Lauren Hagen ’26
The dual major in Communications and Media Studies turned an internship into a full-time job at the streaming channel NBC News Now.
“Career Development really set me on the path to get where I am now. They showed me how to write a cover letter, and made sure my résumé was proper, and I had the correct resources to find my internship.”
From Purchase to 30 Rock
Lauren Hagen ’26 has landed her dream job. She’s been hired full-time at the NBC News Now show, Top Story with Tom Llamas, as a production assistant, where she’s been interning since last September.
A dual major in Communications and Media Studies with a minor in Journalism, Hagen knew back in high school she wanted a career in the news. “I’ve always loved the news. I love the concept of being able to help and share what’s important in the world,” she says.
Persistence Pays
The Staten Island native applied for NBC Universal internships repeatedly, beginning sophomore year. She first visited the Career Development Center, where staff helped her build a résumé, write a cover letter, and point her toward the NBC Universal careers page. It took several rounds of applications to multiple NBC opportunities and to other outlets before landing the NBC News Now internship. “It was a lot of rejections to get to this point,” she says.
When she finally advanced to NBC’s competitive interview process, Associate Professor of Communications Megan Rossman allowed her to use the broadcast TV studio to record her video submission and coached her on how to present herself. “It looked very professional. I think that definitely helped.” Two more interviews followed before she heard the news.
Real Work in the Real World
At NBC, Hagen does real work: booking guests, writing copy for on-air reporters, gathering footage, and helping build the show’s daily rundown. Her ability to write for television — crafting scripts designed for the ear rather than the page, often under tight time constraints — is something she traces directly to her Communications coursework and three semesters in TV Lab, one as a Teaching Assistant.
It’s why she chose Communications over Journalism: the hands-on TV Production classes, coupled with her preference for the style and pace of scriptwriting for reporters and anchors. “It’s so thrilling, and I thrive under pressure.”
Hagen also has much appreciation for her Journalism professors and classes, especially her experience working on The Beat. “It was my first time writing something that got published.”
Spend a Day in the Life with Lauren as she travels to NYC for her internship.
