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Degree and Year: BJ '98 (Broadcast News) Organization: Commodity Futures Trading Commission Web Site: http://waysandmeans.house.gov/ Title: Director of External Affairs City and State: Washington, D.C. From looking at her resume, it might appear that Ianthe Jackson's career goal was to reach the top of our nation's political scene. From small-town political reporter to campaign press secretary to communications director for powerful organizations, Jackson has become a major force in our nation's capital. As a broadcast journalism major, however, Jackson says she had no idea she would end up working in the heart of the American political system. In fact, she didn't consider herself to be very politically active. "'Not very' isn't even fair," Jackson says. "I was not politically active in college." Jackson has come a long way from her college days, now serving as Director of External Affairs for the Commodity Futures Trading Commission. In this role she serves as the Commission's liaison with worldwide news media, government organizations, producer and market user groups, academic groups and institutions, and the general public. Jackson's position requires plenty of political know-how, which she gained at first by chance, not by choice. It wasn't until she became a reporter in Quincy, Ill., for WGEM, the NBC affiliate, that her interest in politics began to grow. She sometimes covered the politics beat as a general-assignment reporter for the station. "I was intrigued by politics and covering elected officials when they would come into town," Jackson says. Although she loved working in the media, after three years in the broadcasting field, she decided it was time to follow her political interests. Without any previous experience working for campaigns or elected officials, Jackson decided to apply for a position as press secretary for Congressman Kenny Hulshof from Missouri's Ninth district, which was in her viewing area and also includes Columbia, Mo. "I made the pitch for why hiring a reporter who knew his district well would be a good fit for his press secretary," Jackson says. She got the job, moved out to Washington, D.C., and has been there since. Her most recent position was as communication director for the House Ways and Means Committee, one of the most powerful in Congress because of its responsibility for considering all tax revenue legislation. She spent a year and a half working in the energetic Capitol Hill environment, where she served as the committee's main spokesperson, developed and implemented its proactive communications strategy and anticipated questions regarding a myriad of legislative issues. She's now ready to tackle her duties at the Commodity Futures Trading Commission, another politically challenging job. To get an understanding of what this fast-paced, constantly-changing field is like, Jackson suggests that current students who are interested in a career in political communication consider doing an internship in Washington, D.C. A knowledge of the media is essential for Jackson's career, and she says she uses the skills she learned at the Missouri School of Journalism every day. "Even though I'm no longer a reporter, when you are working with reporters, it is very helpful to understand where they are coming from and what they are trying to do," she says. Jackson says it is important to be able to prioritize and to be flexible because when a new, important issue appears, a communications director, like a television reporter covering breaking news, must be able to put everything else on the back burner for the time being. "You have to love what you do," Jackson says. "You have to enjoy working with the media but also like and understand the policy side of things in order to explain it coherently to reporters." 
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| Revised: 20 April 2007. Copyright © 2008 The Curators of the University of Missouri | Contact the J-School | |
