PressRoom
My day as "the" student interviewing "the" senator
When I was asked to interview Republic Senator Sam Brownback from Kansas with ETV, I thought it could be the most important thing I could ever do as a high school journalist. I initially thought I would be one of many students that would get to see the Senator, and that I would have to raise my hand and hope to be called on to ask even one question. The next morning I arrived at ETV studios and I was shocked to learn that the interns I was working with referred to me as “the” student. I would be “the only” student interviewing Senator Brownback. I felt as though I had won some kind of prize. As we set up cameras and worked out the question I was going to ask, there were other people setting up cameras and preparing as well. Those people were affiliates from ABC, NBC, and other news stations, and I would be doing what they were doing for a day. When Senator Brownback actually arrived, I was amazed at how simple his entrance was. I thought he would make some grand entrance to introduce himself, but instead he just walked in and started shaking hands with people. Then things started moving faster. I shook his hand and asked him a question about Iraq. He actually gave me a complete answer, talking about how the country needs to be organized into states, and that he just wanted to form a plan that both sides of the political aisle can accept. He also joked about the Pittsburgh Steelers lanyard I was wearing with my Blythewood High School press pass. I was too nervous to think of any smart comebacks like at least they beat the Kansas City Chiefs 45-7, but that’s probably a good thing. In that whole day I got to see a snapshot of how the journalism business works, and that someday I could be doing professionally something that I find exciting and engaging. I feel honored that I was chosen as “the” student to interview Senator Brownback. That’s something not every high school student in America gets to do.
- Brian Dzenis
