Doug Wead exhibiting his signature arm-raise, photo by Gage Skidmore

Walking into the Waldo library to purge my study time of all distractions, I saw a large chalk sign etched on the sidewalk. It said:

“Doug Wead, Ron Paul’s senior campaign advisor @ Fetzer center 7-9 pm FREE!”

It was 6:35 and I was on the other end of the campus. Upon making my decision to abandon my AP Biology studying, I was lead by the campus streetlights and a small map I had attained from inside the library. I arrived at the meeting place fifteen minutes before the talk started and found a seat among the suburban moms, suits, and old men with wispy white hair. A woman with a large Benton Harbor sign naively waved the it high as she could whenever the conversational Doug Wead looked her direction, assuming that the rep wanted to know were everyone in the audience was from. As if by some miracle he knew all the cities in Michigan. There was also an assortment of college students, who, for a far right event, looked rough around the edges.

What propelled me here was curiosity. I am neither democrat nor Republican. I came here because I would like to know his policies; what he is all about. I’m a first time voter and I vow to know as much as possible, and if possible, to attain this knowledge first hand, not by word of mouth. In a time where most of my peers are jumping on the Obama bandwagon to cast their first presidential vote, I will be one of the sticks in the mud that has to learn the platform of all the candidates for herself.

The room grows loud by 7:10, the crowd bantering about the policy and persuasion they came to hear. Some are bashing on Newt’s hedonistic policy, others on the irrationality of Obama, and still others are raving about the genius and subtle energy of Ron Paul.

Wead demystified classifications of Ron Paul’s supporters; “I wouldn’t call them libertarians; it’s more complicated than that, I’d call them constitutionalists,” Wead said.

He presents himself as a smartly dressed and grotesquely humble grandpa, always smiling and genuinely glad that we all came.

Over and over again Wead said, “You probably know more about this than me” with a laugh. I am skeptical, seeing as Wead was the special advisor to President Bush, as well as the biographer for George Bush Sr. as well as Ronald Regan. The man has done his research, to say the least, and now he is the head Advisor to another Presidential Candidate. His humble candidness draws the audience in but reminds me that even the most genuine sounding speaker is still a politician.

One of the things Doug Wead was most serious about was the loss of the traditional American dream. Wead spoke extensively on government corruption and the National Treasury, citing the fact that last year, more money was printed than the total value of our national debt, a shocking reminder that much more goes into the formation of our economy than just politics. He sites the loaning of this same “new” money to banks, which caused the American dollar to decline, as the main reason for this proposed loss, as well as the reason many Latinos, Hispanics, and young voters support Ron Paul.

“It’s about the American dream. Hispanics come to this country; immigrants come to this country because of the American dream. And that’s why they come; they don’t want to get here and find out it’s too late. And the reason these young people are so involved …Is because the American dream is slipping away…It’s touching America’s young people because now they know the system is stacked against them,” said Wead.

As he was saying this, Wead had his arms stretched out on both sides as if to say, what more can we give than the American dream.

Wead also cited high taxes on the poor and the outsourcing of jobs as reasons for our monetary decline.

He was very passionate about this issue; when he spoke he his arms were held up to the horizon and with his voice cracking more than once, said, “They’re smart, they know more about this than I do.” Speaking of the poor, Wead continued, “Think for just a minute how the poor are effected by this. They’re being hurt by this; they don’t know they’re hurt by this.”

This little speed bump statement caught me off guard. I’m classified in the lowest income bracket, but I’m also educated. Still, for the most part he is right. The extremely poor often have no time to research the depreciation of the dollar, to calculate the rise in cost of living and tabulate the two because they are working, supporting a family, or uninterested. But for the most part, even educated middle class people don’t know about where the government loans out their freshly minted money and how that affects the dollar. In fact, the political system is so convoluted and ever-changing that any well-educated and well-monied person would have to spend a considerable amount of time and effort to stay on top of all new developments.

Wead and Ron Paul know a lot about the economy and genuinely care about the poor. Their extreme stance on keeping America’s wealth in America would most likely change how America works on a fundamental level if Ron Paul were elected. But what I got from the talk with Doug Wead was a true caring and passion for America’s people and a raw, tunnel-vision approach to making Americans successful above all else. As Ron Paul’s campaign slogan goes, “Let’s rebuild America”.

It is amazing what simple words will do to one’s psyche. From the amazing and invigorating Hoda Kotb, telling a body of eager young journalists that she was consecutively rejected by 27 broadcast news stations, to Kevin McCarthy admitting with a flame in his eyes that he cried during action scenes in movies, because they’re just so “awesome”. Nerdtears, as he calls them. And then all of the encouraging words in between–Chuck Todd didn’t even major in communications, but poli-sci, which he now finds nearly useless to his career.

