions that journalism and public communication will continue to have. He made a point of talking about how news and information consumption is becoming more and more consumer driven – we can no longer “get away with” slipping messages and information in to broadcasts or ads. Instead, as future professionals, we need to more creative, more innovative and more aware of what consumers want and be able to provide it maybe even before consumers know they want it (Hard to do – yes. Impossible. No.)The essential elements of journalism and communication will continue to be important to the public – there is hope.

Another interesting statement he made was about what the future holds and how current media and news organizations can become the visionary and leader of a this necessary evolution. Rosenstiel said that companies will need to become part news/journalism and part engineering – it is a mind-set and a way of thinking that allows for creative possibilities to see the light of day. We have heard about decreasing viewership, fragmentation, the need for revolution and leadership…now we have heard about the possible solutions. I felt smarter after this meeting. I felt excited for my future career after this meeting. I felt motivated after this meeting. This man was extremely intelligent and was able to break down complex issues into simple terms that we could understand, appreciate and interpret. I was disappointed when our time was up, even though we kept him for an extra hour, and I hope we will have the opportunity to talk with him again. I would love to ask if he sees the newspaper industry becoming more fragmented like TV and if he thinks that 3D television will have any impact before everything moves to the computer and – I could just go on for days. A truly inspirational experience – I’m ready to begin.

Check out this website (www.tbd.com), a completely online newspaper sponsored by Politico in Washington D.C. that is supposed to be direct competition for the number one print newspaper, The Washington Post. It will be interesting to see how successful this experiment is and could possibly determine the future of newspapers.

"Case by Case"

Day 3 and we had the opportunity to visit with a trade association as well as a private lobbying firm. I was looking forward to having opportunity to talk about new media, strategic planning and other issues concerning the fields of strategic communication.

First, we went to TechAmerica, a trade association that represents the IT industry, both nationally and internationally. They admitted to being “dirty lobbyists” but they advocate for flexibility and growth within the technology industry. Jason Langsner, VP of Marketing and Charlie Greenwald, VP of Communication, offered their personal and professional opinions on issues like the impact of social media, specific legislation that could affect the technology industry and how IT companies need to deal with the issue of privacy in the future. I thought it was interesting how TechAmerica was “protected” from bad PR because they represent an industry. And although I don’t think “any press is good press” is a theory that should be promoted in the world of politics or corporate public relations, I can understand why they like it – 50,000 more eyes on any story or subject is 50,000 more eyes then they had before. Additionally, with an industry like technology, people are pro-technology, which makes it easier to be heard on the Hill. At least for now.

I also found it interesting that both Jason and Charlie seemed young for their high-level position and how small the entire TechAmerica staff was (Jason indicated at one time there were 7.5 people working in the Marketing team and now it was only him, wearing several different hats). I would have thought that for such a big industry that has so many different issues, worries and concerns, that TechAmerica would need a lot of manpower to successfully represent IT on the Hill.

Clearly, this organization does influence the political system – evidence by their recent work with quieting a bill in Maine that wanted cell phone boxes to have a warning label on them about the relationship between cancer and the use of the cell phone. I was also slightly disappointed by how long it took TechAmerica to get onto social media sites and how flippant they were about not having a strategic social media plan established before they went online.

We also went to mCapitol Management on Wednesday afternoon and unfortunately I didn’t glean much insight from this meeting. I appreciated them taking the time to talk to us and did find the advice about how to move from college life to the professional world helpful. I would have liked to ask them how the develop relationships with the clients and whether mCapitol Management recruits or if companies seek them out – although they might not have been able to answer my question since they deal with the private sector, which is understandable.

So far the score for the day was dead even – a good visit and a bad one. After an excellent 3-hour dinner at Smith & Wollensky – it was clearly a GREAT day.

CBS goes Purple

It was a proud day to be a HORNED FROG! We arrived at the CBS News bureau (15 minutes early – an accomplishment after our directionally challenged adventures yesterday) this morning with high expectations – we weren't disappointed!

