#cnbc workshop

NBCUniversal’s business network CNBC hosted a news cycle simulation workshop to teach attendees about the network’s daily operations. The fast-paced, hour-and-a-half breaking news workshop ended with a two-minute speed interviewing session for tbe Business News Associate program position at CNBC headquarters in Englewood Cliffs, N.J.

University of Houston graduate Ilse Hernandez is one of about 30 students selected for the workshop after a competitive process of interviews and a writing test. She says she applied hoping it would lead to a position at CNBC.

“It was a good learning experience because I want to be a producer,” Hernandez said.

CNBC vice president of talent development and senior executive producer Mary Duffy moderated a panel with some of the company’s experts, like Nasdaq reporter Bertha Coombs, assistant managing editor Ellen Egeth and editorial director of digital properties Matthew Rosoff. The panelists discussed their teams’ editorial processes, such as morning meeting pitches for the assignment desk, social media strategy and how CNBC merges television content with digital.

The workshop had attendees simulate a day’s news cycle. Teams of participants were paired with a member of the CNBC panel and they discussed breaking news stories of the day. Participants then pitched their stories to the panel, simulating the CNBC editorial process for multiple platforms.

Workshop attendee pitching a business stories to a panel of CNBC professionals

Nicholas Kjeldgaard of NBC7 San Diego says the workshop was a great opportunity to hear from the producers and talent. “It’s a lot to learn about every single aspect of it,” Kjeldgaard said.” Not just the broadcast side but also the web and digital and social media.”

Ayanna Runcie, a recent graduate of the Columbia School of Journalism, says she wishes she had more time with recruiters. “I think the two-minute interview was great because she was very approachable and I was able to have a conversation. Only thing is I just wish is was longer,” Runcie said.

National Association of Hispanic Journalists president Brandon Benavides helped bring the workshop to EIJ to connect the company with diverse candidates.

“This is something that has been ongoing,” Benavides said. “I’m happy that they’re doing it. We are working to continue the partnership together.”

CNBC even brought out the carpet president Obama walked on for his presidential debate, which Mary Duffy said they now use to welcome other presidential candidates and CNBC Business News Associate attendees.