Incredible journalists who spoke to us tonight, and all from George Mason!

And not only the speakers, but the students themselves. Let me tell you, world, the fear you have for the next generation is unwarranted. We will succeed. The questions many of my peers asked today were incredible! We have so many great public speakers and thinkers here, it makes me giddy for the future of media.

So many things were shot at our ears, and our young composure!! We listened to multiple White House correspondents from major news organizations (Chuck Todd, Jessica Yellen) in one room, at the National Press Club, in the same room where presidents have launched their campaigns, news has been made, and countless reporters have started their careers. Consistent in the speech of every journalist was a real humanness–none of the plastic-news-reporter, often the stereotyped public view of broadcast journalists. They instead struck us with their humility and genuineness, and humor! And as they said themselves–all of the majorly successful reporters are compassionate, and give 100% of themselves to the job, and the people at hand.

AND HEY, I even mustered up the courage to saunter across the ballroom after the second round of speakers (this time successful George Mason alum) and give the name of my blog to KEVIN MCCARTHY, an amazing talent in film critiquing. Kevin was a really impressive person to me. Many have no idea how far compassion goes, and how rarely it is happened upon to teens looking towards a sometimes ominous-looking future and career world. Kevin really put himself out there, he talked to us with a genuineness and gentleness that almost bespoke innocence, but in actuality was his enduring infatuation with an industry, that not many are able to retain.  So Mr. McCarthy, if you’re reading this, know that your stories made a difference. I admire so much, your work and your demeanor. Thank you again!

Not to sugar coat things, but today was incredible. I can not say enough good about these journalists. And they truly want to help us.

After the barrage of mind-blowing stories and words that made us feel the sometimes unfamiliar assurance that our dreams are entirely feasible, (with hard work, and a truly burning passion for the industry and the people involved), we went on a moonlight tour of DC’s many monuments! Running through the grass in attempt to beat the mass of WCMC reps., my feet found a mud hole, and my shoes were filled with historic DC soil and mud. We continued on our ascent to the lincoln monument, and my camera’s battery died right there, on the steps. Low blow battery…

Fortunately I was able to capture a lot of excitement before the tragedy of the battery! They’ll be uploaded soon, to update this post!

The journalists winning Pulitzer prizes and engineering the groundbreaking stories are ones with a true heart for people, and an empathy and selflessness often ignored by (how ironically) the media, or more accurately our society’s polarized view of journalists.

Some of the photos at the Newseum were breathtaking. I seemed to have stood, suspended in time, almost floating over the Pulitzer timeline–a barrage of every prize winner since the award’s origination. I saw so much of what I want to do in those photos, and to sound the sap, my eyes teared up, and I had to move to the next photo before the tears rolled.

Later, in our group discussions, a major point of conversation was the photographs. What made them so incredibly intriguing and magnetic. The humanness. The emotion, the moment, right before the dam breaks, and all the emotion that accompanies that. Because, it is one thing to photograph an event, but to have the emotional stability to capture people falling from a building, a line of men being shot in an execution, a dying child held by none other than the cold ground, is incredible. It is one thing to take a photo, to be there, to say that you saw it, but the winning shot is one that encompasses everything about a story, yet brings up so many more questions and dilemmas than it gives away. And this is incredible to me. Such a combination of ingredients, and all attainable, all within reach, if one is not afraid of getting out there and becoming partners with risk. Those are the kind of photos I want to be known for taking.

That is probably the most important thing, engrained in my memory today–put yourself out there, because there is nothing to lose, and you are just a person. It is hard for people of all ages to think of themselves in more universal terms–as masters of their own futures. As if one rejection will make them further away from their goals, which is exactly the opposite of the truth.

As a result of all this eye-peeling business we’ve been shown today,  I feel as if everyone has realized–it is not just a business suit and an enthusiastic smile that will make you a successful person, but the genuineness and real action behind that suit (or not) is what will. Perfect day.

