NBCU First Round Interview

Tell me about yourself

Hi, my name is Kayla Nguyen. I’m originally from the Bay Area, and I’m currently a Film, Television, and Digital Media student at UCLA.

A lot of my experience has centered around journalism and people-focused storytelling. Right now, I’m an intern with the Daily Bruin video section, where I help cover stories happening across UCLA and the surrounding community. I really enjoy highlighting clubs, events, and people who may not always have a large platform, and helping share their stories in a way that feels engaging and accessible to wider audiences. Through that experience, I’ve also learned a lot about audience engagement and how to communicate information clearly through digital media.

Outside of media, I also work as a dental assistant back home in the Bay Area. Even though it’s very different from journalism, it has shaped the way I approach storytelling a lot. Working closely with patients has taught me the importance of trust, listening, and human connection, and I think interacting with so many different people has made me more thoughtful in the way I approach media work.

Before college, I was also the Executive Producer of my high school’s multimedia journalism and broadcast program, where I led weekly news productions in a real newsroom environment using industry-level equipment. That experience really solidified my love for collaborative storytelling and fast-paced news production.

I really admire the way NBC combines journalism with accessibility across broadcast, digital, and streaming platforms, especially at a time when conversations around media literacy and public trust are so important.

How has your background / experience positioned you for an internship at NBCU?

My background and experiences have prepared me well for an internship at NBCUniversal because I’ve spent the past several years working in fast-paced, collaborative media environments centered around storytelling and journalism.

At UCLA, I currently work as a Video Intern with the Daily Bruin, where I research, pitch, and produce stories covering campus news for a large student audience. That experience has taught me how to work under deadlines, evaluate audience engagement, collaborate during editorial meetings, and communicate information clearly in a way that connects with people.

Before UCLA, I was the Executive Producer of my high school’s multimedia journalism program, where I helped lead weekly news production using industry-standard broadcasting equipment in a real newsroom setting. I worked closely with student reporters, editors, and producers while overseeing story development, filming, and production decisions. That role really strengthened my leadership, adaptability, and ability to think quickly in high-pressure situations.

Outside of journalism, working as a dental assistant has also helped me grow professionally because I interact with many different kinds of people every day. It’s taught me patience, communication, and how important empathy and trust are when working closely with others, which I think is especially important in media and journalism.

My coursework at UCLA in film and television has also strengthened my understanding of visual storytelling, pacing, and audience impact, which I think translates very well into news production. Overall, I’m excited by the opportunity to work with diverse teams at NBCUniversal and contribute to storytelling that informs and connects communities.

What has been your greatest achievement / Tell me about a project you were in charge of.

Situation: One of my greatest achievements was producing a documentary for National History Day about the Black Panther Party’s Free Breakfast Program alongside two teammates.

Task: For the project, we were responsible for creating an original ten-minute documentary entirely from scratch, so the process involved extensive historical research, scriptwriting, outreach, archival sourcing, and editing. I took a major role in researching the topic, helping shape the script, and editing the entire documentary together.

Action: One of the biggest challenges was balancing historical accuracy with emotional storytelling. We spent months reviewing archival footage, analyzing sources, and communicating with former Black Panthers to better understand their experiences and ensure we were representing the story responsibly. During editing, I focused heavily on pacing, structure, and clarity so the documentary would feel both informative and emotionally engaging.

Result: Through strong collaboration, research, and attention to detail, our project ended up winning first place at the California National History Day competition and qualified for nationals. The documentary was later selected to premiere at the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, which was incredibly meaningful because it showed me how impactful thoughtful storytelling and journalism can be when real people and histories are involved.

Why are you interested in the News Bureau Internship specifically?

I’m especially interested in the NBC News Bureau Internship because it combines so many areas of media that I already have experience in and genuinely enjoy, including news production, research, pitching stories, and people-centered storytelling.

