Natalie Kainz
Multimedia Journalist
Natalie Kainz is a visual journalist currently working as a Production Assistant at NBC News' Top Story with Tom Llamas. She graduated from Yale with honors in Political Science and is currently based in New York.
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Natalie's reporting experience is split across her hometown Hong Kong and her current home in the U.S. She has worked for CNN International Productions, NBC Nightly News, The South China Morning Post, and the New Haven Independent. She was also the Multimedia Managing Editor of the Yale Daily News from 2021-2022. She's passionate about reporting on international affairs, culture, and technology.
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Scroll to see her portfolio.
PRODUCING
I produced the first 11 minute block of this feature on African boxers for the CNN International show 'African Voices Changemakers'. I wrote the script for the segment, selected soundbites and footage, and saw the story through to final edits.
I produced this 5 minute block about Gen-Z climate activist Melati Wijsen for the CNN International show 'Going Green'. I wrote the script, selected soundbites and b-roll, and directed the edit.
I pitched this story to Top Story with Tom Llamas, and went to the shoot in Nashville with another producer and correspondent. I lined up the interviewees, planned the shoot, and manned one of the cameras during the shoot. I also wrote the article associated with the package, and helped script and get the package on air. It aired across 3 shows on NBC News Now.
I sourced this story, conducted the interviews, wrote the script and picked the bites for this story which aired on Television Broadcasts Limited in Hong Kong. I also voiced it and did the standup.
I produced this 2-minute story about the US' heaviest pumpkin for NBC Nightly News: Kids Edition. My segment runs from 18:25-20:15. I interviewed record holder Travis Geinger over Zoom, chose the soundbites, sourced the visuals and wrote the script for the story.
I sourced this story, conducted the interviews, wrote the script and picked the bites for this story which aired on Television Broadcasts Limited in Hong Kong. I also voiced it and did the standup.
I produced this project about people migrating to the United States from Hong Kong for the Asian American Journalist Association's Voices Fellowship. I pitched and planned the project, conducted the interviews, shot the footage, edited it together.
I made this video to accompany a profile I wrote about a former Mayoral candidate in New Haven. I produced, shot, and edited the video, and conducted all of the interviews.
I sourced this story, conducted the interviews, wrote the script and picked the bites for this story which aired on Television Broadcasts Limited in Hong Kong. I also voiced it and did the standup.
I produced this video about a protest led by local workers' unions against the Yale Administration. I pitched and planned the project, conducted the interviews, shot the footage, edited it together. I also piloted the drone.
I produced this video about a protest led by students for the Black Lives Matter Movement. I pitched and planned the project, conducted the interviews, shot the footage, edited it together.
I made this video to accompany an aritcle I wrote about local Asian grocery stores in New Haven. I produced, shot, and edited the video, and conducted all of the interviews.
I made this video to support the article I wrote (linked above) about a family that opened a Syrian Pizza Restaurant in Westville, New Haven. They lost their original business to a bombing.
I produced this video after visiting a bread factory in New Haven, where a local bakery gets its supplies delivered every morning.
I made this video to accompany an article I wrote for the New Haven Independent about a local New Haven ramen restaurant. I pitched and planned the project, conducted the interviews, shot the footage, edited it together.
Inside a new fast-food Puerto Rican restaurant on Whalley, Chef Raul Santiago combines richly seasoned pork fried rice, pinto beans, and oven-marinated pork onto a plate. He then tops the entire dish off with a large serving of sweet plantains.
Opera singer Charlie Widmer, a rising performer from the New Haven scene, performed with the New Haven Symphony Orchestra outside the Canal Dock Boathouse with the New Haven Symphony Orchestra.
For National Hot Dog day, I took a trip to a hot dog factory in New Haven to understand how their business has managed to survive for 88 years.
ON-CAMERA SHOWREEL
In the summer of 2020, I was an intern for the English news channel of Television Broadcasts Limited, Hong Kong’s largest television news network. I reported, wrote scripts, and presented stories that aired on the news at 7:30 pm. Those include stories about the pandemic, politics, and features.
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I have put together a short show-reel with some of my clips during my time with Television Broadcasts Limited. If you want to see more/full examples, please visit my 'Broadcast Journalism' page linked here.
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My former boss also wrote me a letter of recommendation which you can see here:
"Natalie showed exceptional talent and maturity for television news"
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-Wong Shuk Ming, Controller at Television Broadcasts Limited
Education
2019-2023
B.A. Political Science
Yale University
Scholar of the Yale Journalism Initiative and winner of the1912 Yale News Board Prize for reporting in 2023. Member of the Yale Daily News, the Hong Kong Students’ Association, The Yale International Relations Association, and The Equity Research and Innovation Center.
2017-2019
High School Diploma
King George V School
Student council president and winner of the Brenda Fluhr prize for being the top achieving student to go to university in the U.S. Completed the International Baccalaureate with a 43 out of 45.
Experience
NBC News - Digital Breaking News / News Associate
SEPTEMBER 2023 - PRESENT, NEW YORK
Working as a reporter on the breaking news team to report on topics including international affairs, crime, and entertainment.
NBC Nightly News / Intern
SEPTEMBER 2022 - DECEMBER 2022, NEW YORK
Worked with the Nightly News show team to research stories, log footage, and support the control room. Assisted with writing social media headlines and captions. Pitched and wrote stories for Nightly Kids.
CNN International Productions / Intern
JUNE 2022 - AUGUST 2022, ATLANTA
Worked with a team that produces and writes features for broadcast and online audiences. Researched, pitched, planned, and put together stories, segments, and programs on business, culture, & conservation.
The New Haven Independent / Intern & Reporter
JUNE 2021 - AUGUST 2021, NEW HAVEN
Covered local politics, court, and features in print and multimedia.
Asian American Journalists Association / Documentary Fellow
MAY 2021 - AUGUST 2021, NEW HAVEN
Part of the AAJA’s short documentary team for the Voices Fellowship, a mentorship program for aspiring journalists. Created a documentary about Hong Kong people immigrating to the USA.
The Yale Daily News / Multimedia Managing Editor, Beat Reporter, Video Editor
SEPTEMBER 2019 - SEPTEMBER 2022, NEW HAVEN
Oversaw the photography, data, video, podcast, and illustrations desks. Executed editorial decisions. Directed video projects and trained teams to plan, shoot, edit, and write. Wrote for the city desk as a beat reporter.
Television Broadcasts Limited (TVB News) / Intern
JUNE 2020 - AUGUST 2020, HONG KONG
Pitched, wrote and presented stories on-air and covered the implementation of Hong Kong’s National Security Law.
South China Morning Post- Young Post / Junior Reporter
AUGUST 2018 - NOVEMBER 2020, HONG KONG
Wrote and pitched articles, made videos, & took photos. Covered the Hong Kong protests of 2019 and 2020. Mentored younger reporters.