As a reporter for GWeek, Samantha had the opportunity to cover the 16th National Library of Congress Book Festival on September 24th, 2016. The theme of the 2016 Festival was “Journey to the Unknown,” featuring over 120 authors. There was a main stage, where some of the nation’s most renown authors presented, such as the fiction’s novelist, Stephen King, Shonda Rhimes, the TV producer and writer of “Scandal” and “Grey’s Anatomy,” journalist Bob Woodward, and NBA legend Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.

The 14th Librarian of Congress Carla Hayden also made her first public appearance at the festival on the main stage. Samantha had the opportunity to get exclusive interviews with authors. She was able to interview, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, where they discussed reflections on his established career, advice he would give to college students, and a preview on his book “Writings on the Wall: Searching for a New Equality Beyond Black and White.”

Samantha also interviewed well known chef and host of “Pati’s Mexican Table,” who was a guest chef for the President of the United States’ Cinco de Mayo celebration, and who is the author of “Pati’s Mexican Table: The Secrets of Real Mexican Home Cooking,” Pati Jinich.

Other authors who participated in interviews with Samantha, were journalist Raymond Arroyo, children authors Shannon Hale and Sophie Blackall, Kristen Hannah, and Pam Muñoz Ryan.

After interviewing a variety of talented and inspiring authors, Samantha explored the festival herself and met Congressman John Lewis and Andrew Aydin, authors of the March Novel Series. She even was able to watch there interview with CSPAN.

https://vimeo.com/320881404

Samantha alongside some of her classmates captured what GW-TV brings to The George Washington University.

Highlights from the Presidential Inaugural Welcoming Celebration Concert for GWeek.

Man on the street interviews with students about how they feel post Inauguration day.