District Wire is a bilingual news website that includes a weekly newscast produced in Washington, D.C. at American University’s Multimedia Production Center. We also produce Spanish language newscasts and multimedcomm428auia news stories. We are a group of faculty members and students (graduate and undergraduate) dedicated to reporting stories that are both informative and relevant. Our Latino Wire section is in both English and Spanish and focuses on stories that impact the Latino community.
Gabrielle Gorder
Gabrielle Gorder is a broadcast journalism major with minors in international studies and Spanish. She was inspired to be a foreign correspondent after watching an in-depth report by Christiane Amanpour. Gabrielle developed a passion for Latin American culture while studying abroad at La Universidad Nacional in Costa Rica. During her time abroad she backpacked to Nicaragua and Panama. She also stayed with the Boruca tribe for a few days to do research for a class on Human Rights and Indigenous peoples. Gabrielle was published last year in InSight magazine, a publication by SITE Intelligence Group for a paper on how terrorists are using social networking tools. Gabrielle is currently interning with ‘Meet the Press’ on NBC.
Charly Arnolt is a senior and broadcast journalism major at American University. She was born and raised in Indianapolis, IN. She decided she wanted to be a TV journalist in 7th grade when she made a speech while running for class president. She lost, but in the face of defeat, she realized her passion for public speaking. She took these dreams to high school, where she became the morning news anchor and disk jockey on 89.3 WJEL. Tired of growing up in the same surroundings, she made the move to Washington, D.C. to attend college. She has pursued her goals by taking on multiple internships. She has interned at Sister 2 Sister Magazine, WFOR-TV in Miami, WTTG-TV in D.C. and KRIV-TV in Houston. She also studied abroad in Madrid, Spain where she interned at Viva Video, a production studio. Her minors are Spanish and Criminal Justice. She hopes to graduate and become a crime reporter.
Mackenzie Kolling
Mackenzie is originally from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. She is currently a junior at American University majoring in broadcast journalism with a minor in political science. She transferred to AU from Penn State University at University Park after her freshman year to take advantage of the plethora of opportunities and internships available in Washington, DC. At Penn State, Mackenzie was a nation/world staff reporter for the Daily Collegian and vice-president of the College of Communications Student Council. Apart from her academic classes at AU, Mackenzie has interned at the U.S. House of Representatives, and she is currently interning in the Investigative Unit at NBC News. She has also been a contributing reporter for the Eagle. During her free time, Mackenzie enjoys playing golf and tennis, and she also has a passion for traveling.
Caitlin Hillyard is a junior broadcast journalism and audio production major at American University. A native of Des Moines, Iowa, she is proud to be from the Midwest and admires Garrison Keillor. She interns at WTOP Radio where she acted as Assistant Editor of the evening newscast. At WTOP, Caitlin has covered stories on Michael Jackson’s death, the development of the H1N1 vaccine, gardening tips and more. She has an obsession with radio news. Outside of the newsroom, Caitlin enjoys playing violin, drawing and speaking French.
Laura Petti
Laura is a senior at American University, studying broadcast journalism, marketing and political science. She discovered her love for television when she interned at Patriot 8 Communications while in high school. Since then, Laura has progressed to intern at News 12 New Jersey, ABC News Now, The City of Philadelphia, and FOX Business Network. Laura hopes to be a producer after she graduates in May 2010.
Tom Anderson is a Senior at American University, majoring in broadcast journalism and minoring in History. Anderson who was born and raised in Mendham, NJ, has interned with the Sussex Skyhawks who are a minor league baseball team. There, he wrote press releases and did some announcing. Tom has also interned for CBS-2 NY in the Sports Department, where he did many things including assisting producers on shoots to such venues as Madison Square Garden, Yankee Stadium, Shea Stadium, and Belmont Park. Following his internship with CBS-2 NY, Tom interned once again, this time with CBS Sports in New York City. There he worked in the Research Department and aided in the preparation process of this year’s NFL season as well as Superbowl year for CBS Sports. He currently is the play-by-play announcer for AU Eagles Vision TV, which covers all of American University’s home sporting events. He also works as an analyst on a sports show called Sportszone which is aired on American University’s student-run television channel. Tom is looking to earn his degree and work as an anchor/reporter in television.
Annie Aho
Annie is a broadcast journalism graduate student at American University. With a passion for news and politics, Annie began her career during the 2004 presidential election as a liaison between the national press corps and Secret Service. In 2005, Annie interned on Capitol Hill for Senator Norm Coleman from Minnesota. Annie assisted the production of Senator Coleman’s “Minnesota Update,” a video featuring the senator that aired on public television stations across the state. In 2008, Annie was the executive producer of American Observer’s Election Edition. She coordinated the editing, producing and reporting of over 30 students. For the inauguration, Annie worked with CBSNews.com. Her work was featured on CBSNews.com and CBSeyemobile.com.
