"All they expected me to do was rip and read the wire 'leads,' without doing any original reporting. It was pretty basic, but gave me a taste of how to combine my love of politics and broadcasting"

In this quote, Andrea Mitchell reviews an early experience in her journalism career, shedding light on the initial expectations placed upon her and how those experiences contributed to her professional growth. The phrase "rip and read the wire 'leads'" describes a conventional practice in broadcast journalism where news anchors or reporters take stories straight from a news wire service-- basically a network of news firm reports-- without changing the material or performing additional investigative reporting. This process is usually uncomplicated, as it involves checking out raw, unoriginal news content on air without the journalist's input beyond basic presentation.

Mitchell's recounting suggests that her early tasks lacked the depth and creativity of original reporting, which involves crafting stories based on firsthand examination, interviews, and personal analysis. However, she acknowledges that in spite of the primary nature of her tasks, they were instrumental in combining her passion for both politics and broadcasting. This implies that Mitchell saw value in these foundational experiences, as they allowed her to establish an understanding of how political info could be interacted effectively through media channels.

Her sentiments show a common starting point for many reporters, where initial roles might seem standard or restricting, yet they serve an essential function in teaching the core mechanics of the industry. Her experience most likely assisted her develop a strong foundation in accurate news dissemination, audience engagement, and the technical production aspects of broadcast journalism.

In addition, by mentioning it provided her "a taste", Mitchell suggests that these early tasks stimulated a deeper interest and set the stage for her future endeavors in political journalism. This early direct exposure equipped her with the skills required to eventually pursue more complex, investigative journalism, where she could both notify the public and indulge her enthusiasm for political matters, eventually forming her renowned career as a prominent journalist.