Look no further for evidence of my interest in experiencing the economy first hand than my weekend DIY trip from DC to my new home in NYC.

I decided it was an experience I needed to have: rent a UHAUL, drive to Manhattan and unload it all into my new place. But it was a group of strangers that made the experience and helped me feel connected to this country I call home – a place I work to understand on a deeper level every day.

A few months back a journalist friend in Washington, D.C. suggested that I get to know one of his friends who works in Communications at CBS.  It was more a networking opportunity than anything else. We tried and missed each other a couple of times and then, a few weeks ago, from the seat of my $19 bus ticket from DC to NYC, I powered up my Mac, connected to wifi and tried again. This time it worked – and the next day I was off to CBS News for an impromptu conversation that turned into something much more.

Four weeks after that bus ride, here I am looking around my apartment at an unsightly stack of boxes. A pile of stamped thank you notes waiting to be mailed to friends. And of course, my trusty Mac – powered up, connected, and ready to make another move. This time to let you all know that on Monday, I’ll be reporting for my new gig with CBS News.com and @katiecouric – the long form web show Katie kicked off a year ago.

And as I look ahead to Monday, I can’t help but think this opportunity with CBS News and @katiecouric is my chance to meld my past experiences – moonlighting as a citizen journalist for MTV News and CNN iReport and working in digital communications. The exciting thing is with @katiecouric, I have the chance to apply myself full time in a field I am incredibly passionate about: journalism.

So with that, I think it’s time I get back to those boxes. Once I am settled I look forward to getting back to you all. If luck has it, maybe it will be to share with you the chances CBSNews.com and @katiecouric are set to take. Who knows – it seemed to have worked for me.

Last week I got a call from one of my favorite MTV Street Teamers – Charlie Berens from Wisconsin. Since our work with MTV ended, Charlie has been busy…he graduated from college and moved west to Los Angeles to chase his dreams. And as luck has it, I’ll be helping him do just that tomorrow when I help his production team cover one of the most exciting events of the year – The Summit Series.

According to the web site, Summit Series DC10 is an “invitation-only event that connects top young minds and inspires a new generation of leaders to succeed in business and life.” Panels range from Business to Altruism to Innovation to Arts and even Personal Growth.

Kiki Ryan over at Politico did a great write up on the event – so don’t waste all your time here! If you want to follow the event via Twitter, check in with these hash tags: #DC10 and #SummitSeries.

Some of the speakers I’m excited to possibly see include:

• President Bill Clinton
• Craig Newmark
 Founder, Craigslist
• Alec Ross
 Senior Advisor for Innovation, U.S. State Department
• Ted Turner
 Chairman, United Nations Foundation
• Alfred Lin,
 COO & CFO, Zappos
• Shervin Pishevar, 
Serial Entrepreneur & Angel Investor
• Philip Rosedale
, Creator, Second Life
• David Rubenstein, Co-Founder & Managing Director, The Carlyle Group
• Ann Veneman,
 Executive Director, UNICEF
• Howard Buffett
, White House Office of Social Innovation and Civic Engagement
• Wendy Kopp
, Founder & CEO, Teach for America
• Mark Cuban
 Owner Dallas Mavericks; Chairman HDNet
• Leland Melvin
 NASA Astronaut
• Yosi Sergeant 
Co-Creator, Obama Hope Campaign

National Press Club: This Friday Professional Development Series

Originally uploaded by ericaamerica08

This Friday, I will join a group of journalists on a panel about how to “pitch journalists in the digital age” at the National Press Club.

Hosted by the Adfero Group, the delightful Cindy Boren (Washington Post), myself, and others, will talk about how we interact with folks who have story ideas. From my perspective, it isn’t so much how people “pitch us,” but rather, how we can better listen and crowd source ideas and issues that matter to our key audiences. That is, if you follow the maxims of new media.