Mr. Bob Schieffer’s memorabilia-filled office offered the perfect back drop for our conversation which included everything from how his journalistic career started to the current political climate. We sat in comfortable worn-leather chairs and couches as different members of the CBS news organization stopped by. After an hour, I was on an information overload – so many amazing stories, examples and advice, I almost couldn’t keep up with everything. Nonetheless, I walked out of the CBS office today with a whole new appreciation for journalists AND a better understanding of the importance of developing a relationship with them during my public relations career.

I enjoyed talking with and learning about the career of CBS Legal Correspondent Jan Crawford. She offered a unique perspective on journalism as a career because she came to CBS via law school. She started at the "Chicago Tribune", began Law School at the University of Chicago, went back to the Tribune, made her way to Washington and CBS, moved to ABC for a few years and is now back where she belongs – at CBS. Her expertise and the respect she gained over the year’s shows the importance of understanding the complexities of the topics you are communicating and/or reporting on.

Additionally, she offered insight into the tough balancing act of having an successful career while having a family. Even Bob commented on how he missed out on his children growing up and the importance of being prepared to make sacrifices. This was oddly comforting and disconcerting – on one hand we know others have gone through similar experiences and survived making difficult, often life-changing decisions. On the other hand, Bob and Jan were blunt about how there WILL BE difficult compromises that could lead to having regrets about your personal and/or professional life.

I also enjoyed learning more about the news process – being a PR person, I was enthralled with stats like CBS running for four days straight after 9/11 and having the opportunity to watch a taping of the CBS daily web cast "Washington Unplugged" (view the video from today here). It was also interesting to listen to their past experiences (both in Bob’s office and at lunch) and future predictions of what will happen in the future to our fields.

I should have asked more questions about how journalists develop relationships with PR professionals and what qualities they look for in potential PR sources. I also wish we could have talked more about how the networks are no longer gatekeepers for news, especially political news, but instead working to prevent bloggers and social media forums from communicating inaccurate, partisan information.I think that CBS has now become an authority that communicates information that has been checked and re-checked.

Beyond that, the whole day was insightful and educational. I am more excited than ever to spend the next four months in this professional, political environment. Note: Bob was wearing a TCU purple, horned frog tie, but not his legendary purple socks. This was a minor let-down but I was gratified by Jan sporting a deep purple shirt for the web cast - Go Frogs!

RNC vs. DNC

Before visiting the committee headquarters today, I thought the Republican National Committee (RNC) and the Democratic National Committee (DNC) used communication tools in a similar manner. However, after talking with RNC and DNC Communication department/team representatives and visiting their respective website and social media pages, it is apparent that these committees have different communication agendas.

The RNC concentrates on supporting Republican candidates in states elections, running communication campaigns against Democratic leadership in Congress (to see this for yourself – visit the RNC headquarters to see a massive red and white “FIRE PELOSI” poster above the main entrance) and building relationships with the press to gain coverage on specific topics and relevant issues. The DNC’s communication department also focuses on monitoring and pitching stories to the press and offers support to the state Democratic candidates up for election in 78 days (not that anyone is counting). In addition to that, the DNC also communicates through their grass root network, established social media forum and emerging political monitoring techniques (Accountability Project) to engage their audience and the press core.

The difference between these two communication agendas might be obvious – one has the president in the White House. But I believe the difference goes beyond who has the majority or minority and has more to do with the fundamentals of each Party.

The RNC seemed dated both in their communication techniques and general appearance. We talked about print and radio (traditional media outlets) with the RNC but didn’t address newer forms of communication or how the committee could take a more proactive stance when supporting campaigns and candidates. The dark wood paneling, campaign memorabilia and pictures of Ronald Regan and George W. Bush reminding members of better political times made me feel uneasy. The representatives were professionally dressed (while the DNC employees wore jeans and T-shirts) were friendly and informative (while the DNC was more friendly, informative AND relevant) and finally, slightly reserved when it came to discussing topics like Sarah Palin and the Tea Party (while the DNC representatives seemed more comfortable talking about different topics – although in truth we didn’t really ask any “tough” questions).

