NYC Mayor's Office of Media and Entertainment Announces Spring 2026 "Made in NY" Talks - MOME
Source: https://www.nyc.gov/site/mome/news/02182026-made-in-ny-talks.page
Archived: 2026-04-23 17:15
NYC Mayor's Office of Media and Entertainment Announces Spring 2026 "Made in NY" Talks - MOME
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NYC Mayor's Office of Media and Entertainment Announces Spring 2026 "Made in NY" Talks
Signature Series with Focus on Job Opportunities for New Yorkers Returns;
Full Schedule Available at
https://www.centerforcommunication.org/calendar
NEW YORK, February 18, 2026 - The NYC Mayor's Office of Media and Entertainment (MOME) is pleased to announce the Spring 2026 schedule for the "Made in NY" Talks series. Presented in partnership with the Center for Communication, the series brings together industry leaders to share insights, information and news with New Yorkers looking to work in the media and entertainment industries. The talks are in-person, free and open to the public.
Spring 2026 panels include:
Inside Hearst: Multimedia Journalism & Entertainment
Tuesday, March 3, 6:30 to 8:00 PM
Hearst Tower, 300 West 57th Street (at 8th Avenue)
Hear directly from the innovators shaping Hearst’s diverse portfolio of television stations, magazine titles, and daily newspapers as they reveal how their iconic brands are thriving across today’s ever-evolving media landscape. Leading digital experts will share how they craft standout content, grow loyal audiences in a fiercely competitive marketplace, and what it takes to break into this cutting-edge industry.
Francisco Bernard
, Audience Development Director, Hearst Television
Katelyn Lunders
, Digital Director, Delish, Hearst Magazines
Tainaya Nash
, Associate Director, Internal Communications, FitchRatings
Jayden Nguyen
, Trending Reporter, CT Insider, Hearst Newspapers
Moderator: Rachel Kay
, Chief People Officer, Hearst
RSVP to attend this free event
Behind the Curtain: Careers in Theater and Live Entertainment
Monday, March 9, 6:30 to 8:00 PM
SVA Theatre, 333 West 23rd Street (between 8th and 9th Avenues)
There are many different roles that are crucial to ensuring that the show goes on. Hear from the creatives who work backstage, as they share the skills needed to produce successful performances of live theater and entertainment.
Panelists:
Jenny Gersten,
VP & Artistic Director, Musical Theater, New York City Center
Alex Volckhausen,
Stage Manager (
Wicked
,
Hamilton
); Trustee (New York Philharmonic, The Public Theater)
Stephanie Sciandra Smith
, Vice President, Creative, Situation
Moderator: Adam Natale,
Director, SVA Theatre
RSVP to attend this free event
Video Games: Immersive Entertainment
Thursday, March 19, 6:30 to 8:00 PM
SVA Theatre, 333 West 23rd Street (between 8th and 9th Avenues)
Hear from designers and producers that create gaming experiences that transport players to another world. Learn the skills needed to create cutting edge graphics that combine game flow, fully developed storylines, and realistic settings.
Panelists:
Justin Ghio,
Senior Manager, Talent Sourcing, Take-Two Interactive, 2K Games & Zynga
Evan Hernandez,
Founder, Vibe XP; Creative Director, The Coldest Winter
Mitu Khandaker
, Game Designer & Engineer; Associate Professor, NYU Game Center; Director, NYU Game Design Future Lab
Vassiliki Khonsari
, Producer, Director & Writer, iNK Stories
Moderator:
Elaine Gómez
, Founder and Game Director, Midnight Hour Games; President, Latinx in Gaming
Other panelists to be announced
RSVP to attend this free event
Looking Back: Historical Storytelling
Tuesday, March 31, 6:30 to 8:00 PM
BRIC Arts Media, 647 Fulton Street, Brooklyn
As our country approaches its 250th anniversary, creators and journalists share how they inform people on historical events through podcasts, documentaries, journalism, and entertainment programming. If you’re a history buff, learn how you can create content that goes beyond the classroom to educate people about the past.
Panelists:
Salimah El-Amin
, Producer, Florentine Films
Syreeta Gates
, Founder and Archivist, The Gates Preserve and Most Incredible Studio
Dossie McCraw,
Executive Producer, History That Doesn’t Suck with Professor Greg Jackson
Moderator: Cameo George,
Documentary Filmmaker
RSVP to attend this free event
Advertising and Marketing for the Public Good
Monday, April 20, 6:30 to 8:00 PM
The New School, Theresa Lang Community and Student Center, Arnhold Hall, 55 West 13th Street, 2nd Floor
Advertising and marketing agencies are helping more and more brands take a strong stance on issues and causes that cater to the public interest. 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.
Troy Blackwell
, Public Relations Executive; Advisory Board Member, Google Changemakers; Fundraising Co-Chair, LGBTQ Victory Fund
Jenifer Willig,
CEO, Partner & Founder, WRTHY
Gabriella Zutrau
, Digital Strategy Advisor, Zohran Mamdani's 2025 NYC mayoral campaign
Moderator: Camila Brango
, Director of Community, Center for Communication
Other panelists to be announced.
