Jackson State University News January 7, 2013 Edmondson to cover Obama Inauguration for PBS The Blue & White Flash Jackson State University senior Tiffany Edmondson will be among 14 students with all-access passes to cover the inauguration of President Barack Obama for PBS News Hour. Edmondson has been selected to participate in the Public Broadcasting System Inauguration Multimedia Short Course, an all-expenses paid four-day workshop, which will run from Jan. 18-22, 2013 in Washington D.C. PBS received 45 applications for the 14 slots through a very competitive process where select schools could nominate no more than five students. Edmondson was chosen in December for this intensive multimedia production camp aimed at bringing together some of the brightest and most talented graduate and undergraduate students from across the country to create original content around the inauguration of President Obama. Edmondson is a senior mass communications major with an emphasis in broadcast production and a minor in political science from Jackson, Miss. She served as the Associate Editor of The Blue & White Flash campus newspaper during the fall 2012 semester, and has been affiliated with the newspaper and other student publications in writing and leadership positions since her sophomore year at JSU. Edmondson spent the spring 2012 semester as an intern with the White House Correspondence Associates Program in the Office of Presidential Correspondence. In this position she handled the president’s mail; answered the White House comment line to listen to the American people about their concerns, complaints and support; and served as a community service coordinator for a group project. “This was the best way to end my senior year of college,” Edmondson said. “I honestly could have not achieved this without the help of JSU. I have to thank Dr. Sunny Fridge for keeping students in the loop about national competitions. She really pushes for JSU students to be involved. I also have to thank Sylvia Watley, Ernest Camel and Shannon Tatum of the JSU Student Publications staff for shaping and grooming me into an award winning journalist and for helping me gather submission materials.” Edmondson stated that if given the opportunity to interview President Obama she will ask questions dealing with issues that affect college students. “As a college student in debt, I would ask him questions that affect us. I would ask him about his visions for higher education, specifically funding college. First, I would ask him if I could work for his administration at the White House, then I would ask how can students who no longer receive financial aid pay for their education, especially if they are about to graduate college?” said Edmondson. “There may be better questions to ask, but I’d rather ask a question about a current issue that affects the majority of U.S. citizens, especially students like me. I’m sure his reply would affect millions of students.” Slated to graduate in May, Edmondson has accepted a position in Washington, D.C. with the U.S. Department of Agriculture. She is appreciative of the opportunities she has been afforded to pursue her dream of being a journalist, and encourages other students to prepare themselves for the future while at JSU. “I would like to encourage my colleagues and fellow classmates to do whatever it takes to be the journalist that they want to be. It doesn’t matter what equipment you have or don’t have nor does it matter what university you attend or would like to attend. What matters is that you follow your dreams to accomplish any goal that you set forth and most of all believe in yourself and claim that victory. Edmondson stated. “Opportunities like these shed positive light on our university and our department. I do it all to make my family and Jackson State University proud!” SANDRA M. PHOENIX Executive Director HBCU Library Alliance sphoenix@hbculibraries.org<mailto:sphoenix@hbculibraries.org><mailto:sphoenix@hbculibraries.org> www.hbculibraries.org<http://www.hbculibraries.org/><http://www.hbculibraries.org/> 800-999-8558, ext. 4820 404-520-0593 Skype: sandra.phoenix1 1438 West Peachtree NW Suite 200 Atlanta,GA 30309 Toll Free: 1.800.999.8558 (LYRASIS) Fax: 404.892.7879 www.lyrasis.org<http://www.lyrasis.org/><http://www.lyrasis.org/> Honor the ancestors, honor the children.