So I survived MTV’s journalism boot camp which was a few very compressed and intense days in New York City. Here’s a recap of what I wrote to my family and friends.

…Life in DC has been busy since I got back from MTV’s Street Team orientation. It was one hell of a trip, with a visit to the NY Times, a hotel room in Time Square and enough multimedia presents to make a Gen Y blogger cry tears of joy.

Now back in DC, I’m responsible for submitting one story each Tuesday and learning what it means to be a “one man band,” writing, editing and producing all my own work. I have a half dozen manuals to read, software to install and gadgets to learn. But it’s coming along and I’m so stoked to finally start.

Orientation was great because I met the other 50 selected citizen journalists, all of who had a different story to tell. TX is the daughter of illegal immigrants, MA is a Harvard drop out, NY is a comedian and CA owns his own production company. We also had back-to-back industry speakers — AP, Gannett — a NYU Journalism Professor, leaders from the Knight Foundation and MTV VJs John Norris and Sway.

It truly was a boot camp experience but it a inspiring way, leaving each of us charged with telling the untold stories of the Presidential race and bringing together ideas, information and opinions. It wasn’t shocking to learn MTV is the largest youth brand in the world, but it is slightly intimidating. With MTV’s reach, AP’s credibility and the Knight Foundation’s instinct, this could present a huge possibility for a young political movement. We can only hope.

In the meantime, I wanted to pass along a story MTV is running on our time in NYC. Don’t blink or you’ll miss me! ”

MTV
1/14 11:50AM

MTV2
1/13 5:50PM, 6:30PM
1/14 6:30AM

MTVU
1/13 11:45PM
1/14 4:45AM, 9:45PM, 2:45PM