Natasha Clifton
Media Journalist
“Aren’t you supposed to be in session?”
From being questioned in the halls by advisors about why you aren’t in session to questioning fellow delegates about random topics such as rating breakfast options or fit checks, media delegates do it all. Journalism provides media delegates the privilege of being able to walk around during session to talk to delegates about anything under the sun, and allows media delegates to see all perspectives of different program areas.
After spending time sitting in each program area, I learned a lot. From Constitutional Convention signing that California is now a sovereign nation according to their constitution, to bettering the California education experience in Board of Education. But not all media delegates are going around program areas, and are instead doing interviews, writing articles, and taking photos. The pull of Youth and Government’s media program is the freedom it gives its delegates to pursue the projects and ideas that they creatively come up with.
Digital media brings people together. Delegates can create community through media interviews by having similar opinions with each other, and fosters healthy debate through disagreements about favorite program areas or restaurants to visit during lunch. It also keeps people up to date in a fun and informative way, allowing delegates to see what’s going on in other program areas and around Sacramento.
Because the program is so limited in the amount of people per delegation that are allowed to participate, the connections made are deeper and more interpersonal. “I think that it’s a great way to look into all of the program areas and to be able to experience them in a different perspective. It’s a great way to branch out and meet people from other delegations you wouldn’t normally talk to”, comments Sonali Mascarenhas-Swan, a media delegate from Berkeley.
All in all, I’d recommend the media program to any delegate who’s looking to step out of their comfort zone and try something new and interesting.
The Daily Delegate 
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