Sister Spotlight: Gaby Ehrens

Gaby Ehrens

NBC

Chicago, Illinois

This summer, I was fortunate enough to receive an internship with NBC in my hometown of Chicago. Before receiving the great news, it was a month long rollercoaster ride trying to figure out where and how I wanted to spend my summer. Deciding between working for the local news station in Columbia or heading home, the decision became easy the second I was offered my dream internship.

“NBC5 Chicago, News planning, this is Gabrielle” is how I usually start my mornings in the Windy City. My official title is News Planning Intern. To summarize my 40-hour weeks into four words would be: I plan the news. Planning the news takes a lot of work. On a regular day I answer phone tips where people call to inform the news of potential stories, leads on current stories, or events that they believe NBC should cover. I also receive a million and one emails a day informing me of the same things. From here, I decipher what is newsworthy and pass along the stories to the producers and reporters who make them happen.

From about the age of 10, when someone asked me what my dream job would be, I would always answer the same way: to be a producer at NBC Chicago. Being able to spend my days on the news floor at my dream station is truly a dream come true (cheesy, I know). It is an amazing experience and I'm hoping that it could one day lead me to attaining my dream job there.

Last week, I got the chance to go along on a special story that NBC was covering. It was about a 7-year-old boy who was receiving his wish from Make a Wish Foundation. He has always wanted to be a pilot, so American Airlines had him and his family come to the airport and gave them a chance to tour all of the planes, and then sent him off to Dallas for flight stimulations. NBC covered this story and aired it on the 4:30pm, 5:00pm, and 10:00pm showings that night. Filming and being a part of something so special that I could help share with the world was an incredible experience.

Next week, I am going to a premiere screening of the new movie Trainwreck, starring Amy Schumer, where I’ll take notes on key parts in the movie and return them back to the reporter who will then conduct interviews with the cast (word on the street is that I’ll be able to shadow the interviews, 

fingers crossed!) Overall, I am so excited to be pursing my dream in the news industry and only hope to grow from here.

         

Delta Love,

                                    

 Gaby Ehrens