Meet Lauren Pak! She is a junior at Virginia Tech, as well as a Collegiate Representative for The New York Times. Check out her experience as a brand rep.
Lauren Pak
The New York Times Collegiate Representative
Junior, Virginia Tech
1. Why did you want to be a New York Times Collegiate Ambassador?
An aspiring journalist and a loyal reader of The New York Times since I first dedicated myself to working in media (I’ve been a longtime fan of the email alerts), the opportunity to work for one of the nation’s oldest and most respected news organizations was one I jumped at. I am honored and enthusiastic to be part of The New York Times, learning from them and representing them on my campus.
2. What has been your favorite part of the program so far?
The three-day summit at The New York Times headquarters in New York City was a really awesome experience. I left feeling motivated and inspired to continue to pursue journalism. The speakers were experienced and entertaining, and I was a little starstruck hearing the stories of “real” journalists and New York Times employees. Touring the newsroom and offices made me imagine actually working there after graduating!
3. What is your favorite section of The New York Times
Currently, I’ve been staying updated with the migrant humanitarian situation in the European Union, so “World” has been the first section I read. As an International Studies minor, I think it’s extremely important to engage in international news and am especially interested in staying informed about the crisis. With the start of New York Fashion Week, “Style” has become the second go-to section.
4. Why do you think it is important for brands to reach college students?
College students are a unique and important audience for most brands and organizations to research and analyze. Representative of the frequently analyzed millennial generation, understanding their (our) perspective in reference to an organization is vital and can be indicative of successes and trends. The college audience is a concentrated but diverse group: it is a generation with the power to influence the future.
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