I would have liked to ask the RNC more about their social media initiatives - although the representatives we had this morning might not have been the best qualified to address that specific issue. I would have also like to ask both committees why their websites are so abrasive about asking for volunteers and donations before visitors even have the chance to learn more about the mission statement or goals of the committee. I understand the importance (and annoyance) of fund raising but, the emphasis on making a donation really turned me off.

Finally, one statement bothered me today: “any press is good press”. As a future Public Relations practitioner I believe that good press is good press and bad press is bad press. You will always have both, but having a strategic plan, a transparent relationship with your audience and an excellent crisis management team will create more of the former and less of the latter.


Thank you to the Republican National Committee and Democratic National Committee for taking the time to talk with us today. It was a great introduction to the political sphere. Best of luck in the coming months.

And so it begins...

Washington D.C.

It is a loaded name that calls to mind politics, history and scandal. Growing up in Massachusetts, I never had the opportunity to visit our nation’s capital and it took me going to college in Texas to finally get the motivation. To say that I am excited doesn’t do my emotions justice. D.C. has so much to offer, or I have been told that D.C. has so much to offer by friends and a variety of travel books I have been studying. I look forward to experiencing as much of the history, culture and food (I have heard the food is AMAZING and have been saving my pennies all summer to be able to afford my impending expensive lifestyle) as possible.

This summer I worked for Philips, an international lighting, healthcare and electronics company that is based in the Netherlands. I worked in the Healthcare sector, as an Online Marketing/Web Content Support Intern (try saying that 5 times fast…). My main job was to help localize their healthcare website in over 20 different countries. This involved updating pages, communicating with the different country site owners and working with technical support on any issues within the site. My boss was in the Netherlands. My boss’s boss was in the Netherlands. My boss’s boss’s boss…I think you get the picture. Basically, I am ready to work with and learn from people who were the same country as me – maybe even the same city or state.

Additionally, I wanted my internship in D.C. to be a stepping-stone, or maybe a launch pad into a career post-graduation (which happens to be in a mere 9 months, not that anyone is counting or freaking out) and my main goal was to work on my writing. I am Strategic Communication major, which is a futuristic term for Public Relations and Advertising, and hope to work specifically in Corporate Social Responsibility (an emerging field in PR that aligns social issues/non-profit organizations (i.e. The American Heart Association) with private sector corporations (i.e. Diet Coke – you might have seen their Red Dress campaign…AMAZING). So far, my formula for my perfect internship experience in D.C. looks like this:

A - Work directly with/for people in U.S.
B - Work for a smaller company (25 or less employees)
C - Have the opportunity to build my writing portfolio
D - Do something related to social/political issues
E - Have the opportunity to network and experience D.C.’s professional world
F - Work for a respected-motivated-competitive firm that lets me do more then get coffee

Therefore, A +B+C+D+E+F X a short commute = TRICOM ASSOCIATES. I finalized everything on August 3rd and officially accepted. After two months of always waiting for something better to come along, I got the best. I will now shamelessly plug my future/temporary employer’s website – www.tricomassociates.com.

Despite my excitement, I am also hesitant. It will be…different living in a city full-time. It is an unknown place filled with unknown people and unknown threats. It will also be challenging – taking two classes, working almost 40 hours a week and finding time to explore what D.C. has to offer. It is a fear of the unknown, fear of something different and ultimately, the fear of failure. But, I found a saying once that always made me stop worrying and start doing (I actually wrote it on my high school graduation cap in permanent marker and it bled all over the place but it was too late…sorry, not important). So I tell myself – “Self fear not, because you don’t have to be great to start, but you do have to start to be great.” And I reply to myself – “Well Self, let’s start in D.C.”