Opening Doors to an Exciting Career with ABC News at NABJ
Are you attending the National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ) conference this year? ABC News wants to meet you! Danielle, an Emmy Award-winning Senior Manager of Field Operations at ABC News, shares her advice:
“Don’t hesitate to reach out to Disney and ABC News to explore the wide range of opportunities available. Be proactive, stay curious and take advantage of mentorship, networking programs and opportunities—they can open doors to an exciting and fulfilling career.”
Danielle grew up in the Bronx, and she has always been a fan of Disney and visiting the Disney Parks. Her admiration for ABC News began early, inspired by trailblazing journalists like Mal Goode and Max Robinson, and she dreamed of one day joining the team. Her love for broadcast media began in high school, where she discovered photography and editing through a broadcasting class. However, Danielle’s passion for journalism was solidified during her time at the University of Michigan, where she served as the executive producer of the student-run television newscast. This experience gave her a firsthand look at the power of storytelling and the impact of news.
Today, in her role at ABC News, Danielle oversees both union and non-union teams, manages technical equipment and field deployments, and ensures a collaborative and inclusive workplace. Her leadership philosophy blends inclusiveness, collaboration and mentorship to foster a healthy and diverse environment.
Over the past year, her team has experienced significant growth while strengthening their partnerships and collaboration with key stakeholders. They’ve provided engineering support for a range of high-profile remote events, including severe weather coverage, the Good Morning America (GMA) 5K Race and the Sean Combs trial. These opportunities have allowed her team to demonstrate adaptability, technical expertise and teamwork under pressure.
One of the most impactful projects Danielle worked on this year was assisting with coverage of the LA fires and contributing to the production of the GMA – SoCal Strong special. It was a powerful reminder of the importance of storytelling and our involvement in the community.
Danielle is excited to return to the NABJ conference! Last year, Danielle represented ABC News at the Storytellers Summit and the career booth during the event. She plans to continue to stay involved this year as a 2024 NABJ Leadership Mentoring Program graduate and vice-chair of the NABJ Visual Task Force.
For those attending the conference, she recommends reviewing the panel schedule in advance to plan your time effectively. “Try to schedule networking opportunities before the conference, if possible,” she advises. “Most importantly, have fun and enjoy the experience with friends and colleagues.”
To Danielle, ABC News’ presence at journalism conferences like NABJ reflects the company’s commitment to supporting the growth and development of journalists. She believes that initiatives like sponsoring the NABJ Leadership Academy Mentoring Program help build a strong pipeline of future talent and foster meaningful industry connections.
Be sure to connect with recruiters and ambassadors from ABC News and ESPN all conference long at NABJ 2025 from Aug. 6-10 in Cleveland, OH!
