SEBASTIAN VEGA

My name is Sebastian Vega, I'm from San Antonio and I study broadcast and digital journalism at the University of Southern California in Los Angeles.

I'm a forward-thinking multimedia journalist passionate about making innovative and engaging content for the digital age of media consumption. As a young journalist aspiring to be pioneer in social media-native news, I'm always looking for ways to strengthen my knowledge on composing content.

While interning at NBC Nightly News, I produced the social story above which received over 29 million views.

To acquire a balanced skill set, I strive to familiarize myself with every facet of producing and reporting for digital, television, radio and print journalism. In order to do this, I'm very much involved with all sides of the field. Even with these experiences, I'd still like to learn more about journalism to see how I can positively influence the field as it emerges as well as peoples lives as they consume news in new ways.

My drive to be a successful journalist stems from childhood dreams. Throughout my life, I've faced barriers that I have had to overcome in order to succeed. Not too long into elementary school, I realized that the situations I was dealing with at home, such as my mother's mental illnesses, having no father, being a low-income student, and my grandparents' death were not common to my peers. As I dealt with these struggles, however, I understood that I wanted to make a positive change in the world, yet I didn't understand how.


After leading various organizations in high school, I strengthened my ability to be accountable for multiple students and effectively communicate to members. As I led, I built a forte in public speaking.

Knowing that I wanted to make a change in the world, I quickly noticed it was going to occur through communicating with others. Seeing how journalists can use their work to positively impact lives around them, I realized that the profession was exactly what I had been longing for.

In college, I've stayed true to my intentions; I want to help people and positively change the world though journalism. To grow in my profession, I've been determined to find beneficial opportunities that align with my mission. I've held internships at NBC Nightly News in New York City, NBC's West Coast flagship station, NBC Los Angeles, and NPR's daily statewide news show for Texas, Texas Standard, at Austin's NPR affiliate, KUT. I currently serve on the National Association of Hispanic Journalists' board of directors as the organization's national student representative. I'm also the president for the National Association of Hispanic Journalists at USC (NAHJ USC).




Through my hardships, journalism jobs and leadership positions, I've gained multiple qualities that make up who I am, however my learning hasn't all come from hands-on experiences - advise and guidance from mentors and media professionals has played a big part in my success. My experiences and interactions with others have sculpted me into the driven student and journalist I work hard to present today.

Through resistance, I've fought past hardships to reach my goals. By pushing through obstacles in my life, I've been able to broaden my views and recognize multiple perspectives, which are important components to an effective leader and journalist. With my evolving set of skills, newly acquired traits and my chosen career of journalism, reaching my goal of making a change in the world never looked more achievable.