Cora Cervantes-Orta

Support with the production across all platforms as part of Coverage (broadcast, cable, streaming & digital). Work directly with producers, senior producers, correspondents & the assignment desk to help pitch, write & produce news content.

• Work effectively in a fast-paced, deadline-driven environment
• Assist with & contribute to all aspects of news production, across all platforms
• Contribute to story development & production, including research, booking, pre-interviewing, set up, involvement in shoots
• Collaborate with colleagues within the LA Bureau & across platforms
• Coordinate with technical and operations staff & outside resources.
• Pitch story ideas & content to all platforms
• Work the assignment desk & fully understand Coverage & what the roles of the desk personnel

Highlights: field productions and bylines with  NBC News NOW and NBC News Digital

• Generate story ideas and pitches for news content production for all NBC News and MSNBC platforms
• Straight-cut video edits and collaboration with editors
• Coordinate with  technical and operations staff, and outside resources
• Support with the development, research, and footage integration into rundown for live programming, with a primary focus on Politics Nation with Al Sharpton

Highlights: field productions and bylines with  MSNBC, NBC News NOW, and NBC News Digital

Production and Tape support for prime shows and specials ex. Interview with VP Harris, awards and promo reels, and documentary unit productions promotions for air across MSNBC

Produced and published content in the following areas: Immigration, Race and Ethnicity, LGBTQ+ community

• Produced live and digital events with national and local voices to elevate issues impacting underserved communities. Issues areas: Health disparities amid Covid-19, criminal justice, representation in media, CA Primaries, 2020 Census, 2020 Elections, race relations, and immigration
• Provided strategic support to newsrooms about diversity, inclusion, and equity practices to develop rich content and strengthen workforce pipelines

Highlights:

• Co-produced the National Association of Hispanic Journalists' Reporting Handbook
• Co-produced California statewide resource guide for formerly incarcerated people in conjunction with La Opinion and Tzunu Strategies

• Direct report to Senior Vice President of NBC News and MSNBC
• Liaison between the News Diversity Team and Comcast Diversity Team 
• Researched, analyzed, and created quarterly and annual reports on trends for all reported data about diversity and inclusion in the News Division for News Division and NBC Universal Comcast leadership
• Coordinated News Diversity presence at conferences and conventions
• Produced internal events, panels, and editorial briefings to support diverse news coverage
• Provided a diverse editorial lens in the newsroom and at editorial meetings
• Produced a quarterly newsletter for News Group and company partners to showcase programming and editorial lenses. 
• Supported and co-produced programming with Employee Resources Groups to develop programming that fosters and inclusive work culture
• Produced and Published stories across platforms that elevate diverse storytelling

• Bylines with NBC News, NPR's Latino USA, Al-Jazeera, Salon, and Narratively 
• Coverage areas: Immigration, Education, Latino Community, 2016 Presidential Election, and President Trump's first 100 Days in office

• Edited articles
• Selected, managed, and prioritized topics for 14 reporters
• Managed social media presence for Reporting the Nation 
• Pitched, shot, edited, and promoted stories about immigration, race & ethnicity, politics, business, and education

• Supported the development of a weekly rundown for NYU's Digital newscast
• Pitched, shot, edited, and produced weekly content
• Conducted live interviews

• Master's Scholar Award Recipient, Merit-based full scholarship
• Concentration: Reporting the Nation and New York Program
  • Conducted field reports from Washington D.C., PA, CA, NV and TX
  • Reporting expertise: Education, Immigration, and Race and Ethnicity

Senior Thesis:  "The Latino Journalism Gap: Critical Inquiry Into Professional Pipelines and Inclusion of Latinos in Journalism"

Advisor:  Prof. Frances Negron-Muntaner,  Thesis Review: Prof. Ed Morales

• Member, University Diversity and Inclusion Taskforce
• Political Chair, Chicanx Caucus at Columbia University

• Published digital stories for nbcnewyork.com
• Pitched, shot and edited video
•  Produced episodes of "Listen While You Wait," a podcast about New York City's transportation system
•  Conducted interviews for NBC4 and Telemundo 47 

• Created digital posts and supported weekly audience engagement for NPR's Latino USA and In The Thick Podcast
• Pitched and published breaking news and features covering arts and culture, tech, and  immigration