WASHINGTON–The first day you get to Washington, you will be overwhelmed with all the information that you get. That’s just a given so soak up all the information you can and just run with it, from day one.
Washington is a fascinating city. You will meet people who eat, breathe and sleep politics. But you certainly don’t have to be one of those people in order to cover good stories. Be flexible and don’t be afraid to cover a story that you don’t know much about. In a case like this, the best advice is to do your research before you head out to cover a story. Know what the story is first and make sure that you contact the right people for interviews. Sometimes it’s as simple as a Google search on your subject matter. Then you will read articles that mention sources like academic experts or scholars that you may want to interview for your stories.
Get your Medill requirements done early on in the quarter because then you can spend more time on practicing your reporting skills whether it’s for print or broadcast. For broadcast students, work on enterprise stories first. Those are very important and take longer than spot stories. Once you have enough enterprise stories, you can focus on honing your writing skills under deadline pressure for spot stories or do more video packages.
You are in D.C. where networking is key. Take your business cards with you to every story that you cover because you never know who you will meet. Build rapport with your sources and keep in touch with them. Sometimes you will need the same person you interviewed who will give you your next source for your next story.
You will have privileges and press credentials that many aspiring journalists don’t have until they are a few years into their careers, like covering the president’s press conference at the White House or a hearing at the Capitol. Spend some time both at the White House and the Capitol Hill. Go to a hearing with an open mind. Sometimes they turn into stories, sometimes they don’t. In either case, you will gain from the experience. Go and cover a press conference at least once at the White House. It’s a magical experience. Just don’t forget to get your press credentials two days in advance.
You are also going to work with clients who have already worked with Medill for years. This is an opportunity for you to work closely with them and learn from each story that you turn in for them. You learn how to work with news stations and websites. Don’t be afraid to ask for their feedback.
Make sure that you put your best effort forward on every story because at the end of it, it’s most rewarding when you know that you did your best and you are proud. Don’t try to be a perfectionist on every single story and don’t sweat the small stuff: Sometimes, you just have to do it. When you get stuck, seek help. Ask your instructors for guidance.
Enjoy the Washington experience. It’s enchanting and magical, and overwhelming at times.. But it is an experience that is worth every second. Work hard and enjoy the ride. You are in for an adventure that is extremely valuable.
Delal Pektas is a broadcast reporter for the Medill News Service in Washington covering youth and politics. She graduates in June with an MSJ from Medill.