NBCU Next Level Summit

NBCU Next Level Summit

For two consecutive years, I’ve taken students to the NBCU Next Level Summit—a one-day immersive experience that connects emerging journalists to the professionals shaping the media industry. The summit features high-level panels, interactive sessions, and candid conversations with producers, correspondents, executives, and talent from across NBCUniversal’s news divisions.

Students hear directly from working journalists about what it takes to succeed in the newsroom, the complexities of reporting on marginalized communities, and how the industry is evolving. These sessions provide a rare look behind the scenes of editorial decision-making and media production—giving students a front-row seat to professional journalism in action.

But the learning doesn’t end when the summit does. In the days that follow, we use our class time to debrief, unpack insights, and make connections to course concepts. We talk about the power dynamics that shape media narratives, the ethical tensions that surface in live reporting, and the real implications of representation behind the scenes. Students come away with sharper instincts and clearer questions. Some find their professional calling. Others walk away knowing exactly what they don’t want to do—an insight just as valuable at this stage.

Because I attend the summit with them, I can help contextualize the sessions and translate those takeaways into tangible goals. Students often use this experience to shape internship decisions, revise their reels and resumes, and reimagine what their place in the industry could look like. The summit offers exposure, but also clarity—and that’s a gift at this point in their careers.