Cora Cervantes

• Generate story ideas and pitches to produce feature and enterprise stories
• Contribute to multi-platform news coverage throughout the NBC News Group
• Use social media to distribute and promote content
• Straight cut video and work with editors on cutting compelling video
• Assist producers with desktop editing
• Gather elements

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

• Provided national community-based coalitions, government, and philanthropic spaces with strategy and tools to engage with media outlets with a clear understanding of news cycles, news judgment, and pitch development
• Conducted media training to prepare diverse voices to engage with national and local media outlets (Spanish and English)
• Produced live and digital events with national and local voices to elevate issues impacting underserved communities. Issues areas: Health disparities amid Covid-19, Essential workers and emerging needs, 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 yearly  reports on trends for all reported data about diversity and inclusion in the News Division for  News  Division executive leadership 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 Resource Groups to develop programming that fosters an 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 on Twitter
• Pitched, shot, edited, and promoted stories on: immigration, race & ethnicity, politics, business, and education

• Supported the development of a weekly rundown for NYU 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 for joint coverage of Hurricane Maria and Puerto Rico. Interviewed Mayor of San Juan, Carmen Yulín Cruz and U.S. Border Patrol

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

• Supported the development of the daily rundown for political and business stories in the United States and Latin America
• Developed weekly pitches for show and identified guests

• Liaison between key stakeholders in K-12 education at the state and local level 
• Conducted research and data analysis to prepare community-driven education policy recommendations in Los Angeles Unified School District
• Developed a curriculum to engage key stakeholders in emerging education practices (Linked Learning)
• Organized large-scale events for families in the Greater Los Angeles Area
• Supervised community outreach team and volunteers
• Areas of focus: 2010 Census, Redistricting,  and education policy reform efforts in LAUSD

• Led community organizing and base-building for the adult component of an inter-generational capacity building strategy in East Los Angeles
• Liaison between grassroots groups, local elected officials, and partner organizations
• Developed surveys, conducted research, and analyzed data for policy recommendations around education, health, and economic development and other issues impacting the Latino community at the local and state level
• Facilitated monthly community assemblies (80+ attendees) to brief parents and students about issues and policy impacting communities of color in the Los Angeles area
• Developed curriculums to engage local residents in civic engagement efforts
• Organized large scale community events for families in the Greater  Los Angeles Area 
• Supervised team of community organizers and outreach volunteers
• Areas of focus: K-12 Policy, Civic Engagement, Restorative Justice, California Endowment Healthy Neighborhoods Initiative, and President Obama's Promised Neighborhood Initiative