Through my work with the Daily Bruin and my background in broadcast journalism, I’ve learned how much I enjoy being part of the process behind telling meaningful stories and helping information reach audiences in a clear and engaging way. I really like the fast-paced nature of newsroom environments and the collaboration involved in researching stories, developing interviews, and preparing content for large audiences.

I’m particularly interested in opportunities like the TODAY Show because I love the way it combines journalism with human connection. One thing I admire about TODAY is how it highlights personal stories that still feel impactful and relevant on a national level. For example, I recently saw a segment featuring Tiffany Ju, the founder of Chunks, where she spoke about building her company while navigating motherhood and breast cancer treatment. Stories like that stand out to me because they go beyond headlines and allow audiences to genuinely connect with people and their experiences.

I would love the opportunity to contribute to that kind of storytelling at NBC News while continuing to grow as a researcher, producer, and journalist in a professional newsroom environment.

What do you expect to gain from this experience?

How will this internship benefit you?

I hope to gain a deeper understanding of how journalism operates at a professional national level and learn directly from people working in fast-paced newsroom environments every day.

A lot of my experience so far has been in student journalism and broadcast production, where I’ve developed skills in storytelling, research, pitching, editing, and working under deadlines. Through this internship, I would love the opportunity to apply those skills in a real-world newsroom while also learning how experienced producers, reporters, and researchers approach breaking news, audience engagement, and collaborative storytelling on a much larger scale.

I’m also excited by the opportunity to work alongside people from different backgrounds and departments because I think journalism is strongest when there are diverse perspectives contributing to the conversation. I really value environments where people are constantly learning from one another, especially in media, where the way stories are told can have such a large impact.

Most importantly, I hope this experience helps me grow into a more thoughtful and responsible storyteller. NBC News reaches millions of people every day, and being able to observe and contribute to that kind of work would be incredibly meaningful to me both professionally and personally.

What NBCU Brands do you like specifically?

One NBCUniversal brand that has always stood out to me is NBC Sports because it was something I grew up around. My dad watched sports constantly when I was younger, so a lot of my memories of spending time together involve games playing in the background, especially big events like the Olympics or Sunday Night Football. Even before I fully understood the games, I was drawn to the energy and the way sports broadcasting could bring so many people together at once.

As I got older and became more interested in media, I started appreciating the storytelling side of sports coverage too. I realized it’s not just about the game itself, but the emotion, the narratives, and the way broadcasters help audiences feel connected to moments happening in real time.

I’m also very drawn to NBC News and programs like the TODAY Show because I admire how they combine journalism with human-centered storytelling. I really appreciate media that informs people while still making audiences feel emotionally connected to the stories being told, and I think NBCUniversal does that very well across a lot of its brands.

What attracted you most to NBCU?

What attracted me most to NBCUniversal is the scale of its impact and the way it reaches such a massive audience across news, sports, television, film, and digital media. NBCUniversal is one of the world’s leading media and entertainment companies, and I really admire how it connects with people through storytelling in many different ways.

What stands out to me most is that NBCUniversal’s storytelling reaches millions of people every day, whether that’s through NBC News, NBC Sports, Peacock, local stations, or entertainment programming. I think that kind of reach comes with a huge responsibility, and that’s something I really respect. I’m very passionate about media literacy and using storytelling to help people feel informed, represented, and connected to one another.

I was also really drawn to NBCUniversal’s emphasis on community impact and inclusivity. I spent time reading about initiatives like Comcast NBCUnites and The More You Know campaign, and I love the idea of working for a company that recognizes media can genuinely influence and help communities beyond just entertainment.

As someone who loves journalism and people-centered storytelling, NBCUniversal feels like a place where I could continue growing while contributing to work that has a real impact on audiences at a very large scale.

What qualities can you bring to the NBCU environment?

One quality I would bring to the NBCUniversal environment is strong experience in collaborative storytelling and newsroom production. Through my background in student journalism, broadcast production, and video editing, I’ve become very comfortable working in fast-paced environments where communication, adaptability, and teamwork are extremely important. I’ve worked on everything from researching and pitching stories to filming, editing, and helping oversee production, so I understand how many moving parts go into creating strong media content.

