The Intern Diaries: Jamie Gottlieb, NBCUniversal
The following is part of a series of reflections from our Grady College students about their summer internships.
Name: Jamie Gottlieb (Public Relations major from Alpharetta, Georgia)
Title of Internship: NBC News Social Media Intern
Company: NBCUniversal
Location: New York City
1. What are some of the tasks you were assigned each day?
As social media intern for NBC News, my role focuses on promoting collaboration and integration across the newsroom through social platforms. One of my major assignments includes analyzing data and helping manage an internal social network that encourages collaboration and innovation across NBC News Group brands. I also work with the NowThis and msnbc partnership to create short videos for on-air, online and Instagram. Overall, the team I work with focuses on social and digital strategy, so being able to see that process and how NBC continues to innovate has been a huge reward of my internship.
2. What about your internship was the most surprising to you (i.e. What did you least expect going into this experience)?
NBCUniversal owns and operates many brands across the broadcast and digital space — NBC, Bravo, USA, Esquire, Universal Pictures and more. I quickly learned how much NBCUniversal is integrated into my daily cultural experience, and after meeting the people behind the brands, I'm more excited about that than ever. From hearing Bravo's Andy Cohen speak to shadowing TODAY's Orange Room to pitching stories for NBC News, NBCUniversal truly has opened the doors for me to explore and learn about different brands and the operation behind it all.
3. What do you think is the most influential experience or important skill you learned that you could carry with you as you join the work force?
Video editing, for sure. Going into this internship, I had minimal video editing experience. My supervisor and co-workers took the time to teach me both the technical and editorial sides of editing, and for that I'm grateful. Coming out of this experience, I feel more confident in my ability to create, produce and edit a video from start to finish.
4. What part of your Grady education did you find most valuable during your internship?
The New Media Institute truly gave me a fundamental, in-depth education on the digital landscape, and I would feel completely lost without that experience. NBC continues to innovate, and being able to speak proficiently on different technologies and digital branding strategies opened the door for a number of opportunities over the summer.
5. What is one thing you wish you had known going into your internship?
How to navigate New York City without blowing all your money in one day. Being on my own in the city has taught me financial planning skills and the awareness of how to live within your means, yet still have a great time.
6. What advice would you give for future interns in your position?
Good things come to those who hustle.
Date: August 21, 2014Author: Jamie Gottlieb
Contact: Cecil Bentley, cbentley@uga.edu