I’m definitely the most hybrid of the group, having worked in both digital strategy PR and placed my own content through CNN and MTV. I hope I’ll be able to make some insightful contributions as to what’s worked and what hasn’t for the group that attends!

This is my second to last day at Spectrum. I am leaving with a six-month nest egg, two job leads and one burning desire to stitch journalism up – from the inside.

A few of my trusted confidants, including my Dad and Helen Thomas, advised me throughout 2009 to stick with my day job and ride the recession out. Well, I took that advice, and as a result spent twelve months packing away knowledge and pennies, creating digital case studies for my portfolio and simultaneously starting the process of graduating my brand from “EricaAmerica Citizen Journalist” to “Erica Anderson, Network Producer/Reporter.”

I have a driving instinct that now it’s time to put 100 percent into this ambition to help rebuild what I believe to be the most important industries to the health of our imperfect nation – journalism.

So stay tuned for what’s next; who I target and who I meet with, how I used social media to land opportunities and what the outcome will be.

One thing is for sure, now, more than ever, it is time to step into the fray and make the future happen.

So why publish my never-before-seen essays that landed me a job with MTV News? Paired with these essays and an intensive interview process, I somehow stood out in a pool of hundreds of applicants and was made their Washington, DC election correspondent. I guess that’s cool, but here is the part I like: I got to spend 12 months as a social media, digital news incubator, I had an interpretative job description yet straightforward guidelines: Tell untold stories. Pick up MSM’s slack. And apply all of Journalism’s Code of Ethics, without excuse.

As I look forward to 2010, I can’t help but revisit where my head was when this all began. True to MTV’s judgement (thank you Liz, Kristin, Ian), I provided in no uncertain terms why I have the potential, and now experience, to help guide journalism towards an inevitable reconstruction. Without further delay, here are my never-before-published essays. 24 months later, I still agree with them…so much in fact, consider it my manifesto.

1. What are the top three issues you care about?

I care about our foreign policy in the Middle East, affordable healthcare, and an open and honest dialogue between our President and the press.

If we were more proactive in applying America’s intellect and imagination to find alternative energy solutions, the U.S. would not be in the current conflict in Iraq.  Not addressing alternative energies has created complex problems. I want to push the next President to address the misleading rhetoric of this Administration, and work to fix internal shortcomings before waging war.

In terms of healthcare, it is simply not affordable. Pharmaceutical companies, weighed down by the cost of R&D, charge so much for drugs citizens are forced to choose between groceries and antibiotics. Generic drugs should be readily available, regulations on consumer ads should be strengthened, and children’s health insurance should be mandatory.

I also care about the issue of ethics and honesty, particularly in the Administrations interaction with the press and public. I want the President and the appointed administration not to degrade the media’s questions, or imply they are “unpatriotic” for questioning a war that has killed thousands of people and tarnished our international reputation.

But most importantly, I care about being lead by a person of character, humility, and selflessness. We need a candidate who can admit when they are wrong and will always have the best interest of the American people at heart.

2. What makes you uniquely qualified to cover your state (or District)? Read the rest of this entry…

(I drafted the first half of the post while I waited for About Our Children, a live special on MSNBC to start.)

I’m currently sitting in Howard University’s Ira Aldridge Theater. The auditorium is buzzing. MSNBC’s production team is doing sound checks and testing the teleprompter. Chris Matthews, who seems to be here on his own time, is walking around backstage. The team from the Independent Women’s Forum (IWF), the non-profit that pulled the show together, are filing students into seats. This is the moment many of them have been waiting for.

And here I am, sitting in the second row, taking it all in. About three weeks ago, I was asked to help produce a series of web videos for the show’s companion web site. Over the course of three weekends I sat at the Dell MTV bequeathed to me during Street Team ‘08, and produced. But what is more important than what I put out, is what I took in.

Here are three of my favorite take aways from my time on the About Our Children project.