Haifa Al-Mubarak
Haifa is originally from Saudi Arabia, but grew up in the U.S. While interning with a major Arabic news outlet, Al-Arabiya TV in DC, she fell in love with the profession. After completing her M.A. in Journalism from American University, she plans to move to Dubai to pursue her dream of becoming the first Saudi female anchor on Al-Arabiya TV. Haifa is also interested in languages and plans to use her education in Hebrew and Jewish Studies to help bridge the gaps between Arabic and Israeli cultures. She is proficient in Arabic, English and Hebrew.
Inna Arnaudova
A native of Bulgaria, Inna Arnaudova is a senior at American University, double majoring in Psychology and Broadcast Journalism. Although her career choice is to become a clinical psychologist, journalism has always been an exciting hobby for her. In the past, she has interned for the talk show “Panorama” on Bulgarian National Television and worked at National TV Station M-Sat, Bulgaria, as a reporter, a co-host of an entertainment show and a producer of a fashion show.
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Carolyn Brown
Carolyn, who manages District Wire, is an Assistant Professor at American University in Washington, D.C. where she teaches Journalism in the School of Communication. She also is the Executive Producer and owner of Deronda Productions, LLC. Carolyn worked as a producer at the national level at MSNBC News and Fox News Channel. Carolyn also worked as a producer in local news in San Francisco, Washington DC and Phoenix. She began her news career at CBS News, “The Early Show”, and has also worked on “The Late Show with David Letterman”, “The Cosby Show” and “The Chris Rock Show.” Carolyn has also published on MSNBC.COM as a contributor and commentator.
Cate Cetta
Cate is a broadcast journalism graduate student at American University in Washington, D.C., and an intern for NBC’s Today Show at the Washington Bureau. She joined the Today Show in August, and assisted with the coverage of the Presidential Debates, Election 2008 and the Inauguration of President Barack Obama. Cate worked with Today Show co-anchor Ann Curry and many of the show’s producers across the country, doing interviews and pulling video for politics spots. Cate has a degree in political science and history at Saint Mary’s College, Notre Dame, Indiana. In her final year of college, she was on the College’s Board of Trustees and interned at WNDU-TV, South Bend’s NBC affiliate. Cate wrote stories that appeared on the nightly newscasts, and interviewed Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels twice. Cate’s dream job is to anchor the Today Show.
Allison Fairley
Allison Fairley is a senior at American University majoring in Broadcast Journalism with minors in Applied Physics and Mathematics. She plans to pursue a master’s degree in Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences to become a weather anchor or tropical weather meteorologist. Allison is mainly interested in hurricanes, tornadoes and other natural phenomenon. She attributes her passion of weather to growing up watching the Weather Channel and her love for natural sciences. Allison is originally from Columbia, Maryland.
Rita Gallina
Rita Gallina is a senior broadcast journalism major from Brooklyn, New York. She has hoped to work in television since she was a little girl. This past summer, she interned at ABC’s “Good Morning America,” an opportunity that she considers priceless. She has worked at ATV, America’s cable channel for four years. She started at the station reporting for “Sportszone,” a sports talk show, and then went on to co-create and host ATV’s Cooking show, “Dining on a Dime.” Rita will graduate in May and plans to move back to New York.
Amanda Glensky
Amanda Glensky likes being where the action is, which is why she always wanted to work in the news industry. She graduates from American University in May with a degree in broadcast journalism and a minor in Spanish. Amanda interned for NBC’s “Meet the Press” last fall, where she helped to fact check the presidential debates. She was a beat reporter and freelancer and currently writes a column called “Down in D.C.” for Montgomery Newspapers in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania. She also worked with Millennium Radio New Jersey, Pennsylvania State Representative Rick Taylor’s reelection campaign and Hot English Publishing in Madrid. Amanda is interested in producing and field reporting.
Lindsey Hall
Lyndsey is a senior at American University and is interested in political reporting. Lyndsey has interned with Moffitt Cancer Center’s online broadcast, “Headline MCC,” the Republican National Committee’s GOP-TV, as well as Fox News Sunday with Chris Wallace. She has wanted to be a political reporter after hosting a local teen-focused program for the City of Tampa Mayors Youth Corps on City of Tampa Television. Lyndsey graduates in December and is looking forward to beginning her broadcast journalism career.
