The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Budding journalist's trip to D.C. fuels career passion
Kennesaw student represents Georgia at national conference.
Journalism jobs are tight these days and the profession doesn’t do so well in public opinion polls. Tatiana Lampkin doesn’t care. “I like sports and music and am very spontaneous,” the high school senior from Kennesaw says, “but whatever I choose to concentrate in, it will be as a journalist.” Lampkin is even more fired up about her future career path after representing Georgia as a national youth correspondent at the Washington Journalism and Media Conference at George Mason University. She spent a week in July in Fairfax, Virginia, at
the conference where she heard from career journalists, interviewed public officials, engaged in problem-solving exercises and even learned something about herself — she likes politics more than she thought.
Q: Tell us a little about yourself.
A: I am a senior at Hillgrove
High School and take dual enrollment classes at Chattahoochee Tech. I am working on creating a
high school club that will engage in panel discussions in which underclassmen will have an opportunity to ask questions like, “What do you wish you knew when you got into high school?” I am finding out so much about college readiness and career planning that I should have known years ago. I am also working on a book bag line that reflects my journey and
the people throughout my life. I’ve had a chance to intern with Blac Elvis, a well-known record producer here. Also, while participating in the Disney Dream
ers Academy, I took a deep dive into music and film production.
Q: Why journalism?
A: I love how you can take any event and bring it to life with your words. It gives you a voice. The most important thing about being a journalist is telling the truth, being genuine and trying your best not to be biased. You also have to keep the audience interested, so you have to focus on interesting topics.
Q: Do you write a lot? A: I recently started a blog.
I write in my journal about my experiences. I do a lot of storytelling. I like to take one situation and create multiple scenes from it.
Q: Do you want to be a print or TV journalist?
A: I like print but I feel that being a TV journalist is more personal. Your audience has the privilege of getting to know you on a different level. They meet you entirely. Q: Did you like being a national youth correspondent? A: So much was revealed. Being a youth correspondent offered the hands on experience needed to better understand all that journalism entails. Q: Did you get to meet anyone cool? A: We had a lot of speakers come in and inspire us, people like Brian Lamb, executive chairman of C-SPAN, political reporter Nia-Malika Henderson from CNN and Susan Goldberg, editor of National Geographic Magazine. We did a lot of hands-on simulations. I was fortunate to have a group of youth correspondents that I was very comfortable with. In the span of five days, we felt like family.
Q: Did being in the nation’s
capital turn youoff to politics?
A: I am not big into politics but we did have some people in politics come speak to us. We met the congressmen from our states. Hearing them helped me to see that individuals in this field can be passionate. They opened my mind on how important politics is.
Q: Did you get to sightsee?
A: We went to the Newseum and on a twilight monument tour. I also went to the White House. Let me tell you, pictures don’t do it justice. Before I went, I thought it was just a house. However, once in there, the magic happens. It feels like it is filled with a piece of everyone who has ever lived there.
Q: What was the biggest takeaway from the week?
A: The main thing was a statement by Jamie Smith, global chief communications officer with BitFury. She stated, “You don’t have to focus on the path as much as
the destination. As long as you stay true to yourself and love what you are doing, you will get
there.” Oftentimes we stress so much about how we “plan” for things instead of just trusting
the process.