Meet our latest Champion for Good Jackie Padilla, an Associate Producer for NowThis News. See what Jackie had to say about covering important, relevant stories and how she brings social good to her daily work.
Q: How have you worked with the Ad Council? What campaign(s) have you supported and what was the project you worked on with us?
Jackie Padilla: I have produced a number of stories for the news outlet NowThis, which cover Ad Council campaigns including #BringGoodHome, Seize The Awkward, and Smokey Bear’s 75th Birthday.
Q: How do you or your team integrate social good into your work, or how do you think your brand is making the world a better place? Why do you think it’s important for brands to have a corporate social responsibility plan in the world we live in?
JP: As a journalist, I strive to cover under reported stories on women, sustainability, and mental health awareness. I enjoy informing NowThis’s huge young audience about people around the world who are working to better their communities. In today's social realm and political climate, I think it's crucial to report on stories in a way that is informative, factual, and fosters important conversations about our responsibility to our communities.
Q: If you were giving a commencement speech to this year’s college graduates, what would you want them to know?
JP: If I were to deliver a commencement speech to this year's college graduates, I would want them to know that networking is only valuable if it's supported by authentic intentions. In the media industry, I've learned that connections are the lifeline to every and any opportunity, and there are so many people who want to help others thrive. But with any relationship, it's never a one-way street. A connection shouldn't be just to help you get that next job, or to score a great story. A connection is a valuable asset that can serve as the foundation for a lifelong, evolving relationship, that helps us personally and professionally grow alongside those who truly want us to succeed. And from there, you pay it forward.
Connections are the lifeline to every and any opportunity, and there are so many people who want to help others thrive.
Q: What age would you want to meet up with your former self, and what advice would you give to that younger you?
JP: If I had the chance to meet my former self, I would meet 13-year-old Jackie and tell her to never apologize for explaining how she feels, or showing passion for something she cares about.
Q: How has your organization improved or innovated the digital landscape in the last year?
JP: As a news outlet, NowThis is focused on humanizing our complicated world for young audiences. In keeping with that mission, I am most proud of my outlet’s attention to communities that are too often underreported on. Every day, we work to report on the perspectives of women whose messages may not have been previously shared on a global scale, and we do so via innovation across social platforms where young people are spending their time. From our in-depth reporting and daily news show to magazine-style Snapchat stories and Instagram takeovers, NowThis uses video to create deeply resonant stories that audiences connect with. As a woman of color, I know the importance and value of hearing from women from different cultures and communities, and I am excited to work with an outlet that is doing so every day.
Q: What can we look forward to from your organization this year?
JP: In 2020, we can expect to see NowThis continue to report on stories that are diverse, thoughtful, informative, and touch on the issues that young people care deeply about, like the climate crisis, equality and gun safety.
Q: You’re planning a “Change the World” dinner party and you can invite anyone (living, dead or fictional). Who are three people on your list?
JP: If I were to host a 'Change the World' dinner party, my three guests would be Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Pocahontas, and Selena Quintanilla Pérez.
Q: Tell us what you hope to see more of or experience more of in the next year, using only emojis.
JP: ✨❤️🎥