Wednesday, August 6, 2008

NBC GIVES HL TEENS THE OPPORTUNITY OF A LIFETIME

A VISIT TO THE NBC STUDIOS INSPIRED YOUNG JOURNALISTS TO HOLD FAST TO THEIR DREAMS



(Manhattan, New York) None of the HL or HarlemLIVE teens knew what to expect as they entered the NBC studios on August 5, 2008. Waking up I didn’t know what to expect and I thought I would be late for a tour of the famous NBC studios. Little did I know that I would have my five whole seconds of fame on the TODAY Show! The day was filled with even more excitement and surprises than I could’ve prayed for.

“Seeing all the sets and the rooms where people work really inspired me,” said one of my HarlemLIVE peers, Ceka, in a blog entry. HarlemLIVE (HL) is an on-line, teen magazine publication that aims “to empower a diverse group of youth towards leadership with experience and exposure to media and technology.” We were exposed to some of that on Monday, finding out what the NBC’s logo means, viewing all of the film editing rooms, and getting to speak with people who hold positions at NBC.

Arriving at the NBC studios expecting to be shown around the beautiful building, I was given exciting information that I may be placed on air about three to four hours into the TODAY Show. Revved up and excited my peers and I walked to where all the lights and cameras were and got to share a few moments with Ms. Hoda and Ms. Kathie Lee. These two women greeted us during their breaks while taping the show. At one point while these women were talking about Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitts’ new child, we got to see Reverend Run and Justine Simmons. Reverend Run was even gracious enough to take a picture with us. The people we met did not stop at Ms. Hoda, Ms. Kathie Lee, Reverend Run and Justine Simmons.


The other people that the HL students got to meet and speak with were: Justin Balding, correspondent for Dateline NBC; Ron Allen, correspondent for NBC News; and Lyne Pitts, Vice President of Strategic Initiatives. One thing I took away from talking with these people was the art of networking and interning. Ms. Lyne Pitts emphasized that you need to send a thank you e-mail to everyone we meet and no one in media “is shy.” I came to the conclusion that succeeding in the media industry requires hard work, diligence, and an unfolding determination. My HL peers and I left with inspiration for years to come and tools of advice that will stick with us for a lifetime. Ceka reflects: “I have so many business cards, that it's ridiculous.” I get so excited when I receive people’s personal information and business cards and I would have to agree with Ceka; I have too many business cards to count!

I am counting the days until I have the opportunity to hold a position at the NBC studios. My HL peers and I have every resource and opportunity to work at NBC and any other media sites in the future. “The sky is too short of a limit” (quote from a good friend of mine, Alex Palacios) for my HL peers and I.






Lastly I would like to thank all of the people at the NBC studios from the camera men/women to the person who did Ms. Hoda’s and Ms. Kathie Lee’s make-up. I would like to thank all of my friends and family, my immediate family (love you mucho!!!) HarlemLIVE, my Posse-mates, most of all Reel Works Teen Filmmaking. It’s funny how one visit to NBC can inspire a group of teens to become more focused than ever. Holding fast to my dreams and I will visit NBC again, hopefully as an anchor.