Title:GEMA Alumni Spotlight – Julia Jester (C’15)

Reporter, Washington Bureau, MS NOW

Julia Jester (C ’15) is a reporter with MS NOW’s Washington bureau, where she covers national security and politics, reporting on air and writing digital articles on the State Department, Pentagon, foreign affairs, elections and campaigns.

What was your first “big break”? Or, what is the most significant experience you have had that has made your success possible?

As an NBC News political campaign embed for the 2020 election, I got a crash course not just in covering elections, but also how to be a reporter, field producer, pool producer, writer, and correspondent. I was on the campaign trail for nearly a year before COVID hit, then adapted to a new form of covering politics, pandemics, and protests. The experience made me a “Swiss Army Knife” as a journalist, which has opened doors I never even thought I could knock on.

What is the most challenging part of your job? What is the most rewarding part?

The most challenging part (aside from getting sources to respond!) is fighting to drown out the noise with what really matters. The Trump administration’s strategy has been to flood the zone with both words and actions, so knowing that distraction is a tactic means the media has to adapt (even, and especially, when certain stories lead to high ratings or clicks but may not offer much substance).

Holding power accountable is a key tenet of journalism but bringing everything back to “How does this actually affect the lives of Americans?” is the best way to break through to the public. It’s not enough to inform those already critical of those in power, we especially owe it to Americans who voted for their elected leaders to understand the results — and consequences — of those votes.

The most rewarding parts of being a journalist are having a front row seat to history and seeing the impact your work can make. I’ve traveled to Asia to cover the president, flown with the Secretary of Defense to NATO, chased candidates around the Iowa state fair, and spent all-nighters in the halls of Congress. But it’s the storytelling that I’ve always loved, whether hearing the worries of port workers after the Baltimore bridge collapse or sharing the impact of USAID’s dismantling and DOGE cuts on the federal workforce.

What is something current you are working on that you are excited about?

I’m gearing up for midterms coverage with a focus on election security and integrity, which has never been more important amid cuts to federal funding for election security, challenges to voting rights, rampant election disinformation, and false claims of widespread voter fraud.

How is the ever-changing media landscape affecting your industry?

The saturation and diversification of the media landscape have changed how to reach people — it’s no longer enough to do the reporting work for a story that airs on TV or publishes online and call it a day. Journalists are competing with TikTokers, podcasters, YouTubers, and Twitch streamers — most of the time aggregating the work of traditional reporters — so we need to be in those spaces in an authentic way to find people where they are.

Unlike influencers and opinion commentators, reporters can’t be snarky or emotional, so figuring out how to create compelling news content while adhering to journalistic standards is a challenge. (I’m not even going to try to predict how AI will affect producing and consuming news, but that will also change our world.)

Are there any ways that you feel Georgetown especially prepared you for your career?

The relationships I built on campus were worth the price of tuition. There’s something to be said about being surrounded by brilliant, creative, ambitious peers all striving to leave the world a bit better than we found it. My first editor at the Georgetown Voice is still one of my closest friends, and the skills and confidence I built in that messy newsmagazine office provided the foundation for my passion for reporting. I learned that I could take risks, that I could fail and try again, that my work could matter.

As for the actual academic part of college, the American Studies major taught me how to challenge narratives, how to reexamine our nation’s history, and how politics and culture influence the other — all tools I’ve applied in my coverage of campaigns and elections.

What is your best advice to those who are starting out in your field?

Say yes to every opportunity, have something outside of work to keep you grounded, and be kind.

I worked overnights for the TODAY Show as a researcher, chasing breaking news at odd hours and writing/producing my own packages; did my first national TV hit at 7am on a Saturday for MSNBC, which led to more on-air opportunities; and traveled on Air Force One for weekend pool assignments, getting to ask the president questions on the tarmac. The best learning moments rarely happen during M-F business hours.

The news can be draining and defeating at times, so having an outlet outside of my professional identity (in my case, dance) has helped me stay sane and keep a healthy perspective.

Be a good human — to your peers, your sources, and to your viewers/readers. A little thoughtfulness goes a long way, both for networking and making an impact. Most of the career chances I’ve been given were from relationships built over time. I’ve been to Trump rallies where the crowd has jeered and harassed the “fake news,” yet many attendees were still open to sharing their thoughts with me because I approached them with authenticity and kindness, leaving them with not just a positive view of me as a journalist, but also maybe a less critical perception of “the media.” Never underestimate the power of personal interactions.

Best Business Advice Received:

ALWAYS negotiate your salary. No matter how lucky you may feel to get a job, especially in a volatile industry like media, always negotiate your salary. I waited years to argue my worth and have been playing catch up ever since. Your first jobs set the foundation for future salary growth — know your value and ask for more!

Trait You Most Admire in People:

Integrity, dependability, and authenticity

Favorite App, Website, Podcast or Social Platform (other than related to your own company):

I start my day with Politico’s Playbook, NPR’s Up First, and NYT’s The Daily podcasts. I don’t think I could survive without Spotify music giving me a reprieve from news or the Planta app telling me when to water my many plants.

Favorite Georgetown Professor:

Father Carnes + Professor Mark Rom (and as an American Studies major, I loved my years with Professor Erika Seamon)

Favorite Georgetown Restaurant or Bar:

These feel cliché, but: Wisey’s or Booey’s for lunch, Wingo’s for dinner, Tombs for dancing, and Tuscany’s (RIP) for late night pizza.

Favorite Georgetown Memory:

When I was studying abroad in Florence, a huge group of Georgetown students studying all over Europe met up for Oktoberfest. International cell service at the time was impossible, so our plan was to all just meet at the Glockenspiel in Munch the day we arrived and, shockingly, that worked!

As for on-campus memories, it’s impossible to pick just one — performing with Groove Theory at basketball games and showcases, senior week festivities, Georgetown Days, and the Voice’s production nights are among my favorites.

To read other Alumni Spotlights, click here.