InternationalA tough internship in Washington is an experience to cherish
Published: Saturday August 23, 2008
Yelena Osipova in Philadelphia.
Paris - Charles de Gaule International Airport
August 5, 2009
Dear Reader,
Now, leaving D.C. and an unforgettable couple of months behind, I can't really go without sharing some of my "intern impressions" with you. But first, let me thank you for trusting the Armenian Reporter and for reading it, even if only from time to time.
I discovered the Reporter this summer by mere chance. I was told that I had to intern there as a part of a summer program co-organized by The Fund for American Studies (TFAS) and Georgetown University. I had started preparations for the program itself about two years ago, when I first heard of it. The acceptance letter and the scholarship grants in spring were a dream come true: two months in D.C., summer courses at Georgetown, along with an internship in the field of political journalism in the capital of the United States were a dream only a couple of months ago.
Just the thought of being in Washington was exciting, but the internship site was important too. After all, that was the main thing that brought me there. A very late email from the program director, which I finally got two days after arriving in the United States in early June, said that because of a lack of available spots elsewhere, I was to be placed at an Armenian newspaper, one I had never heard of before.
"Did I come all the way to D.C. to work with Armenians?!" was the first thought that came to my mind. But being an international student, I didn't have much of a choice, so I accepted it. Frankly, I didn't know what to expect, but as long as it was reporting, I hoped I'd like it anyway.
I was slightly wrong, because I actually loved it.
Of course, I got lost on my first visit to the office, but my soon-to-be editor patiently gave detailed directions on the phone and even came out to meet me on my way. The next thing I saw was the Armenian flag on a building. That was neat, I thought, as you don't usually get to see flags of foreign countries a block away from the White House, unless they are official representations. I felt proud!
Up the stairs, a pretty comfortable office. "Welcome to the D.C. bureau of the largest American-Armenian newspaper," said Emil, the Washington Editor. He gave a quick introduction to the publication, the international section that we would be working on, the weekly briefs, and the major upcoming events. We were to cover anything relevant to the diaspora, Armenia, and the immediate region. Sounded really exciting. And it was!
First day at work, and I already got to attend a Skype conference with the other editors in California and Armenia. Then I learned about the upcoming hearing on the Yovanovitch nomination in the Senate, the House hearing on the Caucasus, and many more.
I couldn't even think that throughout the summer I would conduct international interviews over the phone, pay regular visits to Congress, attend briefings at the State Department, sit in on lectures at think tanks, and go to events at various foundations. At some of them I was not particularly welcome because of my nationality, but being in the country of free speech, I would get away with an occasional "Merhaba" or a forced smile. Taking the pictures was tougher, as it is a generally accepted truth that people don't like cameras, and sometimes that would make the atmosphere even more tense.
And yet, I enjoyed it all. I had to do most of the reporting myself, which was a job entailing a lot of responsibility; but I realized I did learn better that way.
I was upset when I saw my first contribution to the "Washington Briefing" published: I thought my piece was over-edited and did not look like anything I had written. But it was the first time, and then, I had official recognition at a newspaper that was going to reach an audience of more than 100,000 Armenians. As time went by, the style and the required story elements became clearer to me, and I started seeing my articles published with only some slight editing.
Now, thinking back, I can say the internship was beyond any expectations I had. I got a first-hand experience of applied American politics, as well as witnessed pre-election tensions in Washington, got an inside view of the Armenian-American political efforts at the nation's capital, acquired a better understanding of Armenia's regional affairs, and some of their intricacies pertaining to Southern Caucasus and the greater Middle East. Being an Armenian student majoring in political science and journalism, I could not have asked for more this summer.
Nevertheless, the most important part was what I learned from all the people I met, ranging from other diaspora Armenians interning in D.C. to representatives of Armenian interests and Armenian-American organizations, and, of course my editor and supervisor, Emil Sanamyan, who can give you a helping hand with any complicated story together with a crash course on any relevant issue. I never believed one can possess and transfer so much positive energy and inspiration, and I was proven wrong almost every day.
It was a tough program. Combining an almost-full-time internship with full-time studies in the evenings was pretty draining. But it was certainly worth it. It was an experience which I will cherish for a long time, and it came with friendships that, I hope, will last even longer. If there are any aspiring journalists amongst you, I definitely recommend looking into experiencing it yourself!
