Name: Emily (McAdam) Maleki
Education: B.A. History, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill; M.A. Journalism, University of Southern California
SFS Program: Kenya Summer 1999
Profession: Journalist and Producer

Why did you choose SFS as a study abroad program?
SFS Kenya was the perfect program for me, because I always wanted to study wildlife resource management in Africa. I remember walking through the hallways of my university and seeing an SFS poster on a bulletin board. Boom. I knew what I needed to do. Finally, the right program, the right fit. Many of my friends were off to Europe for a semester, but I really wanted to focus my studies on Africa. Moreover, I strongly believed in the SFS mission and felt excited about the curriculum. I mean, developing a management plan for Kimana Wildlife Sanctuary -- what an honor and what an assignment!

Reflecting back on your time in the program, what did you gain from your SFS experience?
Courage, hope, and a real spirit for adventure. My experience at SFS allowed me to foster the gutsy side of myself -- the side that loves to explore, to meet new people, and to learn. This translated into confidence and, more importantly, a new angle for viewing the world. As a result, I knew my future career should involve truth-finding in unexplored corners of the world.

What is your most profound or lasting memory from your SFS program?
There are so many. I remember hiking to the top of a hill and watching the sun rise over Amboseli National Park. The sky was covered with orange and purple streaks and hippos grunted in the lagoons below. (Cat Steven's song Morning Has Broken took on a whole new meaning.) This was an image of hope of such beauty. I felt so alive, so lucky. I had made it.

I remember digging a ditch with women of the Kamba tribe. They were beautiful, strong, noble women who taught me the importance of hard physical work, and to be strong in mind and body. I had such a difficult time pushing the shovel into that hard soil. Physically, I was so much weaker. The women laughed, their smiles stretched wide, and we helped each other. We felt so satisfied when we completed the project that day under the hot sun. Teamwork took on a whole new meaning. I had reached far beyond my own backyard to help others and, more importantly, to learn some lessons in the process. Thank you to the women of the Kamba tribe. 

What do you do for work?
After nearly five years at NBC, most recently as associate producer of the Today Show, I am now transitioning into documentary production.

What was a typical day like for you at the Today Show?
Each day, I collaborated with a production team to assemble high-profile national news stories for an estimated audience of 6.5 million. In the morning, I would receive a call or email from the senior producer about my assignment for that day. Then I was off running! We had very aggressive deadlines, as the piece would almost always air the following day. I immediately started working the phones to book guests, coordinate crews and conduct interviews. In the meantime, we would delve into research, track down important footage and take in feeds from all over the country. This all involved close work among the lead producer, associate producer, correspondent, and editor. Facts must be perfect, everything must be perfect. This is journalism. Late into the evening (and often into the wee hours of the morning) the editor and lead producer would 'cut' or edit the piece together and then feed it to New York to air just in time for you to watch as you sit down for your morning cereal.

Describe an interesting project you’ve worked on.
Coverage of the San Diego Wildfires in 2007 changed me forever: the unfathomable devastation; the sheer terror of helplessly watching communities burning to the ground. I'll never forget an entire street corner covered in white ash, as though from a snow storm; people begging the police to let them go into their neighborhoods to check on their homes; individuals risking their lives to find their pets or recover belongings. Yet, paradoxically, the experience did offer hope. I met a couple who had lost everything when their home had burned to the ground. But the wife looked at me and said, "It's just stuff. We are alive. We'll rebuild." 

What are the two most essential skills that got you to your position?
Diligence and passion. Someone once told me, "Just keep your head down and work hard." Sounds simple, but in order to succeed, you really need to be willing to show what you've got through dedication and HARD work. (And I mean long hours away from family and friends in strange but exciting places.) This comes more easily when you truly love what you do. So, take some time and soul search! Understand what kind of work excites you, so you can create a plan of action to enter into that field. I knew I wanted to end up with NBC News, so I applied for an internship. This gave me the opportunity to work hard, to show my dedication and to network with amazing producers and news veterans. My first job out of graduate school resulted because of the contacts I made during my first internship.

What advice do you have for other SFS alumni looking to get into your field? 
Be ready to take risks; be ready for adventure. Every single day is different in news production, so you need to be prepared for anything. Have a bag packed in the car in case you need to jump on a plane that night unexpectedly. Get ready to cancel dinner plans when that breaking story hits. Be prepared to head for hurricanes or fires when everyone on the highway is driving the opposite direction. Truly, be ready to be open and to commit your heart, body, and mind to the business. Finding the right balance is difficult, but many journalists pull it off and you can too if you really believe in the trade, if you find support in your family and friends and, mostly, if you have a passion and love for news coverage. Many journalists and producers couldn't imagine being anywhere but where the big story breaks.