National Youth Correspondents select preferences from the following field assignments to choose their small group site visit. Students get behind-the-scenes at their field visit and get in-depth coverage on each topic!
DC News Now is a 24/7 cable news network serving the D.C., Maryland, and Virginia region. Joining this field assignment are reporters from The Hill, a leading newspaper and digital media outlet covering Congress, the White House, lobbying, campaigns, and more. Students will be immersed in the fast-paced world of political reporting—both local and national. They’ll go behind the scenes of a live broadcast, exploring the studio, control room, and production process, and will hear directly from media professionals about what it takes to deliver real-time news with accuracy and impact.
The People’s House is the first museum dedicated to the White House with three stories of exhibits and galleries, including a large-scale White House model, recreation of the Rose Garden, and full-scale replica of the Oval Office. Students on this field assignment will learn about the history of the Executive Mansion, as well as the important historic events that have taken place in the White House. Students will also hear from a political journalism expert while on this assignment!
The largest library in the world, the Library of Congress houses millions of books, films and video, audio recordings, photographs, newspapers, maps and manuscripts in its collections and is the main research arm of the U.S. Congress and the home of the U.S. Copyright Office. During this field assignment, students will tour the newspaper and current periodical reading room which is home to newspapers, comics, and government documents. Students will also learn about the Chronicling America exhibit which holds every newspaper published in the U.S. since before 1963. Finally, students will tour the beautiful Jefferson Building which has its own newsworthy history!
Both journalists and spies know that knowledge is power! The International Spy Museum immerses students in the world of espionage and looks at how information gathering has impacted important historic events. Students on this field assignment will tour the famous D.C. museum while drawing parallels between journalism and espionage – two fields rooted in uncovering the truth. Students will also have a special mission to complete on this field assignment!
Monumental Sports & Entertainment is the driving force behind some of D.C.’s biggest teams—the Washington Capitals (NHL), Washington Wizards (NBA), and Washington Mystics (WNBA). In addition to owning the 20,000-seat Capital One Arena, they operate their own regional broadcast channel, Monumental Sports Network. During this field assignment, students will tour the MSN studio and get an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at what it takes to report during major sporting events. They’ll also hear directly from professional sports broadcasters and producers who bring these games to life from both sides of the camera!