WASHINGTON – Howard University Department of Media, Journalism and Film will host “Power Players Behind the Scenes” career panel event, in collaboration with NBCU Sports and NBCU Academy, on September 16 at 5:00 p.m. EST via Zoom. This event will lead up to the Truth & Service Classic between Howard and Hampton University. The career panel event is open to the Howard community and the public. 

“We are at a moment in history in which media's role  in our society is heightened by the need for experienced, truth-seeking journalists to educate and inform the public,” said Gracie Lawson-Borders, dean of Howard University Cathy Hughes School of Communications. “It is fitting that the department is hosting this panel with NBC to continue the conversation with students on the importance of preparation and readiness to serve in a number of impact roles in front and behind the camera."

Moderated by Tiffany Cross, Host of MSNBC’s “The Cross Connection,” the panel discussion targets influential decision-makers behind the scenes in news and sports. Experts will provide critical insight on what it takes to build a successful career as a media professional and signature roles that impact the stories we see every day. This event continues a strong collaborative relationship between the Cathy Hughes School of Communications and NBCUniversal.

Panelists include:

• Walter Cade, senior vice president of sales, NBC Sports Partnership Development/Regional Sport Networks;
• Kevin Cross, president and general manager, NBC 5, Telemundo and NBC Sports Chicago;
• Crystal Fisher, vice president of TV and streaming, strategy and business development; 
• Rashida Jones, president of MSNBC; and
• Bria Scott, Howard University senior capstone broadcast journalism major and vice president of the Howard University Association of Black Journalists.

“We want to introduce students to a variety of career paths in the media industry. We have a great group of NBCU panelists that will provide insight and inspiration,” said Damon Phillips, senior vice president of strategic initiatives for NBC Sports.

NBC Sports is an American sports programming division of the broadcasting network NBC. NBC Sports is home to games for the National Football League, the Olympics, the U.S. Open, and many more. NBC Sports has been synonymous with innovation, storytelling, iconic moments, legendary voices and record audiences since the 1920s. As a result of its pioneering ethos, the iconic moments in NBC Sports’ historic portfolio are overflowing and unforgettable.

“NBCU Academy is thrilled to partner with NBC Sports to raise the profile of careers in television behind the scenes,” said Yvette Miley, senior vice president of NBC Universal News Group Diversity, Equity & Inclusion. “The ‘Truth and Service’ career panel aligns with our mission of creating a diverse pipeline, and our panelists are a testament to what commitment to diversity looks like.”

Additionally, NBCU will be broadcasting the first-ever Truth and Service Classic on the NBC Sports Network on September 18 at noon EST. This is the first college football game to be held at Audi Field, home of Major League Soccer club, D.C. United. NBC Sports has invited senior capstone broadcast journalism student, Alex Williams, to help report the game. 

“I am truly grateful for the opportunity to work with NBCU, and I am so excited to help cover and shed light on one of the greatest HBCU rivalries in history,” said Williams.

To register for the panel event, please visit howard.edu/zoom.

To purchase tickets for the Truth and Service Classic, visit ticketmaster.com.

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About Howard University

Founded in 1867, Howard University is a private, research university that is comprised of 14 schools and colleges. Students pursue more than 140 programs of study leading to undergraduate, graduate and professional degrees. The University operates with a commitment to Excellence in Truth and Service and has produced one Schwarzman Scholar, three Marshall Scholars, four Rhodes Scholars, 12 Truman Scholars, 25 Pickering Fellows and more than 165 Fulbright recipients. Howard also produces more on-campus African American Ph.D. recipients than any other university in the United States. For more information on Howard University, visit www.howard.edu.

About the Department of Media, Journalism and Film

The Department of Media, Journalism and Film is the largest unit in the Cathy Hughes School of Communications at Howard University. Its faculty and alumni include award-winning, internationally renowned filmmakers, journalists, media producers, documentarians and research scholars. The department offers one of the top MFA programs in film and the only one at an HBCU. It was named as having one of the best university cinematography programs. USA Today and College Factual has ranked the journalism program among the top 20 nationally, and the National Association of Black Journalists ranked the program as No. 1 in the United States. The Broadcast Education Association honored WHBC student radio with the Signature Station Award. Howard is one of two universities in Washington and among seven HBCUs accredited by the Accrediting Council on Education in Journalism and Mass Communications.

About the NBCUniversal

NBCUniversal is one of the world’s leading media and entertainment companies in the development, production, and marketing of entertainment, news and information to a global audience. NBCUniversal owns and operates a valuable portfolio of news and entertainment television networks, a premier motion picture company, significant television production operations, a leading television stations group, world-renowned theme parks, and a premium ad-supported streaming service. NBCUniversal is a subsidiary of Comcast Corporation.

Media Contact: Aaliyah Butler, aaliyah.butler@howard.edu