Noah Apodaca will begin his senior year at New Mexico State University this fall after securing an internship with NBC Sports during the Paris 2024 Olympics in July and August.
"I'm just really excited," Apodaca said. "I grew up watching the big networks, CBS, NBC, ABC. And now to have the opportunity to work alongside very talented and skilled media professionals is a very big privilege."
NMSU is among several universities partnering with NBCU Academy on internships, training, and development programs focused on diversity, equity, and inclusion.
"Beyond equipment and scholarships, it’s fantastic that our students have access to world-class journalists and executives across NBC’s various outlets," said Amy Lanasa, interim department head for journalism and media studies. "This is a great opportunity for hands-on learning and mentorship for our students."
Apodaca will spend a month working as part of a team involved in streaming Olympic events online.
"I won't be working in Paris; I will be working in Stamford, Connecticut, in the NBC Sports hub office," said Apodaca. "My responsibilities will involve digital streaming operations, helping to make sure the streams are running smoothly."
Apodaca chose NMSU because of its reputation for strong programs in broadcast journalism and digital media. He has worked as a reporter and forecaster on NMSU’s News22 program, a student-run newscast produced and anchored by students with guidance from journalism professors Hugo Perez and Nick Miller.
"Even though it’s a college newsroom, that understanding extends to larger, more sophisticated operations as well," said Miller, director of News22 for the last 12 years. "Noah has done considerable anchoring at News22, both news and weather. He recently won the NMBA (New Mexico Broadcast Association) award for best college weathercast. Noah has natural talent, but I like to believe the experience of being on the air has made him more comfortable in all aspects of television, giving him the confidence to apply for the NBC internship."
"Our Department of Journalism and Media Studies has a great partnership with NBC Universal and NBCU Academy," Apodaca said. "By working within our department alongside NBCU, I realized I want to be part of an organization that is able to really capture their audience and just tell stories from a different perspective."
Although he has worked in other internships with El Paso TV news stations and U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich's office, Apodaca was initially intimidated knowing that students from large schools like UCLA and Arizona State University were also applying for the same internship.
"I didn’t think I was going to get it; then I made it to the next stage interview," Apodaca said. "Then I got the call saying 'Congratulations, you got the job.' That was my very first preliminary welcome to the NBC team."
The biggest challenge Apodaca anticipates will be working on the East Coast. A Las Cruces native who has never lived elsewhere before looks forward to stepping outside his comfort zone while being close to New York City.
Apodaca has taken every opportunity at NMSU to expand his experience. In addition to broadcasting roles, he was a staff writer for The Round Up student newspaper as well as writing for Kokopelli online magazine. He credits journalism professor Darren Phillips' guidance in applying for various internships.
He attributes his confidence in applying for hands-on internships to his professors’ support and encouragement. Whether this internship will influence his future career toward broadcasting remains open.
"Working within the media industry is something that I've always been kind of geared toward," Apodaca said. "I've always had an attraction to the industry but I'm definitely taking everything as it comes—just soaking up experiences over this next year before graduation to see where the path leads."
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CUTLINE: Noah Apodaca is among several students across the country selected for an internship with NBC Sports during its coverage of the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris.
(NMSU photo by Josh Bachman)