I also bring technical experience with industry-standard editing and production tools through my work in broadcast journalism and filmmaking. Over the years, I’ve developed strong skills in video editing, visual storytelling, pacing, and audience engagement, while learning how to balance creativity with clarity and accuracy.

At the same time, I think one of my biggest strengths is humility and being willing to learn from others. Whether I’m working with classmates, patients at my dental office job, or people I’m interviewing for stories, I always try to approach others with respect and curiosity. I genuinely enjoy collaborating with different kinds of people and learning from their experiences, which I think is especially important in journalism and media environments where teamwork and communication matter so much.

Most importantly, I care about creating stories that leave an impact on people. I’m very audience-focused, and I always try to think about how media can inform, connect, or help communities in meaningful ways.

What makes you a unique applicant?

I think what makes me a unique applicant is the combination of my journalism experience and my experience working closely with people outside of media spaces every day.

A lot of my background has been in storytelling and newsroom environments through broadcast journalism, documentary work, and student media, where I’ve learned the technical side of production, research, editing, and fast-paced collaboration. But outside of media, I also work as a dental assistant, and that experience has shaped the way I approach people and storytelling just as much.

In a dental office, you meet people from all different backgrounds, ages, and personalities, often when they’re nervous or vulnerable. I’ve learned how important listening, patience, and trust are in those situations. Over time, it’s made me much more observant and thoughtful when interacting with others, which I think translates directly into journalism because good storytelling starts with understanding people honestly and making them feel comfortable enough to share their experiences.

I also think my background in both filmmaking and journalism gives me a unique perspective. I care deeply about accuracy and research, but I’m also very aware of pacing, emotion, and audience connection. I always try to approach storytelling in a way that feels informative while still being human, which is something I really admire about NBC News as well.

What do you know about NBCU?

What I know about NBCUniversal is that it’s one of the world’s leading media and entertainment companies, with a really wide reach across news, sports, film, television, streaming, and digital media. It operates major brands including NBC News, NBC Sports, Peacock, Universal Pictures, Telemundo, Bravo, and Universal Studios.

What stands out to me most is how NBCUniversal has continued adapting to changes in the media landscape while still maintaining such a strong presence across different platforms. I think platforms like Peacock and NBC News NOW show how the company has evolved alongside digital audiences and changing viewing habits, especially for younger generations consuming news online and through streaming.

I’m especially drawn to NBC News because of its impact and credibility in journalism. More Americans watch NBC News than any other news organization, and I really admire the balance between fast, accurate reporting and human-centered storytelling across programs like the TODAY Show, NBC Nightly News, and Dateline.

I also appreciate NBCUniversal’s emphasis on community impact and inclusivity through initiatives like The More You Know and Comcast NBCUnites, because I think media companies have a responsibility not just to entertain audiences, but also to inform and positively influence communities.

Tell us about a time when you failed

One experience that taught me a lot happened while working on a video story through the Daily Bruin. Early on, I was so focused on the technical side of production — filming, editing, and making sure everything looked polished — that I didn’t spend enough time preparing deeper interview questions beforehand.

During the interview itself, I realized some of my questions were too surface-level, which made it harder to get detailed responses and stronger emotional moments for the story. When I started editing the piece together afterward, I could immediately see that the storytelling felt weaker because I hadn’t gathered enough depth during the reporting process.

Instead of treating it as just a bad interview, I used it as a learning experience. I started spending much more time researching subjects beforehand, preparing follow-up questions, and thinking more carefully about the emotional and informational goals of interviews before production even begins.

That experience taught me that strong journalism is not just about technical production. It’s also about preparation, listening, curiosity, and knowing how to help people feel comfortable enough to share meaningful stories. Since then, I’ve become much more intentional and confident in the way I approach interviews and storytelling.

Why did you apply as an intern for NBC Universal?

