If you want to report the news, hear from key decision-makers on what skills are needed to work in this ever-changing industry. Recruiters and seasoned journalists share where the opportunities are in national and regional markets.
This event is your chance to engage with industry leaders, ask questions, and connect with fellow journalists passionate about making an impact in the evolving field of news reporting.
Theodore Kim, Director of Newsroom Career Programs, The New York Times
Theodore Kim is Director of Newsroom Career Programs for The New York Times. He oversees and helped create several of The Times’ career programs, including the newsroom fellowship, editing residency and Times Corps mentorship program. He speaks to students and early-career journalists around the country. Previously, Theodore worked on a team that helped train journalists across the newsroom on emerging story forms. He also served as an assistant editor on the homepage team. Prior to coming to The Times, he was mobile editor at the Washington Post where he helped curate the biggest stories on the Post’s phone and tablet apps. He also worked as a reporter at the Dallas Morning News, the Indianapolis Star and the Annapolis Capital. He also is former national secretary for the Asian American Journalists Association. He graduated from Boston College and has a master’s in journalism from American University. He and his wife, Amy, live in New Jersey with their two children.
Taylor Mazzarella, Early Talent Recruiter, Warner Bros. Discovery (Recruiting for CNN Internships)
Taylor Mazzarella is an Early Talent Recruiter for editorial and news production internships at Warner Bros. Discovery. Passionate about helping candidates as they navigate their job search, she started her career as a recruiter after graduating from the University of Delaware in 2017. As a campus recruiter, she strives to develop engaging programs where students can learn, build their networks, be immersed in the WBD culture, and kick-start their careers with their best foot forward!
Jennifer O’Neill, Emerging Talent Recruiter, Paramount (Recruiting for CBS News)
Jennifer O’Neill is a Recruiter on the Emerging Talent team at Paramount, based in New York City. She recruits for internships, entry level positions, and post graduate programs across various areas of the company. Jennifer graduated from Rutgers University with a Bachelor’s in Human Resource Management and minor in Labor Relations. While in college, she interned with Paramount in the Talent Acquisition and Learning and Development teams. Jennifer’s experience is primarily in recruitment across all experience levels and various industries. Outside of work, she loves to watch reality TV and spend time with her nieces and nephews.
Aja Whitaker-Moore, Executive Editor, Axios
Aja Whitaker-Moore is the executive editor at Axios, helping supervise the editorial content produced by Axios. She joined Axios in October 2020 as the managing editor for business news. Whitaker-Moore has held multiple leadership roles in the news industry, specifically covering business and finance. Prior to joining Axios, she was the global editor-in-chief at Acuris, overseeing the newsroom with a specific focus on fixed income. Whitaker-Moore spent a large part of her career at Debtwire, as a senior reporter, assistant editor, deputy editor, managing editor, and finally as the deputy editor-in-chief. Whitaker-Moore holds a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism and a Minor in Legal Studies from the University of Massachusetts Amherst.
Moderator: Samer Nasser, Executive Director, Press Credentials Office, NYC Mayor’s Office of Media and Entertainment
Samer Nasser is a seasoned media professional and the Executive Director of the Press Credentials Office for the City of New York, a pivotal role under the Mayor's Office of Media and Entertainment (MOME) in the Eric Adams Administration. In this capacity, Samer plays a crucial role in supporting and fostering New York City's vibrant media economy by leading the Press
Credentials Office and providing operational policies and guidance to journalists and news organizations, ensuring the integrity and effectiveness of NYC's press card issuance process.
-
Notably, the PCO works in partnership with key entities such as the Center for Communication, NYC's Ethnic and Community Media Group Office, and CUNY Newmark Graduate School of Journalism, further emphasizing Samer's commitment to collaboration and fostering a robust media ecosystem in the city.
With over two decades of invaluable experience in broadcast journalism, Samer brings a wealth of expertise to her role. Before joining MOME, she served as a National News Producer at CBS News, where she sourced and verified editorial, digital, video, and breaking news elements for prominent programs such as CBS Evening News, CBS This Morning, Weekend News, CBS.com, and CBSN. Samer's extensive career also includes noteworthy positions such as International News Editor at Al Jazeera America and Business News Desk Manager at Fox Business Network.
A native New Yorker and a first-generation Arab American, Samer is not only deeply rooted in the diverse fabric of the city but also brings a unique perspective to her work. Fluent in Arabic, she has demonstrated her commitment to excellence by obtaining a Master of Business Administration in Media Management and Marketing from Fordham University. Her educational journey began at New York University, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism and Education.
Presented with the Mayor's Office of Media and Entertainment and SVA Theatre
This program is supported, in part, by public funds from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City Council.
The Center's programs are made possible by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature.
Accessibility: Center for Communication provides reasonable accommodations to students with disabilities. Requests for accommodations for Center for Communication events should be submitted at least two weeks before the date of the accommodation need. Please email community@centerforcommunication.org for assistance.
Have we helped you on your career journey?
In an effort to measure the impact of our work, we are reaching out to those of you who have engaged with the Center in some way and ask that you please take a moment to respond to our survey.
Upon completing the survey, you will be eligible to win one of several Amazon gift cards worth $50.