You know that feeling you get when you meet someone and know that they’ll be successful and famous one day soon? We mean, like really famous – not just FamousDC. We’re talking about those times when we first met Brent Colburn, Jonathan Martin, Pam Brown, Kevin Madden, Jackie Kucinich, Chris Cillizza and Jaime Harrison. Washington, D.C. launches famous careers almost daily. So we decided to ask our contacts on the hill, downtown and some seasoned reporters for their thoughts on DC reporters we should all know. We received a lot of recommendations and narrowed down the list to ten journalists. Below you’ll meet them and learn what folks around town love about the next generation of rock stars. They also answered a few questions regarding their hometowns, just how they got into journalism and other tidbits to help you get to know them a little better. FamousDC presents: 10 DC Reporters You Should Know 10. Julia Ioffe, The New Republic What DC is saying: “If you want to know what Americans should be paying attention to on the global stage, look no further than Julia. Her insights are brilliant and a good reminder of the important role the United States serves as a global superpower. Plus, her twitter feed proves that brevity is indeed the soul of wit.” Hometown? Moscow/Columbia, MD How did you get into journalism? I was studying for the LSAT my senior year of college, and realized that my brain just doesn’t work the right way for this stuff, so I thought: what am I good at? My answer: writing papers. Luckily, the New Yorker’s fact-checking department was looking for a Russian speaker. Who is your role model? My mom. She’s a professor of medicine, travels the world giving lectures on gynecologic pathology, is a gourmet chef, oenophile, and a snappy dresser. A professional woman and a bon vivant. Name one thing that your readers likely don’t know about you. I used to be a flamenco dancer, and I have a potty mouth. Follow Julia on Twitter 9. Mike Catalini, National Journal What the newsroom is saying: “Mike would never tell you this because he’s too modest, but he’s a real power center insider the NJ newsroom. His work ethic and smarts have earned him the respect, and ear, of some of the newsroom’s senior leaders.” “Sure, everyone’s looking to Mike for his political insights – I’m hoping he’s tweeting fantasy football tips this fall…” Hometown? Bensalem, Pa. (Suburban Philly/PA-08) How did you get into journalism?  I tried out for the newspaper in college at Penn State and got hooked after covering the near-closure of the local hospital. Who is your role model? Gene Foreman, the former managing editor of the Philadelphia Inquirer and a professor of mine in college, is the journalistic voice I hear inside my head when I write and report. Is this accurate, fair, complete, concise? Name one thing that your readers likely don’t know about you.  I’m a decent cook. I have two specialities: homemade bread and homemade pasta. Follow Mike on Twitter

Fellow Americans, it has been four years since our last election. In those four years our country has experienced great highs; the death of the Osama bin Laden, the premiere of Glee, the rollout of the new Congress.gov and the Nats making it into playoffs. But we have also experienced the lowest of lows; the Salahi divorce, NFL replacement officials, the closing of the Hawk and Dove, Cap Lounge burning down [again] and Metro’s continued single tracking. As November approaches, we’re often reminded that nothing is more vital to the future of our country than who we elect into office. So while the campaign rhetoric heats up these next few weeks, ask yourself: Are politicians really the best suited to straighten out our country? Or can we do better? What if instead of electing politicians, we allowed the Fourth Estate to run the country? The people who know more about the political process than those actually running for office. Without further ado, we present to you the 2012 FamousDC Media Ticket.

Hack of the Day Jennifer Bendery by Tom Williams.

Election season is heating up and the hill journos are in high demand. Shira Toeplitz: After my WJLA hit at 11pm, I will have done TV hits on 3 networks/ affiliates today: WJLA-ABC, MSNBC and CBS. Welcome to campaign season! We  wanted to give Shira some positive coverage before the …

Yes, we realize this has been on the magazine rack at Whole Foods for days and drove Beltway dinner conversations last weekend – but just like the rest of Washington, we love lists — and this one is now online and linkable . Washingtonian: 50 Top Journalists 2009 Did Garrett …