NATIONAL NEWS
January 23, 2009
The Newseum and the First Puppy Vote
Sydney Turner reports on her last day in Washington, D.C. By TFK Kid Reporter Sydney Turner
The Newseum is a museum located in Washington, D.C. It is dedicated to giving us a better understanding of how the news is made and of the important role it has in our world. Like me, you may know about the Newseum from watching a political talk show that is broadcast on TV every Sunday, "This Week with George Stephanopoulos." I interviewed Joe Urschel, who is the Executive Director and Senior Vice President of the Newseum. The Newseum is a fun place to visit and a fun place to vote. Read on!
 |  COURTESY SYDNEY TURNER Sydney Turner reports on "First Dogs," a Newseum exhibit about Presidential pets. |
Thousands of people visited the Newseum on Inauguration day. The Newseum is located on Pennsylvania Avenue between the Capitol and the White House. It has lots of windows so you can enjoy a wonderful view of the Capitol, the Inaugural parade route and other historic landmarks.
Because of its picturesque location numerous news organizations have used the building to do their broadcasts. Since the Inauguration was held at the Capitol, the Newseum played an important part in setting the scene that the world saw on television, on the computer and in newspapers. "For the inauguration, we had six different networks broadcasting from the Newseum," Mr. Urschel told me. "CNN built a huge tent on the top of the building. FOX, ABC, NBC, Bloomberg TV, radio broadcasters, print reporters and still photographers [used the Newseum.]"
I toured the Newseum and it was fantastic! It has numerous interactive games and activities. You can experience what a real reporter does by standing on a set and reading a script while being filmed. An exhibit showing photographs that won the Pulitzer Prize is very moving. And, you can vote. Read on!
 COURTESY SYDNEY TURNER Sydney Turner talks to Joe Urschel, Executive Director and Senior Vice President of the Newseum. | |
The Newseum regularly changes its exhibits based on changing news, so you will see something new every time you visit. Right now they have inaugural exhibits including inaugural speeches of past Presidents.
One of the inaugural exhibits is on Presidential Dogs. Mr. Urschel says the Newseum "did a photographic show looking at all the Presidents who were dogs owners, looking all the way back to George Washington." The Newseum has a photograph and short story about each of the Presidents and their dogs.
A picture of the Obama's dog will be added when they select it. "We had a vote so that Newseum visitors could vote for the dog the Obama's should get," says Mr. Urschel. "We gave the voters a choice of a number of hypoallergenic dogs and a shelter dog." The shelter dog won by a wide margin.
Mr. Urschel gave me the exclusive scoop on the puppy situation in the Obama family. "Both Malia and Sasha took a tour of the Newseum, including the Presidential Dogs exhibit, and they voted," Mr. Urschel explained. "Malia voted for one of the small dogs, but then she said 'but we're not going to get that dog because my dad wants a big dog.'"
My Week Comes to a CloseTomorrow, I will leave Washington, D.C. and head home to Chicago, Illinois. Next week, when I go back to school, I'll tell my classmates about my time in Washington, D.C. Adults tell me that this was a once in a lifetime adventure for me. I feel that I have seen and learned a lot in a short period of time. Congratulations and best wishes for success to President Obama from a TIME for Kids Kid Reporter.