Before this becomes a memoir, I would like to squeeze in one more thing–the speakers!! AH, they were great (I heard Mark Hopson, on interracial communication, and Donna Leinwand on crisis and war reporting). They were both incredible speakers, in their own way. Donna spoke with so many effortlessly impacting and often gut-wrenching stories, in a nonchalant tone. Not one of detachment, but one of knowing the business, and not being surprised at what is required (ie, twenty spare tires in a war zone, and a propensity for the sight of chaos and harm). She made clear the fact that one can not detach themselves emotionally from a heart-breaking story, but that one must just keep going, as the people featured in the stories do. There is always a future, and the future has to do with knowing the awful details of the past.
Mark Hopson is a professor teaching Communication (sans an ‘S’). In his words, he talks about talking, about communicating. His line of work clicked with me instantly–the motivation behind words and actions that are almost programmed into the person in question, although they are probably not aware of such blueprinting in their own thought-pattern. An example of this would be dressing as an attractive business women, instead of an authoritative one. We know certain things, but know not where the information is from, although it is innately part of our thought-process.

Donna Leinwand: http://www.npc.press.org/about/president/leinwand-bio.cfm

Mark Hopson: http://eagle.gmu.edu/faculty_experts/?id=38

Very good day.

(Click to make large)

Omigosh. Today, was both overwhelming and underwhelming. It was a flurry of words and identical outgoing attitudes, as if each of us were trying to fit into the mold of the perfect, precognitive and ambitious young journalism bug. It was hard to tell who was genuinely excited and passionate about the experience and who was just riding on the general wave of emotion created by 150 kids in business attire, required to make friends on the spot. There were a lot of incredibly smart kind and super succesful kids today, but it seemed almost difficult to let go of the esteemed “success stereotype”, let down our guards, and show our vulnerabilities. And not even vulnerabilities, but just to show the incongruities that characterize us as dumb teens. But it is a business conference, so that is to be expected, and highly appreciated, in most cases.

Today, we were spoken to by the amazing Chris Cillizza. What he told us was really encouraging. He talked about the number one question I always have for journalists; “How did you get where you are today?” And what he said was suprising. He didn’t start doing any journalism work until he was in his mid twenties. He didn’t even go to school for journalism. But after an internship and an experimental local news job, Cillizza became the founder of the fix–now a world-renowned source of news and one of the most succesfull blogs out there, but at the time, it was the job no buisness man wanted. The internet as a source of news, and a networking tool was still infantile in nature, and the blogosphere was almost entireley uncharted. But he stuck with it, and now is a major voice in pollitical commentary, the news, and journalism itself. And Chris is only in his thirties! So inspiring. I love that journalism is based not on how many years of school one has under his belt, but how hard you try to go for the story and get your work out there.

Before Cillizza spoke, we had a much needed dinner after a day of travel–food was great and alla the representatives looked great as well!! So looking forward to seeing the Newseum tomorrow.

Many people tell me they’re excited for me, that they’re glad I’m pursuing my dreams, but one conference is one step in a long road to my future career. Others, when I tell them about the conference, make a small guffawing noise, raise their critical eyebrows, and look at their shoes; “Journalism is dead,” they say. But I don’t think it is. I think it’s just changing drastically. Just as the face of sports and what it means to have a college education have changed with the rise of the technological era, so has the face of journalism. Journalism can be defined as so many different things, and is such to so many people, but what I have in my heart for a career is to explicate upon the trials of people all over the world–not to exploit but to embody a spirit of collective humanity, in a time where the dehumanization of media subjects is common knowledge. Sounds easy in theory, I mean, if you cornered any average person and asked them if honest reporting was their preferred method of media, they ould say “yes”, without a doubt. But it doesn’t always happen that way. I want to maintain the goal of honest representation, in whatever I do, be it photos, writing, or any other media outlet, amidst a system that tells me my goal is improbable.

So in saying all of that and acknowledging the many different pathways this Journalism conference could be seen as, I am most excited for the tips and tricks from the industry leaders. And boiling it all down, I am honestly most excited to see how they act. One who has made a succesful career out of observation is fundamentally different from one making a living from any other profession. It requires one to spill secrets daily that he or she has personally compiled, all the while, maintaining a trustworthy facade and a gentile-spirited (and even cunning) demeanor. What will that all  essentialize down to, when these men and women are speaking to a group of distracted, albeit succesful, and largely clueless teens.? Will they give us petty advice, knowing most of us will not have a successful journalism career? Will they opt to speak down to us, as a generally nervous and wandering age group (although we all have been selected as promising and motivated individuals)? Or will they instead genuinely advise and teach?

The way they think of us as a group will dictate how they speak, and what they speak about. That is what I am most excited to learn about. I love people, and all their minute inflections can teach us.

I am incredibly excited, as well, to meet other students so enamored by journalism. I am praying for great roommates and an open and receptive mind. This conference really is an opportunity of a lifetime, for someone so young as all in attendance, and there will be a wealth of information to learn and appreciate. Not to mention the even greater treasures in what is communicated in unspoken channels.

Three days till DC!