Initiatives
April 20, 2021
NBCUniversal takes pride in creating opportunities in the media industry. One way we do this is through our diverse talent pipeline programs which identify and engage creative talent from a wide array of backgrounds. The programs cover a range of positions, including directors, writers, actors, music composers, and journalists.
Talent Development - Film
Launched in 2017, Global Talent Development & Inclusion Universal Filmed Entertainment Group’s diversity and inclusion efforts across Universal Pictures, Focus Features, DreamWorks Animation, Fandango, and Rotten Tomatoes. The team develops up and coming talent through programs such as the Universal Writers Program, Universal Animation Writers Program, Universal Directors Initiative, and Universal Composers Initiative.
Talent Development - Television
NBCUniversal provides talented creative individuals with developmental opportunities across television programs, including the Diverse Staff Writers Initiative, Emerging Director Program, Casting Apprenticeship, Late Night Writers Workshop, and Writers on the Verge.
NBC’s Female Forward initiative aims to give female directors a pipeline into scripted television. We believe that collectively we can achieve gender parity among directors of scripted series by systematically increasing the number of experienced women in the field.
The Production Associates Program is designed to give top diverse talent real-world production experience. Associates are assigned to the set of an unscripted show and fully integrated into the day-to-day operations.
The Flip the Script A Monologue Contest, presented by Universal Content Productions, is a talent competition created to identify and develop diverse on-air talent. The program provides a unique opportunity for entry within scripted platforms across NBCUniversal networks (USA, SYFY, and Bravo) and for linear and streaming platforms across the industry.
The NBC News & MSNBC News Associates Programis an opportunity for those interested in a career in news production. Participants work on programs or platforms on a rotational basis consisting of several long-term placements such as at a nightly news program, a morning news program, a cable news program, a digital platform, at an assignment desk, or on a longform program.
The CNBC News Associates Program is a postgraduate opportunity designed to give participants real-world news experience. Aspiring journalists with diverse backgrounds hone research skills, work on developing news stories, and participate in field and studio production on a variety of news programs.
The Technology Apprenticeship Program is a rotational program for recent broadcast technology graduates with a strong desire to learn and work on technical aspects of live television. The primary purpose of this program is to build a diverse pipeline of entry level talent within our Sports Group division who are passionate about broadcast and technology.
