I along with members of my class posing with Tim Russert in the Summer of 2006One rainy, humid Sunday morning two summers ago, I along with members of my American University journalism class walked over to NBC Studios and watched a taping of Meet the Press with Tim Russert. My passion for journalism, already growing within me, became even bigger as I watched Russert do his job so well.
The special guest that day was Senator Russ Feingold (D -WI). He expressed his dissatisfaction of the Bush White House and the President’s refusal to withdraw troops from Iraq to Russert.
All that did not interest me that day. Even though my clothes were still damp and the studio was VERY cold, I still did not fail to notice the precision of Tim Russert's questions as well as the great deal of research that went into finding the hardest hitting questions. Russert never failed the find the contradiction in his guests’ rhetoric, always finding a quote that stated the opposite of their current position and asking them to immediately explain themselves. Later in the q and a session, he called that type of questioning his way of serving the people and making sure that nothing was ever biased; that even those who many did not favor would get the same treatment as the most popular politician. It was that drive to be as objective and in depth that attracted me to this man and inspired me to pursue some kind of in-depth political reporting.
Last semester, I had the opportunity to be somewhat like Tim Russert on WRGW when I interviewed a number of guests, including members of Barack Obama's campaign team, College Democrats and Republicans, Former EVP Brand Kroeger, SA Presidential candidates Vishal Aswani, Kevin Kozlowski, and Ogheneremu Oyiborhoro and a host of other influential students and administrators. Like a wannabe Tim Russert, I spent days and nights reading old Hatchet articles and other documents to become aware of the issues and find ways to frame questions that asked for more than what The Hatchet reported, making sure those guests elaborated on their position to the best of their abilities. One of my best memories that semester was sitting among my colleagues Taylor Barnes, Jared Pliner, and David Caesar of The Hatchet during the WRGW SA President debate between Kevin Kozlowski and Vishal Aswani. I took my research very seriously and came into the studio tired from a night of reading and writing but ready to ask the hardest hitting questions, probably surprising many.
Months later, and days after Tim Russert’s untimely passing, The Ace is a representation of a common goal to bring about information from a new fresh, and unbiased perspective answering the most difficult questions instead of scratching the surface. With Mr.Russert, no one was safe and that meant that there was an opportunity to learn as much as possible every Sunday. With this publication, there is also an opportunity to learn as much as possible in every issue and we promise not to fail our readers. Expect to see something new and fresh every month. Our hard work comes with the memory of Tim Russert's service and dedication to those like me who loved politics.
Months later, and days after Tim Russert’s untimely passing, The Ace is a representation of a common goal to bring about information from a new fresh, and unbiased perspective answering the most difficult questions instead of scratching the surface. With Mr.Russert, no one was safe and that meant that there was an opportunity to learn as much as possible every Sunday. With this publication, there is also an opportunity to learn as much as possible in every issue and we promise not to fail our readers. Expect to see something new and fresh every month. Our hard work comes with the memory of Tim Russert's service and dedication to those like me who loved politics.
