BY MIKE RUSSO
Spitalnick, 20, was one of nearly 300 people who applied for a position as a Media Fellow at the Israel Project, a nonprofit organization that educates the press and public about Israel. She applied because it combined her interests of policy and media with her interests in the Middle East. After being selected in March, Spitalnick packed her bags to spend her junior year of college in Jerusalem, Israel.
In June, Spitalnick began her fellowship at a week-long strategic communications training seminar in Washington, D.C. where she was taught by media professionals and former government officials.
"My personal favorite was Ambassador Dennis Ross, former US envoy to the Middle East who oversaw many of the peace negotiations under George Bush and Bill Clinton," Spitalnick said. "To be able to have one-on-one conversations with people like that was truly amazing!"
Spitalnick was involved in a July press conference with Dan Gillerman, Israeli ambassador to the United Nations. Over 70 journalists and 10 television crews were present to cover the event. "I think the gravity of what I was doing this summer hit me when I was on the phone with Gabe Pressman pitching the press conference to him -- there I was pitching to the New York City journalist," she said.
Having worked as a Press Intern on Congressman Anthony Weiner's campaign for NYC mayor last summer, Spitalnick had plenty of prior experience working with the press, coordinating press events and writing press releases. "These experiences have, I feel, given me a grasp on political strategic communications, the field I eventually hope to work in after [I finish] school," she said.
In addition to school credit and experience, Spitalnick has a strong opinion about Israel and the way it's perceived in the media. "The media never seems to get all the facts on the Middle East conflict," she said." What TIP does that is unique and thus, attractive to me, is actually educate the media via press events, backgrounders, press releases, and interviews."
Spitalnick recalls a time when the Hezbollah rockets first hit Israel. That day, the Israel Project's Washington, D.C. office was hosting a press conference that featured Daniel Ayalon, Israel's ambassador to the United States. The ambassador was informed about the attacks live on CSPAN by one of the Israel Project's staff members before forwarding the news to over 100 journalists.
"Israel is in the news pretty much more than any other item," said Spitalnick, "so even without the war, it was bound to be a busy and interesting summer," she said.
Spitalnick has learned to live with the constant threat of terrorism in Israel, having to be searched before entering any buildings and avoiding potential targets such as public transportation. Putting that aside, Spitalnick insists she lives her life like any other college student. She goes to class in the morning and does homework or explores the city the rest of the day when she doesn't have to be at the Israel Project office.
According to Spitalnick, most Americans would be surprised to hear that Israelis are just like us. They go to work either by car or by bus, they work and they go home to their families. "I had the privilege of having dinner at one of my teacher's homes the other night," she said," in the area of Ephrat [a settlement in the West Bank.] When I was there, I felt as though I could have been at dinner anywhere, be it here or home on Long Island or wherever," she said.
Spitalnick returns home on October 6 for a short break before returning to Israel on October 14 for classes at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, where she will receive credit for her entire junior year. The credits will be transferred to her home college at Tufts University, where she is a political science major and communications and media studies minor. She returns home for good next June.
"I had an incredible experience this summer working for TIP, and am having an absolutely amazing time here in Israel."
