Mia Rivera’s name isn’t a household word—not yet, anyway. But it may only be a matter of time.
A Video Arts and Technology (VAT) major, Rivera is on track to graduate next spring, but she has already gained significant professional experience in the broadcast industry.
Last fall, she did a six-month internship at Sirius XM Radio, where she handled a broad range of tasks, both on the air and behind the scenes—from conducting interviews to making sure that commercials and station IDs came on at the right times. These days, she volunteers at WSIA, a radio station at the College of Staten Island, and is working on having her own weekly radio show.
More recently, Rivera assisted veteran NBC TV journalist Gabe Pressman as an editorial newsroom intern. In that capacity, she conducted background research on local news stories and blogs and had a hand in producing TV news segments on social issues, personalities and neighborhoods.
“Radio is really my first love, and the field I hope to pursue a career,” she says. “But the NBC experience helped me develop my writing skills—and, hopefully, makes me more attractive to potential employers.”
Creating newscasts from start to finish
Rivera has already proven herself a valuable resource in the broadcast industry. Having taken all of BMCC’s VAT course offerings and mastered the intricacies of software programs like AVID and Final Cut Pro, she has learned how to create storyboards, write, shoot and edit news segments, conduct a news broadcast and tell a compelling story through sound.
Along the way, she has been guided and mentored by BMCC faculty members, including John Dash, of the Cooperative Education Department, and VAT instructors Judy Noble, Shari Mekonen and Laura Starecheski.
Rivera was offered the NBC internship through her membership in the National Association of Hispanic Journalists. “About halfway into my studies at BMCC I realized that, while I was doing well academically, I didn’t belong to any clubs, teams or sororities,” she says. “I thought it would make sense to connect with a relevant organization.” She did some online research and found a group that seemed to have her name written on it—the National Association of Hispanic Journalists (NAHJ).
Making the connection
“I think it’s important to be attuned to your culture and where you come from,” says Rivera. “So I was very excited about joining the NAHJ—as both a Hispanic woman and an aspiring journalist.”
Soon thereafter, she was selected to attend the association’s annual journalism convention, in San Juan, Puerto Rico. “This was a great networking experience—one that gave me a better understanding of the field and connected me with other like-minded individuals,” Rivera says. “I made friendships that will last a lifetime.” And it was through her membership in the NAHJ that she was offered the NBC internship.
“I’m well aware of how competitive the broadcast field is—especially in the current economic climate,” says Rivera, who hopes to continue her studies at Brooklyn College next fall and ultimately pursue a career in radio, perhaps in a not-for-profit setting.
“But I feel BMCC has prepared me really well. I’m very thankful for the education and professional opportunities I’ve received here.”
