The hidden side of politics

NBC News student seminar highlights unusual education effort

ABC Entertainment:

NEW YORK — Leaning into education aggressively and uncommonly so for a media organization, NBC News is making its leaders available to students this week for a one-day digital seminar on how to succeed in the news business.

The second Next Level Summit being held Tuesday is part of NBCU Academy, a nearly two-year-old initiative that also includes jobs, journalism training videos and partnerships with some 45 colleges and universities.

The effort is aimed primarily, but not exclusively, at students from diverse backgrounds. Cesar Conde, chair of the NBC Universal News Group, said in 2020 that his goal was to have a company workforce that was at least half women and half people of color.

The presidents of NBC News, MSNBC and CNBC are all participating in Tuesday’s summit, speaking on how students can help meet the demand for digital and streaming content. Other panels include using social media for newsgathering and new technology in sports coverage.

NBC Universal committed to $6.5 million in funding for NBCU Academy when it was announced at the beginning of last year.

The aim is to grow journalists, said Yvette Miley, who runs NBCU Academy as senior vice president of diversity, equity and inclusion at the news group.

“You can’t just sit in the back end of the pipeline and wait for students to come out of it ready to go,” Miley said.

NBC helps develop courses and conduct workshops at participating schools. The network funds scholarships and has hired 11 young journalists for a two-year “embed” program — all of them from diverse backgrounds. Since Conde announced his goals, 48% of the news group’s new hires have been people of color, and 63% are women.

Jose Diaz-Balart, Tom Llamas, Chuck Todd and Kristen Welker are among the NBC News personalities who have filmed video tutorials on such subjects as interview techniques and how to deal with sources. They’re available for any educator to use.

MSNBC President Rashida Jones is among the executives who make themselves available for mentoring.

Jones said she went to college wanting to become a print reporter, because she thought the only jobs available in television news were on-air reporters. She quickly learned about other roles, such as producing, which she was doing for a local station in Norfolk, Virginia, before she even finished school.

“Every time I speak to students I think of the 17-year-old version of myself and what I wanted to learn,” Jones said.

Her central advice: Prepare, even over-prepare, for interviews and new jobs so you aren’t surprised by what comes your way.

At the University of Missouri School of Journalism, NBC helped conduct workshops on diversity and investigative reporting for high school students this past summer, said dean David Kurpius.

Students respond positively to advice from experts — some of whom they recognize — who are currently working in the business, he said.

“I think these attract students and more new employees who are very much going to be the future leaders in this industry and that’s very important,” he said.

Through the academy, NBC is also helping fund documentary projects, sending out guest lecturers and offering career coaching. A journalism boot camp was conducted at the U.S. Open golf tournament, Miley said.

She also issued a challenge.

“We have an opportunity to lead in this space and I certainly hope other companies find their way into this space,” she said.

Source:ABC Entertainment

Share

28 Comments

  1. Raja77

    I have been exploring for a bit for any high-quality articles or weblog posts in this sort of house .
    Exploring in Yahoo I ultimately stumbled upon this site.

    Studying this info So i’m glad to show that I have a very excellent uncanny feeling
    I came upon exactly what I needed. I so much for sure
    will make sure to do not put out of your mind this web site and give it a glance regularly.

    My site :: Raja77

  2. slot388

    Hi would you mind letting me know which web host you’re utilizing?
    I’ve loaded your blog in 3 completely different internet browsers and I must say this blog loads a lot quicker then most.
    Can you recommend a good internet hosting provider at a reasonable price?
    Many thanks, I appreciate it!

    Here is my blog post :: slot388

  3. slot338

    Hello, i think that i saw you visited my website thus i came to “return the favor”.I’m attempting to find things to enhance my website!I suppose its ok to
    use some of your ideas!!

    My blog post … slot338

  4. bet123

    I’m really impressed with your writing skills and also with the layout on your
    weblog. Is this a paid theme or did you customize it yourself?
    Anyway keep up the nice quality writing, it’s
    rare to see a nice blog like this one these days.

    Also visit my site :: bet123

  5. slot98

    Heya i am for the first time here. I found this board and I in finding It really helpful & it
    helped me out a lot. I hope to give something again and aid others such as you aided me.

    Also visit my website – slot98

  6. Adell

    Fantastic website. Plenty of helpful information here.
    I am sending it to a few buddies ans also sharing in delicious.

    And certainly, thank you for your effort!

    Feel free to surf to my blog … Adell

  7. Ferdinand

    Wow, awesome blog layout! How long have you been blogging for?
    you made blogging look easy. The overall look of your web site is excellent, let alone the content!

    Here is my blog … Ferdinand

  8. Florene

    Hi! Would you mind if I share your blog with my zynga group?
    There’s a lot of people that I think would really enjoy
    your content. Please let me know. Many thanks

    Also visit my web blog … Florene

  9. Octavio

    Its like you read my mind! You appear to know a lot about this, like you
    wrote the book in it or something. I think that you could do with some pics to drive the message home a bit, but other
    than that, this is excellent blog. A fantastic read.
    I will definitely be back.

    Here is my web blog Octavio

FOLLOW @ NATIONAL HILL