Neil Hickey
Neil is a Master’s student in broadcast journalism at American University in Washington, D.C. Since arriving in the United States from his native Australia, he has performed live crosses for South African radio station Lotus FM during election week, worked for NPR affiliate WAMU on election night and for CBS News for the Inauguration. Before moving to the U.S., he was a reporter for various newspapers in Australia, including the Courier-Mail and Sunshine Coast Daily. He was also the south-east Asia correspondent for the U.S.-based Energy Tribune magazine.
Amanda Marr
Amanda is a senior at American University and is studying Converged Media, an interdisciplinary major, combining courses from film and video, public communication and broadcast journalism. She currently interns at Allied Advertising and Public Relations, a top entertainment PR firm whose clients are major Hollywood studios. She also interned at the Fairfax County Convention and Visitors Corporation, Visit Fairfax. After graduation she hopes to move to Los Angeles, Calif., to pursue a career in film publicity or event planning.
Brookes May
Brookes May is a senior at American University studying broadcast journalism and international service. After growing up in southwest Missouri, Brookes is constantly smitten with the fast-paced life of Washington, DC. She currently interns at WAMU 88.5 working primarily on the new hit show The Animal House, deepening human understanding of animals and exploring the powerful bonds we share with the animal world. She enjoys traveling, reading, and working on a deadline. Brookes has a strong background in the performing arts and hopes, upon graduation, to combine those skills with her degree in journalism.
Ohemaa Nyanin
Ohemaa Nyanin is the oldest of three and is originally from Ghana. She is a senior at American University, graduating in May 2009. Her majors are Foreign Language and Communications Media and International Relations. Ohemaa has been traveling her whole life and therefore would like to start a career either in the NGO field or as a foreign correspondent in either Latin America or Africa. Her all time favorite idol is Christiane Amanpour and Ohemaa strives to be as articulate and renown as her.
Howard Perlman
Howard is a junior and Honors Program member at American University pursuing a double major in Broadcast Journalism and Political Science, with a minor in Business Administration. He’s a staff writer for The Eagle, AU’s independent student newspaper, and is the paper’s beat reporter for the Kennedy Political Union, a student-run group providing students with the opportunity to attend campus events featuring prominent political speakers. He worked as a runner for ABC during President Obama’s Inauguration. He also specialized in polling analysis as a commentator on “Campaign U,” a weekly webcast produced jointly by AU and FOX in which students examined the 2008 presidential election. Howie is a Eagle Scout and is the treasurer of AU’s chapter of Alpha Phi Omega, a national community service fraternity. In his recreation, he enjoys running track, training in martial arts, playing the trombone and chess.
Sara Reddington
Sara Reddington is a senior broadcast journalism major at American University. Sara is from Chicago and loves the White Sox. Sara had an interest in broadcast after she ran a morning radio program at her high school. Talking to people and informing them has always been an interest of hers. She loves to try new things and meet new people while doing it. There is almost nothing Sara will not try; she has gotten her formula one racing license, traveled to Mozambique, in Africa, to build a school and sang with celebrities Celine Dion and Enrique Inglesias.
Lauren Swanson
Lauren Swanson is originally from the Bay Area in California. She moved to Washington, DC in 2008 to pursue her M.A. in journalism at American University. Lauren’s areas of interest include politics, state and local government, the federal judiciary, theatre, music, hospitality and entertainment. She is currently the weekend intern at CNN’s Washington Bureau, where she has had the opportunity to meet and interview several important political figures, including Sen. Jim DeMint, Rep. Barney Frank, Gov. Charlie Crist and President Obama’s Press Secretary Robert Gibbs. Lauren looks forward to pursuing a career in broadcasting upon graduation.
Mark Syp
Mark is pursuing his Masters in Broadcast Journalism from American University. He is a graduate of Princeton University, where he majored in English. Mark has written articles for Junior Scholastic and various historical magazines. He recently wrote, directed and provided voice-over for an historical documentary about George Washington. Mark is also an editorial assistant for ETS. He has written several articles for the American Observer and helped launch the Observer’s “Swing State” coverage during the 2008 election. On election night, Mark interned at the Washington Times, reporting from Ben’s Chili Bowl.
Sarah Tobianski
Sarah is a Master’s student in broadcast journalism at American University. She covered the 2008 presidential election in her native Ohio and worked for WAMU 88.5 FM on election night and for CBSnews.com on Inauguration Day. AU School of Communication selected Sarah to receive the John Merriman Award from the Writer’s Guild of America. She completed her undergraduate studies at AU, graduating Phi Beta Kappa in political science in 2007. Before graduation, she interned with the CBS News Investigative Unit, assisting with medical and military stories and the Virginia Tech massacre coverage. Sarah hopes her journalism career will one day take her across the country and around the world. She studied the European Union in Brussels where she worked in the communications office at Caritas Europa, a humanitarian aid organization.
