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The AP Wire, oh and yes, my Chicago trip!
By adriana_acosta in To venus and back
October 22, 2010

This week has been an unusually crazy and hectic week for me, very overwhelming.

On Sunday, I will be flying to Chicago for the 125th Annual Inland Press Association conference and I have been running around trying to finish everything for next week's Matagorda Advocate.

All this feels like a dream.

I think I am going to wake up and realize all this is just a dream. But please don’t wake me up if it is!

To start off this week, one of my stories made the Associated Press. The AP picked up the story I wrote on the Blessing Hotel.

This is not just a great thing for me as a writer, (and my portfolio) but for the people of county I cover. Thanks to the AP, the article was posted on the AP Wire and any newspaper in Texas was able to use the article.

Newspapers such as the Austin American Statesman, The Houston Chronicle, The Fort Worth Star Telegram, The Lubbock Times and even The Facts picked up the story.

People outside of our area know there is a hidden treasure in Blessing serving delicious food with a friendly atmosphere. More people in Texas now know about this hidden treasure, which has been opened for more than 100 years.

And I have to be honest; when I got the call from the Associated Press last week I thought it was a joke from my friend. After all, it has happened before. “Yes, we would like photos of the Blessing Hotel,” the voice on the other end said.

Wow I thought, the AP is asking me to go out on an assignment, must try my best I thought.

“No, we need the photos you took from the article that was printed. We will include the story and photos for the weekend edition of the AP wire,” she explained.

My jaw dropped. There was silence. The Associated Press wants what from me? I was floored, wanted to do the boogie dance, but alas I was at Main Street Coffee bar having my usual – coffee and a muffin.

This has been an amazing year for my career!

And with that, my three year journalism fellowship begins on Sunday in Chicago. I am thrilled, excited and yes, nervous too. A few months ago I found out I received the fellowship and this weekend felt like it would never arrive.

At this conference, I will hear from some of the leading experts in the media industry, hear about the latest in cutting-edge technological changes in print media as well as the current business climate and near-term outlook. I will also meet my mentor. This person will be my mentor for the next three years and will help me in my newspaper career. I am so excited and blessed. I will keep current updates on my Twitter account throughout the weekend, so follow me at www.twitter.com/adriana_acosta. Have a great weekend everyone.