Press Releases

Mayor's Office of Media and Entertainment Announces Exciting "Made in NY" Talks Fall 2019 Lineup

Free panels will give New Yorkers the opportunity to hear industry leaders and experts providing insider guidance on careers in television, film, journalism, publishing and advertising industries

NEW YORK - The Mayor's Office of Media and Entertainment (MOME) today announced a fascinating lineup of five new "Made in NY" Talks, for fall 2019, which will begin this Wednesday, September 25. The series will bring together an impressive group of industry leaders ready to share information with talented New Yorkers looking to work in television, film, journalism, publishing, and advertising.

The series of talks, presented in partnership with the Center for Communication, is a fun and informative way to provide all New Yorkers with the background they need pursue careers in media and entertainment.

"The Mayor's Office of Media and Entertainment is dedicated to providing all New Yorkers with opportunities to develop careers in television and film production, publishing, journalism, advertising, video gaming, music, and more," said Anne del Castillo, Commissioner. "We are hope New Yorkers will take advantage of these free events with industry leaders who can provide valuable insight and inspiring anecdotes."

"We are so pleased to continue our partnership with MOME. As our fall lineup displays, this is an alliance that is connecting our incredibly diverse community of young people seeking careers in the industry with the best minds in New York City's media and entertainment community," said J. Max Robins, Executive Director of the Center for Communication.

All events are free and open to the public. Attendees are encouraged to register on the Center for Communication website.

The Fall series includes the following events:

Making Documentaries That Matter
Wednesday, September 25, 6:30 to 8:00 pm
Kumble Theater, LIU Brooklyn, Flatbush Ave. (DeKalb Ave. & Willoughby St.)

Great documentaries expand our understanding of the world and the pressing issues of our time. Award-winning filmmakers share what drives them and how they make documentaries that matter.

Antonino D'Ambrosio, Filmmaker, Author and Visual Artist, We're Still Here: Johnny Cash's Bitter Tears Revisited, Soundhunters, Let Fury Have the Hour, and Frank Serpico.
Blair Foster, Producer and Director, The Clinton Affair, Rolling Stone: Stories from the Edge, and Get Me Roger Stone
Antonio Rossi, Director of Photography, Mr. Dynamite: The Rise of James Brown, Zero Days, The Clinton Affair, and The Inventor: Out for Blood in Silicon Valley
Betsy West, Producer and Director, RBG
Moderator: Cynthia Lopez, Executive Director, New York Women in Film and Television

Where the Journalism Jobs Will Be
Wednesday, October 16, 6:30 to 8:00 pm
SVA Theatre, 333 West 23rd Street (between 8th and 9th Aves.)

Hear from leading news innovators about how publishers and platforms are revitalizing the industry and creating new opportunities for aspiring journalists in an era of massive technological change, declining revenues and political turbulence.

Samhita Mukhopadhyay, Executive Editor, Teen Vogue
Siobhan O'Connor, VP, Editorial, Medium
Holly Ojalvo, Talent Lab Editor, Quartz
Moderator: Kyle Pope, Editor in Chief and Publisher, Columbia Journalism Review

Publishing: From Page to Shelf & Beyond
Monday, November 4, 6:30 to 8:00 pm
The New School, Arnhold Hall, 55 West 13th Street, 2nd Floor (between 5th and 6th Avenues)

Hear top editors, innovative publishers, savvy agents and dynamic booksellers reveal their successful strategies. Discover where the growth will be in the industry and how you can be a part of it.

Dawn Davis, Vice President and Publisher, 37Ink, Simon & Schuster
Alexandra Machinist, Literary Agent, ICM Partners
Annysa Polanco, Manager, Diversity & Inclusion Coordination and Career Outreach Human Resources, Penguin Random House
Emma Straub, Owner, Books Are Magic; author, The Vacationers, Modern Lovers, Laura Lamont's Life in Pictures
Moderator: Peter Catapano, Editor, Opinion Section, The New York Times

Advertising and Marketing in the Public Interest
Wednesday, November 13, 6:30 to 8:00 pm
NYU, Department of Media, Culture, and Communication, 239 Greene Street, 8th Floor (between Washington Place and West 4th Street)

Advertising and marketing agencies are increasingly helping brands take strong stances on issues and causes. Media pros explore how they traverse this new landscape - and discuss how to better connect with consumers' shifting expectations and buying behavior, and how everyone from account executives to creatives play key roles in campaigning for a cause.

Tim Jones, Executive Strategy Director, 72andSunny
Amanda Lehner, Senior Strategist and Co-Owner, HelpGood
Megan Taubeneck, VP of Social Impact, Weber Shandwick
Moderator: Raeshem Nijhon, Founder and Executive Producer, Fictionless

2 Doc Queens: Sheila Nevins & Erin Lee Carr
Wednesday, December 4, 6:30 to 8:00 pm
SVA Theatre, 333 West 23rd Street (between 8th and 9th Aves.)

Moderator: J. Max Robins, Executive Director, Center for Communication

Sheila Nevins has produced dozens of Oscar, Peabody, and Emmy-winning films ("When the Levees Broke," "Citizenfour"). Nevins recently left HBO — after an incredible 38-year run — to lead MTV's new documentary division.
Erin Lee Carr has been prolific in her short career, directing such acclaimed documentaries as "At the Heart of Gold: Inside the USA Gymnastics Scandal," and "I Love You, Now Die: The Commonwealth v Michelle Carter." Join their cross-generational conversation about what they do , and what the future holds for the next generation of documentary filmmakers.

The Made in NY® Talks Series, a program created by The Mayor's Office of Media in partnership with Center for Communication, is a variety of free programs for New Yorkers interested in exploring multiple topics within the media and entertainment industry. Programs focus on film, television, theater and digital media and support the goals of career development, networking, training and recruitment.

The "Made in NY" initiative celebrates New York City's evolving media & entertainment industry, highlighting the importance of the sector to the local economy through public service campaigns, marketing efforts and educational and workforce development programs.

Please see the Center for Communication's website for more information about this season's talks. Previous "Made in NY" Talks can be viewed on MOME's website.