RSVP to attend this free event
Previous "Made in NY" Talks can be viewed on MOME's website
Mayor's Office of Media and Entertainment
311
Search all NYC.gov websites
Menu
Text-Size
Search
News & Reports
Press Releases
Press Releases
News Updates
Studies and Industry Reports
Public Awareness Campaigns
MOME Year End Highlights
Share
NYC Mayor's Office of Media and Entertainment Announces Spring 2026 "Made in NY" Talks
Signature Series with Focus on Job Opportunities for New Yorkers Returns;
Full Schedule Available at
https://www.centerforcommunication.org/calendar
NEW YORK, February 18, 2026 - The NYC Mayor's Office of Media and Entertainment (MOME) is pleased to announce the Spring 2026 schedule for the "Made in NY" Talks series. Presented in partnership with the Center for Communication, the series brings together industry leaders to share insights, information and news with New Yorkers looking to work in the media and entertainment industries. The talks are in-person, free and open to the public.
Spring 2026 panels include:
Inside Hearst: Multimedia Journalism & Entertainment
Tuesday, March 3, 6:30 to 8:00 PM
Hearst Tower, 300 West 57th Street (at 8th Avenue)
Hear directly from the innovators shaping Hearst’s diverse portfolio of television stations, magazine titles, and daily newspapers as they reveal how their iconic brands are thriving across today’s ever-evolving media landscape. Leading digital experts will share how they craft standout content, grow loyal audiences in a fiercely competitive marketplace, and what it takes to break into this cutting-edge industry.
Francisco Bernard
, Audience Development Director, Hearst Television
Katelyn Lunders
, Digital Director, Delish, Hearst Magazines
Tainaya Nash
, Associate Director, Internal Communications, FitchRatings
Jayden Nguyen
, Trending Reporter, CT Insider, Hearst Newspapers
Moderator: Rachel Kay
, Chief People Officer, Hearst
RSVP to attend this free event
Behind the Curtain: Careers in Theater and Live Entertainment
Monday, March 9, 6:30 to 8:00 PM
SVA Theatre, 333 West 23rd Street (between 8th and 9th Avenues)
There are many different roles that are crucial to ensuring that the show goes on. Hear from the creatives who work backstage, as they share the skills needed to produce successful performances of live theater and entertainment.
Panelists:
Jenny Gersten,
VP & Artistic Director, Musical Theater, New York City Center
Alex Volckhausen,
Stage Manager (
Wicked
,
Hamilton
); Trustee (New York Philharmonic, The Public Theater)
Stephanie Sciandra Smith
, Vice President, Creative, Situation
Moderator: Adam Natale,
Director, SVA Theatre
RSVP to attend this free event
Video Games: Immersive Entertainment
Thursday, March 19, 6:30 to 8:00 PM
SVA Theatre, 333 West 23rd Street (between 8th and 9th Avenues)
Hear from designers and producers that create gaming experiences that transport players to another world. Learn the skills needed to create cutting edge graphics that combine game flow, fully developed storylines, and realistic settings.
Panelists:
Justin Ghio,
Senior Manager, Talent Sourcing, Take-Two Interactive, 2K Games & Zynga
Evan Hernandez,
Founder, Vibe XP; Creative Director, The Coldest Winter
Mitu Khandaker
, Game Designer & Engineer; Associate Professor, NYU Game Center; Director, NYU Game Design Future Lab
Vassiliki Khonsari
, Producer, Director & Writer, iNK Stories
Moderator:
Elaine Gómez
, Founder and Game Director, Midnight Hour Games; President, Latinx in Gaming
Other panelists to be announced
RSVP to attend this free event
Looking Back: Historical Storytelling
Tuesday, March 31, 6:30 to 8:00 PM
BRIC Arts Media, 647 Fulton Street, Brooklyn
As our country approaches its 250th anniversary, creators and journalists share how they inform people on historical events through podcasts, documentaries, journalism, and entertainment programming. If you’re a history buff, learn how you can create content that goes beyond the classroom to educate people about the past.
Panelists:
Salimah El-Amin
, Producer, Florentine Films
Syreeta Gates
, Founder and Archivist, The Gates Preserve and Most Incredible Studio
Dossie McCraw,
Executive Producer, History That Doesn’t Suck with Professor Greg Jackson
Moderator: Cameo George,
Documentary Filmmaker
RSVP to attend this free event
Advertising and Marketing for the Public Good
Monday, April 20, 6:30 to 8:00 PM
The New School, Theresa Lang Community and Student Center, Arnhold Hall, 55 West 13th Street, 2nd Floor
Advertising and marketing agencies are helping more and more brands take a strong stance on issues and causes that cater to the public interest. 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.
Troy Blackwell
, Public Relations Executive; Advisory Board Member, Google Changemakers; Fundraising Co-Chair, LGBTQ Victory Fund
Jenifer Willig,
CEO, Partner & Founder, WRTHY
Gabriella Zutrau
, Digital Strategy Advisor, Zohran Mamdani's 2025 NYC mayoral campaign
Moderator: Camila Brango
, Director of Community, Center for Communication
Other panelists to be announced.
RSVP to attend this free event
Previous "Made in NY" Talks can be viewed on MOME's website