1. There is no problem Craigslist can’t solve. I came across a problem with Premier Pro (editing software) that had me ready to pull my hair out. I ran through my personal network and couldn’t find the answer – so I posted an “Advice Needed” ad on Craigslist. I got a half dozen responses, and the next day a young Peruvian kid came over. For a hour, he provided me with a ton of tips and solutions I never would have found on my own. But for the record, I gave my neighbor a heads up that I was hosting someone from Craigslist  – and I am happy to report he was perfectly behaved. Read the rest of this entry…

Adventures of the RNC continue…

For full coverage and my LIVE mobile to web streaming reports, check out: THINK.MTV.COM/EricaAmerica

I think around 3:30 of this video I discover in the most fundamental way why I question and care about the implications of the Iraq war on our generation. Here’s a rare look at the unraveling mind of a starving citizen journalist. :) Ok, you can cut the starving part.

4:13 A young deserter becomes a lobbyist
4:40 A civil affairs officer returns with his truth
5:26 What do the people on the ground, our front lines, really want and need?

On April 24th, Helen Thomas wrote in her weekly column, “if history repeats itself, the loser of this year’s presidential election will blame the news media.” [SEE FULL ARTICLE, "The Loser Always Blame the Media"]

With the recent case of Hillary versus Barack, Helen’s assessment was spot on.

Last Saturday I had a unexpected, and even scary, confrontation. I was interviewing demonstrators at the DNC Rules meeting and had spoken to about seven people on camera. All of them supported Senator Clinton and wanted the votes in Michigan and Florida to count.

After the interviews, I was getting b-roll when I saw a guy wearing an Obama sign. I hadn’t talked to any Obama supporters so I thought this would help round my story out. He said he would talk to me, so with that, we moved away from the crowd to a quiet area. And I started to roll the camera.

I didn’t know it, but this exchange, between me, “the media” and him “the Obama fan” would come to sum up the hostility Clinton fans have felt towards the media in this primary season.

Within a minute, Clinton fans spotted me talking to the lone Obama guy and lids started to flip. I was trying to focus on the interview but I couldn’t. Loud, confrontational slurs were being directed at me. I looked over and saw two aggressive Hillary fans only an arm length away from my camera. They started yelling into the lens “This is all your fault! You’re to blame! You and the media!”

To my silent and even confused look, they went on.

“Why are you interviewing this fool?…It’s always like the media to support Obama!”

I could hardly believe it. I mean, me? This is my fault? A million thoughts ran through my head. My heart raced. This was the second time during my MTV tenure as a one-man-band that my safety felt in jeopardy. Never during, but always after, I kind of love it. It really puts me in touch with how people feel.

Within a few seconds, two cordial Clinton supporters came over and walked them away. I turned back around and went on with the interview.

The story came back to me as the North Carolina Street Teamer, Carla Babb, wrote an article about whether or not the media had favored Obama over Clinton.

With that experience fresh in my mind, here’s what I think.

To Helen’s point, the loser (and the campaign supporters) might always blame the media. But as I experienced, the assertion that my work somehow reduced (or on the flip, improved) a candidate’s political standing, while quite complimentary, is not at all true. At least I don’t think it is.

But to the Democrats as a whole — hostility, especially directed at each other, is retro active in securing the November election. It would behoove Senator Clinton to make that known to her supporters. The finger-pointing, not always aimed in the right direction, digresses party unity.

And oh yeah, one more thing. I’m not the mainstream media. I’m a citizen journalist. SNAP.

Today the Wall Street Journal’s William McGurn wrote an Opinion piece called “Why Harvard Harasses the Military.”

I read it, but I admit I was turned off.

I paused and absorbed. Then my fingers started. I hate when it happens, but it’s not like I can help it. I wrote a reponse. Direct. Clean. And short. I decided last minute, instead of addressing it to the friend who forwarded it, I would send it directly to the Wall Street Journal.

After I hit send, it took ten minutes for the writer to respond. Here is the transaction.

