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Junior Lisa Longo (Piscataway, N.J.), a history and government & law major, learned from some of the top journalists in the country this summer at NBC Nightly News With Tom Brokaw in New York, N.Y.
As an intern, Longo gained a comprehensive understanding of broadcast journalism while earning credit toward her government and law major. She worked closely with Barbara Duffy, program manager, to learn the ropes of the business.
“My internship concentrated on the writing and producing of the show,” says Longo. “My duties included researching topics, logging tapes, selecting interviewees, scheduling interviews, handling calls from correspondents, and distributing scripts to Mr. Brokaw and the director during the show.”
Longo, who has admired Brokaw for many years, landed the internship by sending a letter and resume to NBC. She had no prior connections to the news operation.
“What I really enjoyed about my internship at the Nightly News was the accessibility I had to some of the top journalistic writers and producers in the country,” says Longo. “Seeing them every day gave me the opportunity to observe them and ask questions about their jobs and the steps they took to get where they are.”
Longo had the opportunity to attend staff meetings and saw a story idea go all the way from concept to broadcast presentation.
“Lisa was most beneficial to us,” says Duffy. “She is a very hard worker and has the ability to get along with many people.”
Longo now has a greater appreciation of how news is reported — an appreciation that has proved valuable to her own journalistic endeavors. Longo says, “As Mr. Brokaw told us one day, ‘after this job, you will never look at news the same way again.’”
Longo also explored the field of magazine publishing last year during an externship with Robert Bliwise ’76, editor of Duke Magazine, an award-winning publication of Duke University.
Longo, a Writing Associate, assists students having trouble with writing assignments and serves as assistant editor of The Lafayette, the campus newspaper. She is a member of Kirby Government and Law Society and Newman Association.