US Embassy Trip
Warning: no photos in this post. It'd be an issue of national security.
Tuesday we went to the American Embassy with Carolina. We all thought it had to do with getting our visas, which was completely incorrect (we are still struggling to do that on our own). Instead, it was a little informational meeting/welcome.
After going through intense security and leaving behind all electronics, we were escorted in by groups no larger than four. We then had to surrender a form of ID. And then our escorts led us back into this little conference room.
Upon arriving in the room, I saw this photo of these amazing red rock formations. I immediately said, "Where is this in Argentina? Because I want to go there!" I got closer, only to see the title on the bottom of the photo "New Mexico." Needless to say, I was disappointed and the fact that we had just stepped back into US territory became quite real.
We met the Press Attache at US Embassy Buenos Aires, Shannon Farrel. It's her job to read Argentina newspapers, watch the news, and report it to the ambassador. She knows a lot of journalists and has traveled all around the country. She informed us of how the journalism world is in Argentina. She said it's not to the same standards as the U.S., especially when it comes to "off the record." All of my journalism friends reading this know "off the record" means don't tell or you could lose your job, reputation, and/or ruin someone's life. However, she said many journalists don't follow this rule.
Ferrel said also finding straightforward, unbiased, fact driven print stories isn't as easy of the U.S. They usually lean one way or the other. She gave us tips on what newspapers to read while down here, and gave us an idea of the journalism in South America.
Then, we asked her a few questions. This is when we realized this woman was a genius. She had been a lawyer before going into foreign services, and had lived all over the world. She spoke Spanish AT NATIVE LEVEL (this was even before living in Argentina) and at least FIVE other languages. We asked her how the foregin service exam worked; there's first a written test with an essay, then a group oral exam, then a solo interview, and then another essay. On the written test, there are questions from everything to American History to Pop culture. Of course, she passed the ENTIRE exam on the first time. She is a truly impressive woman, not only by her resume, but by her dedication and fearlessness (she lived in Afghanistan).
After leaving the embassy, we realized that even though the information was interesting, we now just felt like losers. And then we all said we were ditching journalism anyhow, but it's a stressful profession. So, it was really just a debbie-downer of a trip. Plus it was at 10:30 am, so we were all exhausted.
On Wednesay, Luke found an article about press freedom rankings. Apparently the U.S. has dropped significantly, and is now even with Argentina and Romania. This is especially ironic, because Farrel told us the U.S. has a much higher caliber for journalism. Given the fact she works for the government, we took it with a grain of salt, and looks like that was a good idea.
Overall the trip was interesting, but just felt like PR for the U.S. government. Which, as any Missouri trained journalist knows, means it's probably a big load of worthless info (no spokespeople allowed, right?).
Highlights
-Going to El Cigale, on the top ten bar list, and having a delicious Mojito (supposed to be the best in town)
-Finding out it's possible to order groceries online!
Tuesday we went to the American Embassy with Carolina. We all thought it had to do with getting our visas, which was completely incorrect (we are still struggling to do that on our own). Instead, it was a little informational meeting/welcome.
After going through intense security and leaving behind all electronics, we were escorted in by groups no larger than four. We then had to surrender a form of ID. And then our escorts led us back into this little conference room.
Upon arriving in the room, I saw this photo of these amazing red rock formations. I immediately said, "Where is this in Argentina? Because I want to go there!" I got closer, only to see the title on the bottom of the photo "New Mexico." Needless to say, I was disappointed and the fact that we had just stepped back into US territory became quite real.
We met the Press Attache at US Embassy Buenos Aires, Shannon Farrel. It's her job to read Argentina newspapers, watch the news, and report it to the ambassador. She knows a lot of journalists and has traveled all around the country. She informed us of how the journalism world is in Argentina. She said it's not to the same standards as the U.S., especially when it comes to "off the record." All of my journalism friends reading this know "off the record" means don't tell or you could lose your job, reputation, and/or ruin someone's life. However, she said many journalists don't follow this rule.
Ferrel said also finding straightforward, unbiased, fact driven print stories isn't as easy of the U.S. They usually lean one way or the other. She gave us tips on what newspapers to read while down here, and gave us an idea of the journalism in South America.
Then, we asked her a few questions. This is when we realized this woman was a genius. She had been a lawyer before going into foreign services, and had lived all over the world. She spoke Spanish AT NATIVE LEVEL (this was even before living in Argentina) and at least FIVE other languages. We asked her how the foregin service exam worked; there's first a written test with an essay, then a group oral exam, then a solo interview, and then another essay. On the written test, there are questions from everything to American History to Pop culture. Of course, she passed the ENTIRE exam on the first time. She is a truly impressive woman, not only by her resume, but by her dedication and fearlessness (she lived in Afghanistan).
After leaving the embassy, we realized that even though the information was interesting, we now just felt like losers. And then we all said we were ditching journalism anyhow, but it's a stressful profession. So, it was really just a debbie-downer of a trip. Plus it was at 10:30 am, so we were all exhausted.
On Wednesay, Luke found an article about press freedom rankings. Apparently the U.S. has dropped significantly, and is now even with Argentina and Romania. This is especially ironic, because Farrel told us the U.S. has a much higher caliber for journalism. Given the fact she works for the government, we took it with a grain of salt, and looks like that was a good idea.
Overall the trip was interesting, but just felt like PR for the U.S. government. Which, as any Missouri trained journalist knows, means it's probably a big load of worthless info (no spokespeople allowed, right?).
Highlights
-Going to El Cigale, on the top ten bar list, and having a delicious Mojito (supposed to be the best in town)
-Finding out it's possible to order groceries online!
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