Students from the Communication Department spent the weekend in Washington, D.C., to experience all that the city has to offer for communications professionals. I was able to be part of this great experience.
Within minutes of being in the city, we witnessed history being made. Immediately after the plane landed, we headed toward the White House to see Jim Acosta of CBS enter back in for the first time since the suspension of his press pass. D.C. is full of past history to remind us where we came from, but is also full of history being made to show us where we are going. There is never a dull moment in the city.
We then spent the afternoon in the United States Capitol with a tour provided to us by Congressman Richard Neal. We had the opportunity to enter the House and Senate. We finished our day at Howard University’s School of Communications to meet with Hazel Trice Edney, who is the founder of her own newswire, Trice Edney News Wire.
The next day was devoted to spending time at the Newseum, a museum solely dedicated to news. The four-floored museum covers each element of the first amendment: freedom of speech, religion, press, petition, and assembly. The exhibits brought to light many tough situations that most people do not think come with the job of a journalist. There was an entire section dedicated to those who have died from reporting on serious issues, a section on which countries have the freedoms that we are so lucky to have in America, and those that do not, as well as an entire floor focused on the lives of journalists during 9/11. Journalists have one of the most dangerous jobs because they are charged with speaking the truth. In today’s world with the constant talk of “fake news” it is important for journalists to be reliable and truthful. We finished our time at the Newseum by “reporting” our own stories on camera at iconic sites such as the White House, Supreme Court, and Capitol.
This trip was just a small look into what the world of communications truly is. There are so many different places and jobs that rely on communications professionals today, whether that be public relations, news media, event planners, broadcasters, or radio hosts--the possibilities are endless. It is such an important part of the world we live in and it is important for the students of 91Ώμ²₯ to have the chance to expand their horizons. If we can continue to educate students about the world around them, we can better prepare them for their future.