I applied for the NBCUniversal internship because I’m very drawn to the scale, impact, and responsibility of the company’s storytelling across news and media. NBCUniversal reaches millions of people every day through platforms like NBC News, NBC Sports, Peacock, local stations, and entertainment programming, and I really admire how much influence the company has across so many different areas of media.

As someone interested in news and people-centered storytelling, I really connect with the idea that media can do more than entertain — it can inform people, encourage empathy, and help audiences better understand the world around them. That’s something I see reflected in NBC News programming and initiatives like The More You Know and Comcast NBCUnites.

I was also really interested in NBCUniversal because of how the company continues adapting to the evolving media landscape. I think it’s impressive how NBCUniversal has expanded across digital platforms like Peacock and NBC News NOW while still maintaining such a strong reputation in traditional broadcasting and journalism. As someone who is interested in both filmmaking and news production, I’m excited by the opportunity to learn in an environment that works across so many forms of storytelling.

Most importantly, I applied because I genuinely believe NBCUniversal is a place where storytelling has the ability to reach and impact people on a very large scale, and that’s the kind of environment I would love to grow in professionally and creatively.

What is your greatest strength?

I would say one of my greatest strengths is my attention to detail, especially when I’m trying to understand people and tell their stories with care.

One example was when I worked on a Daily Bruin video story about the founder of one of UCLA’s flea markets. My task was to interview her and help shape the story in a way that explained not just what the event was, but why it mattered to the UCLA community.

To prepare, I looked into the flea market, thought carefully about what audiences would want to know, and asked questions that went beyond surface-level details. During the interview, I learned more about her goal of promoting sustainable fashion and creating a space where students could shop, connect, and support small vendors. I paid close attention to the details of her answers, the environment, and the larger message behind the event so the final story felt personal and clear.

That experience reminded me why I love journalism and media. A story that could have just been about a campus flea market became a story about sustainability, student creativity, and community. I think my strength is being able to notice those deeper layers and use empathy, research, and detail to help bring them forward.

What is your greatest weakness?

One weakness I’ve been working on is taking too much responsibility onto myself during projects because I care a lot about making sure everything turns out well.

For example, during my time as Executive Producer for my high school broadcast journalism program, I often tried to handle too many parts of production at once, whether that was helping with scripting, editing, production decisions, or troubleshooting technical issues during deadlines. I wanted to make sure everything ran smoothly, but over time I realized that trying to manage everything myself could make me overwhelmed and less efficient.

As I gained more leadership experience, I learned how important collaboration and delegation are in newsroom environments. I started trusting my teammates more, communicating responsibilities more clearly, and recognizing that strong production work depends on people supporting one another rather than one person trying to do everything alone.

That experience has helped me become much better at balancing responsibility with teamwork, especially in fast-paced environments where communication and trust are really important.

How do you deal with pressure or stressful situation?

I think I handle pressure best by staying organized, communicating clearly with the people around me, and focusing on one priority at a time rather than getting overwhelmed by everything at once.

A good example of this was during my time as Executive Producer for my high school broadcast journalism program. Because we produced weekly broadcasts on tight deadlines, there were often stressful situations where stories were unfinished, technical issues came up unexpectedly, or people needed help close to production time. In those moments, I learned that panicking usually only makes situations worse, so I focused on staying calm and figuring out what needed immediate attention first.

One specific time, we were preparing a broadcast and ran into last-minute editing and audio problems only a few hours before the show was supposed to air. Instead of trying to fix everything myself, I quickly communicated with the rest of the team, reassigned smaller tasks, and worked through the issues step by step while keeping everyone updated on timing and priorities.

That experience taught me that stressful situations are much easier to handle when there’s strong teamwork, communication, and adaptability. I’ve learned that in fast-paced media environments, things will not always go perfectly, but staying calm and solution-oriented is what helps projects move forward successfully.

Tell me more about your major and how they have prepared you for this internship?

My major in Film, Television, and Digital Media at UCLA has prepared me well for this internship because it’s given me both technical production experience and a deeper understanding of how media shapes audiences and communication.

