CNN internship fulfills longtime goal for VCU senior

After two years of persistent e-mails and phone calls to CNN’s Atlanta headquarters, Chamise Jones spent three months of her summer fulfilling a dream as a CNN production assistant.

Jones’ perseverance not only rewarded her with the intern position, but yielded a new realization of her passion for researching and reporting truth that affects people’s lives.

“(The internship) kind of showed me that all things are possible,” Jones said.

Jones, 20, a senior broadcast major, said her most memorable and insightful experience was a trip to New York where she helped cover a story on political earmark requests – petitions for federal tax-dollars to go toward particular areas or projects.

The assignment began with research, calling each and every senator and representative requesting information on their earmark requests.

The story became remarkable not because of the information they discovered, but because of what was withheld, Jones said.

An e-mail was sent out between several political offices, warning that a CNN intern, Chamise Jones, would be contacting them and not to give her information. Although Jones left over 100 voicemails after that time, she said she was ignored.

Jones appeared live from New York City on CNN’s American Morning and aided in broadcasting this story, reporting the refusal to give information to the public.

“The most important and valuable thing that I learned was how to research and to make an interesting story,” Jones said. “The story is in the details.”

Although New York City was a trip highlight for Jones, she also transcribed interviews, assisted at news sites by shooting basic footage and live reports, pulled tapes from the library, wrote articles in intern publications and fact checked. Jones also assisted with coverage for the CNN/YouTube Democratic online debates, co-sponsored by CNN and YouTube.com.

During her internship, Jones had a conversation with Candy Crowley, CNN’s Senior Political Correspondent, that she said specifically affected her. Candy Crowley gave Jones simple advice for her future: “Do what makes you happy.” Jones said that Crowley’s counsel and her example made her a role-model for Jones’ life.

The summer internship not only fulfilled a long-time goal for Chamise, but the experience pricked her interest in research. Jones said that although before she was undecided about her future post-graduation, she is now confident she would like to work in research and reporting. Her specific interest is in reporting topics that specifically affect people.

“It was an opportunity of a lifetime,” Chamise said, “to rub shoulders with the best of the best.”