Fast Five: Francesca Gilbard ‘26GS on Finding Her Voice at NBC
A rising senior, Francesca Gilbard ‘26GS reflects on her cross-cultural journey, her summer internship with NBC's Nightly News, and how speaking up in the newsroom has shaped her growth as a journalist.
Welcome to Fast Five: Rapid-fire, insightful interviews with GS students and alumni!
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Immediately upon stepping into the fast-paced newsroom of NBCUniversal, Francesca Gilbard ‘26GS discovered the power of pitching stories and watching them reach a national audience.
A rising senior in the Dual BA Program with Sciences Po, Gilbard draws on her cross-cultural academic journey (from a French school in Texas, to studying international history and political science at Columbia, alongside her Sciences Po coursework) to shape her voice as a journalist. From her campus involvement, to her summer internship at NBC's "Nightly News," Gilbard shares what inspires her work as a student journalist, the importance of speaking up in the newsroom, and how global perspectives fuel her pursuit of truth.
Tell us your GS story in one sentence!
Despite no one in my family speaking French, I grew up going to a French school in Texas, my high school summers abroad evolving into a +33 phone number and a Sciences Po student ID!
You spent this summer at NBCUniversal as an intern at Nightly News. What did a typical day at your internship look like for you?
From being featured on the TODAY Show to doing my anchor read in Studio 1A, I’ve learned it’s hard to predict how any day will unfold—and the same is true for the news cycle. In the newsroom, ideas are king, so I’m always working on my next pitch, interviewing sources and preparing correspondents for shoots. Otherwise, I’m looped in on day-of-air production, with a focus on international stories. The day usually ends with watching the newscast, sometimes from the control room or Studio 1A. When I’m not at my desk, I’m exploring the labyrinth that is 30 Rock—from hanging out on the SNL set to soaking in a view of Central Park from the 53rd floor. And sometimes I’ll even spot a celebrity or two, like Sydney Sweeney and Addison Rae.
What has been the most challenging project or story you've worked on during your internship?
I had never emailed the executive producer before—until my interview with an online influencer, detailing her health insurance denial, raised some brows. What began as a DM turned into a greenlight from Tom Llamas, the anchor of our show. After much preparation, an entire crew flew out to Utah to interview the influencer and her doctor. While the learning curve was steep, I watched with wonder as my first pitch aired on national TV. It was followed by a surge in Google searches for the term “lipedema, ” a long under-recognized medical condition whose only cure is a liposuction surgery—which the influencer was seeking. What I love most about this story is that it leaves us with more questions than answers. Did the cosmetic lean of the surgery contribute to the insurance denial? Sounds like a call for more investigative journalism!
How has this internship helped you grow personally and professionally?
“The world needs to see this,” I thought to myself, captivated by the footage coming in from our NBC team in Gaza. But we were only allotted one minute and 15 seconds in the broadcast, which meant the same videos that compelled me, including an interview with an American doctor, were going to be buried in our producer archives. Frustrated, I took my concern to the executive vice president of news, who turned out to be the perfect sounding board. What aired as a short blip on Nightly News evolved into 7 minutes of fearless journalism on NBC’s streaming platforms. What I learned? My idea was only as good as my willingness to vocalize it—and that takeaway transcends broadcast television.
What are you looking forward to the most heading into your senior year at GS?
I look forward to doing all of my favorite Columbia traditions—Night Market, Surf ‘n Turf, Homecoming—one last time. This past year, I saw a whopping 10 shows with ‘GS Goes to Broadway’ (guess my favorite), so I’m curious to see if I can top that in my final year. I’m also excited to join the GS peer advising team, so look out for me in the GS lounge! As far as classes go, I’m especially thrilled to be taking Hilary Clinton’s class at SIPA; it’s a dream come true!