Meredith Veloz
Meredith is a senior at American University, who is seeking a Bachelors in Broadcast Journalism with a minor in Political Science. She is also pursuing a Master’s in Political Science. Born and raised in Miami, Meredith is not shy to Latin flavor, as she is fluent in Spanish. At 13 she began her career in By Kids for Kids, a local program at WPLG- ABC in Miami to introduce teens to all phases of broadcasting. By 15, she moved to Radio Disney, Miami, originally part of the Fun Squad and was then promoted to an event host and taped radio infomercials. She recently interned in Miami at a WTVJ-NBC6.
Qiong Wu
With double degrees in International Journalism and English Literature from Beijing Foreign Studies University in China, Qiong is one of two recipients selected from China for a Voice of America Scholarship to study Convergent Journalism in American University and is currently interning as a video journalist in Chinese Service, VOA. She has previously interned as a reporter, editor and translator in Xinhua News Agency, Qmoon.net radio and Phoenix Satellite TV, and was an assistant to Director in Edelman China.
Dan Aspan
Dan Aspan is the youngest of three from Havertown, Pennsylvania. Dan is a senior majoring in political science and broadcast journalism, with a minor in Spanish. He lived in Buenos Aires, Argentina for six months and is interested in foreign correspondence reporting for Latin American countries. He is also an avid sports fan (Philadelphia Phillies and Miami Dolphins!) and is considering a career as a sports reporter. His older sister Maria is a reporter for American Banker, and his brother Paul is a production assistant for Comcast Sports Net. Dan loves to go to music concerts and has seen his favorite band, Pearl Jam, ten times. His favorite movies are American History X, The Boondock Saints, and Die Hard.
Steve Dorsey
Steve says he knew he wanted to work in television news since he was a junior in high school. For two years Steve worked as a teen reporter for the ABC station in Baltimore, writing, producing, reporting, and anchoring with 11 other students to create a monthly teen-oriented newscast. Steve enjoys the unique opportunity to meet and talk with people every day. Steve has interned for several national news organizations including CNN, ABC News, USATODAY.com, and spent a summer interning for the NBC station in Baltimore for the investigation unit. Steve graduates from American University in December and hopes to work in television reporting or producing. You can visit his Web site at stevedorsey.com.
Justin Fensterman
Justin Fensterman is a senior at American University and is interested in sports broadcasting. Justin has interned in sports and entertainment at radio and television stations such as News 12: Long Island, NBC-WRC TV, XM Satellite Radio, and MTV. He is currently interning at FOX 5-WTTG in Washington D.C. Justin anchors a sports show on American University Television called Sports Zone. He also broadcasts American University Athletics for an online television stream Eaglevision All Access. Justin graduates in May and is looking forward to a career as a reporter or anchor.
Emily Jarvis
Emily-Michelle Jarvis is a senior broadcast journalism major at American University. She was inspired to be a foreign correspondent in sixth grade when she saw a reporter crawling through the Costa Rican rain forest covering a story about a lost American child. Emily loves to travel and experience new and different things on a daily basis. Emily currently interns at WTOP News Radio in Washington D.C. She has also worked for “In Madrid Magazine” and “Talk Radio 3WT” on the Tony Kornheiser Show.
Casey Jenkins
Casey Jenkins is a senior at American University studying broadcast journalism and French. Casey has interned at Capitol News Connection, a radio news source that localizes news on Capitol Hill for radio stations around the country. She is currently an assistant editor for AMWord, American University’s student-run magazine. In addition, she serves as President of American University’s Panhellenic Association. Casey is interested in traveling and recently enjoyed a semester in Paris, France studying at La Sorbonne. She is currently training for her third marathon.
Huw Roberts
Born in Boston, Massachusetts, Huw Roberts is a senior at American University. He is currently majoring in broadcast journalism with a minor in film studies. Huw has extensive experience in radio, working at his school’s student-run radio station. Growing up under the lights of Fenway Park, Huw is especially interested in sports news. Huw graduates in May and is interested in working behind the scenes possibly as a producer. He currently interns at Sirius XM radio for the SportsNation radio station.
Alessandra Torres
Alessandra Torres is a senior at American University. Pursuing a degree in broadcast journalism and marketing, Alessandra hopes to pursue a career as an anchor, television host, or event planner. She currently interns for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation as an assistant to the event planner for their annual gala. Prior to that she was the personal assistant to celebrity makeup artist Erwin Gomez, managing his events, serving as a media contact, and writing a beauty column for Washington Life magazine.
