2010 FHN graduate and current Utah State student Betsy Blanchard flew out to Washington D.C. in August to intern for the Salt Lake Tribune where she will cover the 2012 election until December.

In May, her Intro to Journalism professor, Matthew LaPlante, encouraged her to apply for a journalism internship with the Salt Lake Tribune, a paper he used to work for.

Her mom, Leslie Blanchard, encouraged her to take it. It was a once in a lifetime opportunity to live in D.C., according to her. Betsy took it.
One of Betsy’s biggest surprises is some of the remarks and questions she receives from people in Washington D.C. According to her, people assume she will vote for Mitt Romney because they share Mormon beliefs. Others in her office ask her questions about Mitt Romney’s religious beliefs, assuming the two share the exact same ideas. “Luckily they took a chance on me and I’m sitting here,” Betsy said.

“I think being a Mormon and being in D.C. has offered me a unique perspective with Mitt Romney being in this race,” Betsy said. In the newsroom, Betsy still uses lessons she learned in North’s journalism program. She sat in on an interview with Utah Congressman Jim Matheson and writes daily blurbs for the Salt Lake Tribune website.

“Journalism isn’t just a desk job,” Betsy said. “It’s a round-the-clock job. At North, it’s always ‘We do it all the way, not just halfway’ and the same thing applies out here. You can’t do it halfway.”

There are some things she has learned being away in D.C. that she could not have in Missouri or Utah. Her mother Leslie Blanchard has noticed a new fearlessness in her daughter. Betsy bravely explores D.C. alone, which is something she would not have done in St. Louis, according to Leslie.

“I think she’s more brave because she had to be,” Leslie said. “She hasn’t had family or friends out there.”

Even though Betsy is far from home, she still has her family’s support.

“My only hope for her is that she’s ridiculously happy with whatever she’s doing and I know writing is her passion,” younger sister and 2011 FHN graduate Stephanie said. “I hope she is able to make her Betsy Blanchard dream her life. I hope she’s sincerely happy with whatever she does.”