Washington, D.C. — Have you ever seen a Benetton ad with nothing but the face of a beautiful woman and asked yourself where’re the clothes? When you see an Abercrombie and Fitch catalogue, does it cross your mind that they actually sell clothes? Well, come listen to an exclusive with Ji Lee, who has many years of knowledge in the advertising industry and is the innovator of The Bubble Project.

Hear Aaronson’s 8.24.06 broadcast on College Media News.

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Washington, D.C. — How do certain factors impact and perhaps skew our perception of others? Attractiveness and race are just two of these elements that affect our perspectives. D.C. locals comment on perception, stereotypes, and the ways in which they have been impacted by the opinions of others.

Hear Aaronson’s 8.21.06 broadcast on College Media News.

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Washington, D.C. — What is peace? And is it attainable? This word has been thrown around ad nauseam, especially in this day and age when war is just a television channel away. Hear what the former Israeli Prime Minister and an American Professor in Beirut, along with several D.C. locals have to say about this ideal.

Hear Aaronson’s 8.16.06 broadcast on College Media News.

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Washington, D.C. — When you hear “the game,” what do you initially think of? We are all players in a type of game, whether we like to admit it or not. It's prevalent in our music, culture and even our government. Listen to what Washington, D.C., locals have to say about the game of life and the ways in which every aspect of life is actually a game.

Hear Aaronson’s 8.14.06 broadcast on College Media News.

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Washington, D.C. — As I leave for work every morning, the heat and humidity of D.C. permeates my dress attire. I leave my tie in my reporter’s bag and enjoy a frequent gentle breeze with my top button undone. A series of Metro rails, the red to the orange/blue line, takes me to my stop, Capitol South – which is as it sounds, south of the Capitol. To my right, I pass by the Longden and Cannon buildings, both hosting events and hearings for the House of Representatives. As I trudge up the squeaky staircase, I enter the studio.

Housing a mere three computers, seven interns and five full time staff members, my office is no larger than three restroom stalls aligned side by side. It is indeed small, compact and efficient if a euphemism is in order; however, as reporters we hardly ever spend time in the office. This is only part of what makes my internship “off the chain.” I personally average about two hours a day in the office itself, the rest of my day is spent out on the Hill attending hearings and interviews, editing sound clips at cafés, and eating lunch with fellow co-workers. For some, it is not only a career, but also a lifestyle full of excitement, interaction and random knowledge.

This fast-paced lifestyle always keeps me on my toes, ready for anything at a moments notice. I often receive calls while at hearings demanding that I hop on the Metro and cover an important event or news conference. I love the rush; I love the spontaneity; I love the butterflies. My days fly by and seven hours can seem like three. Trust me, it’s not your typical 9-to-5 workday. For one, I don’t get paid, but I’ve been endowed with the utmost responsibility: I am my own producer, script writer, reporter and correspondent all wrapped into one pretty package. This is truly a reporter’s life for me.

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Irvine, Calif. — The hustle and bustle of finals is finally over. It’s a beautiful thing rocking that last final, walking out to freedom, and screaming at the top of your lungs – or at least it was for me. As of 4:53 post meridian Pacific Time on Thursday, June 15, I’ve been unleashed from my spring endeavors as free as a bird. With summer approaching, the thoughts of beaches, sandals and ice-cold lemonade come to mind; however, that isn’t even the half of it. I’m going to be spending two whole months in the District of Columbia, reporting for Talk Radio News Service. Perhaps lacking the beaches and summer attire I expected, the thought of the Capitol and an original Philly Cheesesteak will suffice and surely surpass any prior preconceived expectation.

I’ve just realized in two days I’ll be basking in the wonderful humidity of our nation’s capital, not to mention the perspiration I’ll be emitting from my suit and tie. Even so, I’m extremely excited to delve into our nation’s history and venture into uncharted territory along the East Coast. Thoughts of the Big Apple, the home of the Red Sox, and the city of brotherly love permeate my mind; I can’t wait to get on that plane for D.C.

I plan to be working four days a week at TRNS, attending press conferences, interacting with politicians and piecing together sound bites for the College Media News Web site. CMN is a Washington, D.C.-based news service produced by college students for college students. As a staff member, I will be covering events throughout the nation's capital – from the White House to Capitol Hill to the Supreme Court – producing stories with a youthful and punchy edge that fill a news hole.

Two colleagues of mine interned at TRNS last summer with the UCDC summer internship program and both said, “It was an experience of a lifetime.” I can honestly say that I’m enthralled to be given this opportunity. It has been said that “life is a gift, and it offers us privilege, opportunity and responsibility to give something back by becoming more.” With that, I hope to become more by honing in on my writing, public speaking and overall communication skills. Not only will this be beneficial to my future career path (or lack thereof), but also provide growth for my own personal development. Up to this day, I have been fascinated by media relations and the whole communication field in general. I have faith that this experience with TRNS will offer insight into my specific interest in this field.

As of now, there are some loose ends to tie here in Irvine. I’m off to pack and say my goodbyes. Who knows what this experience beholds; all I know is that I’m ready for an experience of a lifetime. Washington, D.C., here I come!!!

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