Ernesto Londono: The FishbowlDC Interview

For the next few weeks, we're going to feature some of our "Rising Star" nominees in our FishbowlDC Interview series. Today, say hello to the Washington Post's Ernesto Londono. How many suits do you own? Three. I hate suits; they make me feel itchy and dorky. What word do you routinely misspell? Ostracize Did you see Brokeback Mountain? Yes, on a date. Cute medical resident. It was opening night and the theater was packed, so we ended up getting second-row seats. Date never called back. Did you see The Da Vinci Code? No. I wasn't interested. What's the name of your cell phone ring? My Post-issued Blackberry only has that annoying old-school, beeping ring. I'd like to get the ring tone one of my Iraqi colleagues has: a loud, booming prayer to Imam Hussein. What time did you get up this morning? 11 a.m. But I went to bed late. Filing dailies from Baghdad means Washington routinely keeps you awake until 3 a.m. When did you last cry and why? Late December, sitting at an airport terminal in Bogota. I was reading a newspaper that published Christmas letters written by people with kidnapped relatives. I didn't cry; I sobbed. Leaving home always makes me sad. Which of the seven deadly sins are you? Gluttony. But I think all crime reporters should be exempt. Beach, city or country? City. Would you say you're cute? Pretty? Hot? Beautiful? I came in dead last in media bistro?s hottest off-air journalists contest last year. I think my campaign was doomed after the Post's then-Maryland editor said it would be "weird" for him to vote for me. Nothing like having editors who'll go to bat for you when you need most. Read the rest when you click below...(and see previous FishbowlDC interviews: Julie Mason, David Shuster, Joe Curl, Alex Pareene, Peter Beinart, Jonah Goldberg, Megyn Kendall, Ana Marie Cox, Jim Brady, Howard Mortman, Amy Argetsinger, Jose Antonio Vargas, Chuck Todd, Tom Gottlieb, Kelly Ann Collins, David von Drehle, David Lat, Mark Leibovich, Zain Verjee, David Plotz, Paul Kane, Karen Travers, Mark Halperin, Hugo Gurdon, Greg Kelly,Ken Rudin, John Dickerson, Anne Schroeder, Spencer Ackerman, Bret Baier, Bob Sellers, Greta van Susteren, Danielle Jones, Jonathan Salant, John McCalla, Pam Hess, Ryan Grim, Marc Ambinder, Marty Kady, Jack Shafer, Annie Lou Bayly, Jerry Zremski, Charlie Cook, Dave Hughes, Howard Fineman, Katie Tarbox, Mark Segraves, Chris Cillizza, Tom Sietsema, Bill Triplett, Robin Givhan, David Brody, Norah O'Donnell, Carl Cannon, Jordan Lieberman, David Folkenflik, Molly Henneberg) What color is your bathroom? White. My shower curtain is orange, though. How many emails do you receive a day, roughly? Over 60, some days more. What's your opinion of New York City? I'm always happy to get there, but I'm always happy to leave. Kind of like a good date with a person you don't want to commit to. What's your favorite letter? Z. What single person played the biggest role / had the biggest influence on your journalism career? The English teacher I had my senior year in high school. She urged me to study advertising, rather than journalism, because "you're creative, but won't make it as a writer." Have you ever downloaded a podcast? If so, which one? Yes. Corey Craig's dance mixes, which I use to work out. (You likely have never heard of him; we have a mutual friend) And This American Life. Who's your all-time favorite American Idol candidate? I never got into that show. The three judges annoy me to no end. The only part I like is scenes of people who really bomb early on. The rest try way too hard. When's the last time you volunteered? Where? Does editing stories for college students studying journalism count? If not, I plead the fifth. Who is your favorite active journalist? Um, I'd have to say my former roommate, intern classmate, fellow Postie and career adviser Jose Antonio Vargas. He can make a rock talk. And he's always on overdrive. And he cares. Really, really cares. What did you have for breakfast? Black coffee and a banana. No yogurt and granola in Iraq, sadly. What's your favorite item of clothing? An old, striped white and blue sweater that belonged to a friend who now lives in the Netherlands. I've had it since 2000. What one toiletry item could you not live without? Does my blood pressure medicine count as a toiletry item? If you could have one superpower, which one would it be? Fly. Or maybe sing. But that's not a superpower, is it? Better role model: GIJoe? Barbie? Barbie. She gets more accomplished with less muscle and no guns.

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Ernesto Londono: The FishbowlDC Interview

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