Allyson Bird - Internship Diary

Nov. 9:

I ran to the Federal Trade Commission after class for a press conference about its new "Operation Big Fat Lie," an initiative to curb false weight-loss claims. I got to the conference 10 minutes late and then had to wait for an escort to the event. By the time I made it inside, I only caught about seven minutes of the conference.

I had to stay in that area for a press availability at the Capitol soon thereafter, so I knew I wouldn't get a story out of the FTC conference. The Associated Press would file something before I even got back to my office. And it did. I was telling my dad about what I did today, and he'd heard about the FTC project that afternoon.

I went to the Capitol to catch S.C. Democratic House leaders Jim Clyburn and John Spratt who would be making statements with House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi and others.

I tried to observe the luncheon but was speedily kicked out. The press availability, billed as being held in the "stakeout location," started half an hour late. By the time the group emerged from lunch, about 25 reporters and seven cameramen had crammed into the tiny corridor. One Capitol staffer said it's unusual that a small availability would draw such a crowd. I said, "There's nothing else going on." Congress isn't in session; the election's over; this was the excitement for the day.

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