News + Media
Politics and the news go hand-in-hand, and with Annapolis’ busy political life comes an equally robust news and media presence. Reporters from major newspapers and networks frequently descend on State Circle for political coverage, but Annapolis is home to its own consortium of journalists, including the centuries-old Capital Gazette. The town’s proximity to DC means it’s home, too, to several big-league public intellectuals (like Chris Wallace, who spoke at St. John’s last year), as well as plenty of fictional politicking (House of Cards and The West Wing both filmed here frequently). And with Maryland’s many top-tier colleges—St. John’s, the Naval Academy, Johns Hopkins, and others—the state is often called upon for experts on everything from environmental law to scientific developments. In short, there’s something seriously intellectual in the air here—soak it in.
Journalism
It’s easy to stay on top of the news when it’s just steps away.
Walk up to State Circle during the week and you’re almost guaranteed to see one of the following: a TV van, a journalist interviewing someone by the statehouse, or a group of demonstrators holding up signs on the corner. To help you keep up, Annapolis is home to several news outlets: the Capital Gazette, established in 1884 and one of the top-ten most highly circulated papers in Maryland; Eye on Annapolis, which provides an insider’s look at the city’s goings-on; WNAV, the local radio station, and others. Reporters from major newspapers like the Baltimore Sun and the Washington Post frequently find their way here, as well.
In the past few years, St. John’s has hosted several major media players for our Great Conversations series: MSNBC’s Andrea Mitchell, newscaster Tom Brokaw, and Judy Woodruff of PBS NewsHour, among others. Several of our alumni are also accomplished alumni: HuffPost Editor-in-Chief Lydia Polgreen, New York Daily News writer Robert George, sportswriter Jane McManus, and CNN White House Reporter Kate Bennett—to name a few.
TV + Media
Recognize some of these streets? You’ve probably seen them on-screen.
Annapolis is certainly picturesque—so much so, that it’s been on the big and small screen for decades. Most famously, much of Netflix hit House of Cards was filmed here, as were scenes from the West Wing and other political dramas (Patriot Games, Syriana, and Body of Lies, to name a few). The brick-lined streets and water views also make for good rom-com scenery—see: Failure to Launch, Sleepless in Seattle, Better Living Through Chemistry, and Wedding Crashers (filmed on the nearby Eastern Shore).
Scholars + Intellectuals
With dozens of colleges and universities within a 50-mile radius, Maryland is a hub for intelligence and innovation.
Maryland and DC have some of the highest concentration of higher education institutions in the United States—and the quality is just as good as the quantity. Professors and researchers from universities like Georgetown, Johns Hopkins, and the University of Maryland are at the top of their fields. While Johnnies are focused on the Program, the nearby higher ed institutions offer great internship opportunities (and the chance to complete coursework for postgraduate study through Pathways).