_________________________________________________________________________________

WHY HARVARD HARASSES THE MILITARY 
William McGurn, Wall Street Journal, May 20, 2008

_____________________________________________________________________________________________

MY RESPONSE
I don’t know the back story to Harvard and ROTC other than what this piece offered. But, coming from my perspective, “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” is a highly discriminatory policy. The problem is, some of my peers do not understand why.
 
Here is why what Harvard did matters. “Don’t Ask Don’t Tell” is the tip of the ice berg. If our world class military can discriminate, how can our legislators grant gay people equal rights and protection from discrimination and hate crimes? Take these for example.
 
>10,000. Estimated number of gays and lesbians expelled from the military since under the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy

> 30. The number of states it is legal to fire an employee based on sexual orientation

> Gays and lesbians are not protected under the federal non-discrimination laws (Employment Non Discrimination Act)

> Gays and lesbians are not covered under federal hate crime laws, even though FBI statistics show gays are disproportionately targets of attacks

To my interpretation, Harvard’s actions have nothing to do with dishonoring the service of our military. Quite the contrary, they seem to make the point that one of the greatest institutions in our country – our military – should be subject to look past sexual orientation to achieve the goals in the best interest of the entire nation — the goal of protecting our physical freedoms and our civil liberties. We should hold the highest standard in all that we do.
 
With Respect to All Views,
Erica Anderson

————————————————————————————-

MCGURN’S RESPONSE:
It’s a fair argument.  And Harvard is a good place to debate it.  I just think there are plenty of other fora, other than the day these officers get their bars.
——————————————————————————

IN CONCLUSION
Folks, this is just the tip of the ice berg. I always ask myself, Why Should I Care? Why Should You Care? Because in 30 states, four branches of the military and millions of offices, we are unknowingly enabled to discriminate against a minority. That’s why.

Sorry guys, I didn’t actually get to watch this one. Either way, I wanted to post McCain’s May 7th appearance on The Daily Show.

Speaking of McCain, his daughter, the McCainBloggette, is still at the blogging which seems to have taken off. In her March 9th YouTube report, she told more than 75,000 viewers that during a party at her family’s ranch in Sedona, reporters from the Politico brought her mom flowers.

Check out her recent video from a weekend at the family ranch. Is this what Crawford looks like?

And now back to her Dad.

Hey Everyone. Just as a quick update, this week MTV will start airing “Best of Street Team” packages. To see it online, click here. Or, if you’re around a TV, I included the times it will run below. I’m anxious to see what my colleagues are up to, so I’ll be tuning in too.

Also, a few of you have asked how to view our work, and I wanted to let you all know MTV links to us from their drop down menu of “Reporters” on the MTV News homepage. Just click on the vertical bar where it says “News” and you see Headlines, Video Updates, MTV Reporters and Street Team ‘08.

MTV
Sat 3/29- 7:50am
Mon 3.31- 6:50am, 7:50am

MTV2
Sat 3/29- 5:30am, 10:30pm
Sun 3/30- 10:30pm
Mon 3/31- 4:30am, 6:30am

MTVU
Fri 3/28- 7:45pm, 11:45pm
Sat 3/29- 3:45am, 7:45am, 11:45am, 3:45pm, 7:45pm, 11:45pm
Sun 3/30- 3:45am, 7:45am, 11:45am, 3:45pm, 7:45pm, 11:45pm
Mon 3/31- 3:45am, 7:45am, 11:45am, 3:45pm

Last week I received an e-mail from an Indiana University School of Journalism grad student, Abby Tonsing. She was assigned a story — a story on me  and two MTV Street Team colleagues, Sia Nyorker (NJ) and Whitney Allen (IN), also Hoosier grads.

So last weekend I etched out some time between sleep and, well more sleep, to do an interview. It’s just killer having two jobs. But after a story like this, how can I complain?

Three Cover Political Races as MTV Citizen Journalists