Through my coursework, I’ve learned a lot about visual storytelling, editing, production structure, pacing, and how to communicate ideas clearly to large audiences. Classes in filmmaking and media studies have helped me think more critically about how stories are constructed, how audiences engage with media, and how different forms of storytelling can influence the way people understand the world around them.

My major has also strengthened my collaboration and communication skills because so much of film and media production depends on working closely with other people under deadlines. Whether it’s pitching ideas, giving feedback during production, or balancing creative and technical responsibilities, I’ve learned how important teamwork and adaptability are in fast-paced media environments.

I think my background is especially helpful for a journalism internship because filmmaking has taught me how to tell visually compelling stories, while my experience in student journalism has taught me how to prioritize clarity, accuracy, and audience engagement. Combining both perspectives has made me a stronger storyteller overall, and it’s one of the reasons I’m very excited about the opportunity to work at NBCUniversal.

Provide an example of teamwork in the past.

One experience that really taught me the importance of collaboration was while working with the Daily Bruin video section covering a UCLA men’s volleyball game.

For the project, another student and I were responsible for helping capture the game and making sure production ran smoothly. Because live sports environments move very quickly, we had to constantly communicate and coordinate throughout the event. We worked together managing different responsibilities like camera operation, audio setup, and making sure we captured the right moments during gameplay.

One thing I learned during that experience was how important trust and communication are in collaborative media environments. There were moments where we had to quickly adjust to changing situations, switch responsibilities, and problem-solve in real time without disrupting coverage. Instead of trying to control every aspect myself, I focused on staying communicative and supporting my teammate so we could work efficiently together.

The experience reminded me that strong storytelling and production are rarely done alone. Especially in journalism and live media environments, successful work depends on people being adaptable, collaborative, and willing to support one another under pressure.

Tell me about a time you worked with a difficult person. What did you do and how did you act towards them?

One experience that taught me a lot about collaboration happened during my time as Executive Producer of my high school broadcast journalism program.

Because our broadcasts were created under tight deadlines, there were times when team members had very different working styles and approaches to production. I remember working with one person who was very creative and talented, but sometimes struggled with communication and meeting deadlines consistently, which created stress close to production days.

At first, I found myself getting frustrated because I was very focused on organization and making sure everything stayed on schedule. But over time, I realized that reacting negatively would only make collaboration harder. Instead, I tried to approach the situation more patiently and communicate more clearly about expectations, deadlines, and what support they needed from me or the team.

We started doing more regular check-ins during production and dividing responsibilities in a way that played more to each person’s strengths. Once communication improved, the workflow became much smoother and the overall quality of the broadcast improved as well.

That experience taught me that working with difficult situations is usually less about conflict and more about understanding different communication styles and learning how to adapt to people respectfully. Especially in newsroom and media environments, strong collaboration depends a lot on patience, flexibility, and clear communication.

What are 3 major news events?

One major news story I’ve been following is the Supreme Court’s recent decision to temporarily restore full access to the abortion pill. I think it’s especially significant because it directly impacts healthcare access nationwide and continues to shape ongoing legal and political debates around reproductive rights. It’s also a good example of how court decisions can have immediate, real-life consequences for millions of people, which is something I try to pay attention to when following political news.

In terms of culture and media, I’ve also been paying attention to the Met Gala. While it’s often seen as a fashion event, I think it’s interesting to look at it through a media lens because it reflects how pop culture, identity, and storytelling intersect in public spaces. The themes, designers, and people invited often spark larger conversations about representation, trends, and how media shapes cultural narratives, which I find really interesting.

Another story I found really compelling is recent research on the moringa tree and its potential to remove microplastics from water. I think that’s important because it connects to broader global issues like environmental sustainability and access to clean water. It’s also a reminder that scientific developments, even ones that seem small at first, can have meaningful real-world impact if they’re applied at scale.

Overall, I try to follow a mix of political, cultural, and global stories because I think it’s important to understand how different areas of news connect and affect people in different ways. I also try to not just follow headlines, but think about the impact behind them and why they matter.