Thursday. Internship day. Me and my career day. Dragged myself out of bed after a night of limited sleep. I shouldn't have slept so late Wednesday. Threw some clothes on and walked out into the cloudy and humid morning to catch the city bus for the second time in my life. Bus ride wasn't bad. Crowded, but I'm not complaining. (My computer is lagging and it's driving me nuts). In class we took a quiz; given a blank map of the US - fill in the states. Try it. You'll be amazed at your own forgetfulness. The rest of class we practiced writing obituaries. Either by chance or on purpose, today was consequently the day when the famed Italian opera singer, Luciano Pavaratti died. Not a very uplifting morning. We're supposed to be thinking about beats we'd like to cover for when we eventually begin writing regular broadcasts. I talked to the professor after class and decided I'd really like to a political beat that covers student involvement in everything from campus rally's to political groups. I hope it's as interesting as I am anticipating. Politics is a growing interest for me. At the station today I met a new editing guy. I'm continually surprised by the conversations I have with people at the station. The editors don't make a whole lot of pay, many of them didn't graduate from college or graduated from a trade school, and they seem, as a whole, a very easy-going, lazy sort of bunch. There's a lot of down time in editing, that can't be helped. The stories haven't been written so there's no video editing to be done. Two editor's I've spoken with share a common belief that the news has gone to the gutter. The media does not report what it's important, it reports what sells. A news cast show blips of a news day; it lacks detail and intelligence. Strike up a conversation with someone about John McCain, see how much they know about his politics. You know what they'll say? "You little jerk." How about Larry Craig? He's gay. Hillary Clinton? Bill. Obama. Black. What's wrong with healthcare? They screw you. Why did we go to Iraq? Why are we still there? It bothers me that we scrutinize the American people for not being involved in their own government, that we make fun of them for being ignorant, and yet we, the media, whose job it is to inform the public, feed them garbage. The public gains little substantial information from the media any more and it wasn't always like that. It shouldn't be like that. We treat politicians like celebrities. I have hope for my generation. I have hope for it because, ironically, the very issues that generations before us struggle over, are the issues that those generations have taught us to accept. We are all equal. It doesn't matter if you're black or white. My generation is accepting. And caring. Today it is a big deal if a black man or a woman becomes president. I predict that I may live to see the presidency won by a homosexual. It sounds extreme now, of course, but my generation has been introduced to "Will and Grace", "TransAmerica", "Queer Eye for the Straight Guy". We've read textbooks that point out the ludicrousness of groups like the KKK. If this were an essay, I'd have better examples. But the point is, we are open-minded and can find no difference between discrimination of color and discrimination of sexual orientation. We are what we were taught to be. Accepting. We appreciate the world. We take action where our elders only talk of action. Schools across the US participate in recycling programs, study alternative resources and have special clubs for coming up with "green" ideas. We'd buy hybrid cars if we could afford them and solar panels if we could afford those, too. In the meantime, we pass up buying music for an energy efficient light bulb. I have hope for my generation to take what we will be given and make it better. I also have hope for my generation of journalists. I hope that their criticisms of today's media will inspire them to rise above the ratings and give the people what they really need -- possibly what they really want. I have hope that technology will carry journalism to a higher place with fewer limitations. I am an idealist. And I hope. The editor I was shadowing today, Ralph, said I had a good look and a good name for broadcast. He said I look like I have the credibility to work on Capitol Hill, that he would believe that I understood what I was reporting. He was comparing me to the Anchor-driven-blonds; the girls that show up to guest speaker events in suits, heavy make up and anchor hair with their notebook and pen. They love to ask successful journalists for "words of wisdom". What they really want to know is the fastest route to the lead anchor spot. I have nothing against anchors, though it may seem that way. I just believe, especially since being at CBS, that anchors must first be great reporters. I say remember this, because there are days when I doubt my career choice. Days like these, the discussions and inspiring motivation that comes to me, is what I hope to hold on to.