Story Assignment: Desiree Rogers

Before politics became an issue, Desiree Rogers was great friends with the Obamas. Rogers, an New Orleans native, attended Wellesly College. She then went on to receive her MBA from Harvard University. Rodgers met the Obamas through her husband, who attended Princeton University with Michelle's brother, Craig. That was about 20 years ago. Early in the race for office, Rodgers proved herself to be a valuable asset by raising about $600,00 for the campaign.

After Obama took office, Rodgers became the first African American woman to hold the title of social secretary. To some cabinet members' disdain, Rodgers posed for magazines such as Vogue, The Wall Street Journal's Magazine, and Vanity Fair. She attended fashion week in New York with Vogue Editor-In-Chief Anna Wintor. David Axelrod, who has also known Rodgers for some time, even deemed it necessary to have a sit down with Rodgers about her behavior.

The night of the State Dinner, things took a turn for the worse. Two uninvited guests snuck in, which led to Rodgers’ resignation. Weeks before the event she, and her staff, went through records of President Bush’s State Dinners and emulated what the social secretary did before her. Her staff placed metal detectors at the East Portico but not at “the outer checkpoint on the street.” About five months later, Rodgers resigned.

1. Do you believe there’s any bad blood between you and David Axelrod since he didn’t come to your defense after being close friends for so long?
2. Will you ever release a public statement about the incident?
3. Some refer to your behavior (attending fashion shows, wearing couture) as ‘Camelot’. It upset some people when our nation is facing 10% unemployment. What do you think?
4. You look so young! What’s your beauty regimen?
5. Most of the things written about you have a negative connotation. No one ever talks about the things you did right (the Halloween party and poetry jam) What do you think of this?
6. How do you feel about fashion?
7. Did your reprimandation from David Axlerod change your perception of fashion?
8. Do you feel the odds were already against you because you are African American and a woman? Do you feel some were simply waiting for you to fail?
9. Why do you think fingers got pointed at you instead of the Secret Service?
10. Have you spoken to the Obamas since your resignation?
11. Where will you go from here?
12. I read somewhere that you took a pay cut to become Social Secretary, How do you feel after sacrificing only to be crucified by the press?

Blog Entry 5

The tone of the article I read is optimistic, gives advice and warnings for internships. The writer organized the article chronologically, through telling of events that led to the internship and mistakes Jasmine made while on the job. The intended audience is young girls possibly college age, thinking about internships. The purpose of the story is to give readers tips, when they have the opportunity to intern the readers can learn from Jasmine's mistakes and impress their boss.

When Jasmine, 18 learned of an opportunity to intern at Bankable Productions run by Tyra Banks she cried. Jasmine has looked up to Tyra for almost her entire life because of the way she is not afraid to show her true self on television. Jasmine greatly enjoyed her time there and learned a few lessons along the way.

1. The first lesson she learned was always have a pen and paper. You can not rely on memory alone to get things done in a fast paced environment. What if your memory omits a small detail? This will tell your potential employee that you are forgetful. What a bad impression to make.

2. Just do the coffee run. Your an intern trying to prove yourself to potential employees, you need to show them that you are prepared for anything they may need done. Doing coffee runs may be apart of simply paying your dues. After all, no one starts off in the corner office with a view.

3. Act professional. All the time. This means, not texting or make personal phone calls. This will show your bosses that you are there to work. This will allow them to trust you will big responsibilities.

4. Don't act starstruck. If you meet a celebrity or the boss, in the case of Jasmine, Tyra Banks. This will make everyone around you uncomfortable. It is important to put your own personal interests aside while at work. After work however, it is appropriate to call your friends and tell them you met your idol.

In conclusion, remember, when you are hired as an intern you are there to work. You can't text or make personal phone calls, stay focused. Paying your dues is something everyone has to do at some point in their career. You should always be prepared, so have a pen and paper at all times and finally, act professionally.