Amanda Gogh of Garden City, was among eight Quinnipiac University students who traveled to Washington, D.C., over winter break to participate in a seminar sponsored by the Washington Center for Internships and Academic Seminars, an independent, nonprofit organization that provides selected students opportunities to work and learn in Washington, D.C., for academic credit.

Gogh participated in “Inside Washington,” a seminar that combines lectures, site visits, tours and special events to show students the impact of the political process and how the nation’s leaders are addressing important issues of the day. The course explored perceived media bias, the role of the press in educating and framing issues on the national, domestic and foreign policy agendas, the significance of new technologies and how citizens can become more media literate as the nature of information shifts this century.

The first week of the program focused on the first year of the Obama presidency, as well as, the potential impact of the 2010 elections on both domestic and foreign policy. During the second week, students gained insight into how the media covers national politics and policies and communicates them to various audiences. It also focused on how candidates use new media forms and formats to bypass both the traditional political process and traditional news gatekeepers. Special attention was given to the impact of topical issues on the political process and how public affairs professionals work to spin the news.