"What do you want to be when you grow up?" It's the perennial question at family reunions and holiday dinners. When rising senior and communications major Stacey Klein was asked that question by her boss at CNBC this summer, she finally had the answer. After spending nine weeks at CNBC's Global Headquarters, she replied, "a television news producer."
On Sunday, Aug. 3, the first television production in which she has played a role will air on CNBC at 10 p.m. ET. "Made in China: The People's Republic of Profit," a one-hour original special reported by CNBC's Melissa Lee, will take viewers to the front-lines of business in China. Klein has spent the past five weeks of her internship at CNBC working alongside three producers (Sandy Cannold, Samantha Wright and Justin Solomon), Vice President Jonathan Wald and editor Steve Banton creating the special. The program explores how American companies are capitalizing on the Chinese market and are bringing American goods and services to China. It will air again on Thursday, Aug. 7, at 9 p.m. and 1a.m. ET; Sunday, Aug. 24, at 11 p.m. ET; and Monday, Aug. 25, at 3 a.m. ET.
Klein was an active participant in every aspect of the show's production, from its original 34 tapes to its final edits. She helped the CNBC producers write scripts and promos and chose video clips. She was asked her opinions and views in meetings and edit sessions and ran additional photo shoots under her own direction. While the main producer was out on vacation for three days, she was asked to step in as "producer."
Her efforts did not go unnoticed. Klein was listed in the credits at the end of the show as "production assistant."
One of the best aspects of her internships, Klein says, were "the innumerable opportunities" she was given at CNBC "to work with some of the most brilliant minds in the business." On a daily basis as an assignment desk intern, she worked directly with CNBC reporters, anchors, producers, editors and photographers. "The assignment desk is essentially the hub of the newsroom," Klein explained, "it is where all news is monitored, and breaking news is delivered and reported. All news reported on CNBC stems from the assignment desk, where information is gathered and delivered in an instantaneous manner." Working at the desk, rather than for a particular show, Klein says, has offered her numerous opportunities to work with "anyone and everyone at CNBC."
An example of these opportunities occurred within the first two weeks of her internship. Her boss recommended that she accompany Ramona Schindelheim, executive producer of Power Lunch and Becky Quick, Squawk Box anchor, to the well known Smith & Wollensky Steakhouse in New York City for a CNBC exclusive interview with Warren Buffet, the richest man in the world.
The luncheon is an annual affair which Buffet auctions off for charity. This year, the two winners paid $650,000 in order to dine with Buffet and receive investing tips from the most highly acclaimed investor in the world.
This was not Klein's first glimpse into the inner-workings of NBC Universal. Last summer, she was an intern in NBC's media asset department, an internship she obtained through the Hamilton Career Center via the assistance of an alumnus. Through the contacts she made while at NBC, she was able to network and obtain her current position at CNBC.
Although the airing of "Made in China: The People's Republic of Profit" marked the end of her internship, Stacey's summer is far from over. She will be attending the 2008 Democratic National Convention in Denver, Colorado, with NBC News, where she will act as a paid assistant for the news company. "For most people," Klein says, "August means it's the end of the summer, but for me, I get to start all over again because I am fortunate enough to have the truly once-in-a-lifetime opportunity of going to the DNC."
While there, she will work directly for the NBC producers and anchors reporting from Denver, and she plans to keep the Hamilton Community updated on her experience. "I have had the best summer of my life," she said, "and I still have so much more ahead of me before I return to the Hill!"
