{"id":14275,"date":"2026-07-28T00:22:49","date_gmt":"2026-07-28T04:22:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/progressions.prsa.org\/?p=14275"},"modified":"2026-07-28T00:22:50","modified_gmt":"2026-07-28T04:22:50","slug":"relationships-to-relatable-awe-the-story-of-two-prssa-olympic-storytellers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/progressions.prsa.org\/index.php\/2026\/07\/28\/relationships-to-relatable-awe-the-story-of-two-prssa-olympic-storytellers\/","title":{"rendered":"Relationships to Relatable Awe: The story of two PRSSA Olympic Storytellers"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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For public relations students, the Olympics may feel worlds away. Yet for two PRSSA members, contributing to one of the world\u2019s most watched events was made possible through two things foundational to PRSSA: relationship-building and the ability to tell stories that resonate. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Current member Jacqueline (Jackie) Litowinsky, president of Seton Hall University\u2019s PRSSA Chapter, and former member Isabella (Bella) LoBue, a 2024 Hofstra graduate and former Chapter president now working as an assignment editor with NBC News, each helped shape how audiences experienced the 2026 Milano Cortina Winter Olympics. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Though their paths into the Games differed, both relied on professional connections and storytelling instincts to contribute to coverage reaching millions worldwide. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Relationships as the Starting Line<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

One of the clearest connections between Jackie\u2019s and Bella\u2019s journeys is the role relationships played in opening doors to Olympic opportunities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For Jackie, the pathway began in the classroom. Through a live sports video production course taught by industry professionals, she gained exposure to the collaborative effort required to bring a global broadcast like the Olympics to life. Learning directly from practitioners provided insight into both the technical and storytelling considerations behind sports coverage and ultimately helped her secure a role supporting NBC\u2019s Olympic programming.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bella\u2019s experience demonstrates how professional relationships continue to create opportunities. After contributing to coverage during the 2024 Paris Summer Olympics, she was invited back to support the Winter Olympics, reinforcing how trust, reliability and demonstrated skill can lead to continued involvement in major global events.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Together, their experiences reflect a familiar PRSSA principle: Professional relationships built through curiosity, collaboration and strong work ethic often become the foundation for career-defining opportunities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Storytelling Behind the Scenes and Across Screens<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

While both professionals contributed to Olympic storytelling, their roles illustrate how narratives take shape across multiple channels \u2014 from broadcast segments to social media moments reaching global audiences in real time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As a production intern working on Olympic Zone, Jackie helped log footage, pull soundbites and support producers as they developed segments highlighting athletes\u2019 journeys. Through that process, she observed how storytelling often comes down to selecting details that allow audiences to connect emotionally with competition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

NBC\u2019s storytelling philosophy centered on what the network describes as \u201crelatable awe,\u201d highlighting both extraordinary achievement and the human stories behind it. Jackie saw this approach reflected in storylines such as Breezy Johnson winning gold on the same slopes where she had previously been injured, Mikaela Shiffrin competing while honoring the memory of her father and Alysa Liu returning to the sport with renewed passion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThese stories appeal to everyone,\u201d Jackie said, noting that even small moments can shape how audiences understand the broader narrative of the Games.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bella contributed to storytelling from a digital perspective, where speed and audience awareness are essential. Her role involved monitoring multiple live feeds simultaneously to identify moments that could resonate across platforms including NBC Olympics social channels, Peacock\u2019s Gold Zone and primetime broadcasts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

One particularly memorable moment came when Bella noticed figure skater Alysa Liu applying Rare Beauty lipstick before competition. Recognizing the relevance of the moment, she pitched the clip for social distribution. The video gained traction online and was later reposted by Selena Gomez, founder of Rare Beauty.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI felt very proud that my work was impacting people\u2019s perspectives on the Games,\u201d Bella said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Together, Jackie\u2019s and Bella\u2019s experiences demonstrate how storytelling decisions \u2014 whether selecting broadcast footage or identifying shareable social moments \u2014 shape how audiences experience the Olympics.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Communicating to a Global Audience<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Olympics present a unique communications challenge: crafting stories that resonate across cultures, languages and time zones while maintaining authenticity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For Jackie, working within NBC\u2019s production environment illustrated how universal emotional themes help stories translate globally. Highlighting perseverance, family support and personal growth allows viewers from different backgrounds to see themselves reflected in athletes\u2019 experiences.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bella similarly emphasized the importance of understanding audiences when pitching content. With multiple competitions happening simultaneously, identifying which moments would perform best across specific platforms required strategic thinking and a clear understanding of audience behavior.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Both professionals relied on a core public relations skill: recognizing that effective storytelling depends not only on what is communicated, but on how audiences connect with the message.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Preparing for High-Pressure Opportunities<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Working the Olympics requires adaptability, collaboration and the ability to perform under tight deadlines.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jackie described the fast-paced environment as unlike any previous experience, with long production days and constant coordination among producers, editors and assistants working toward daily broadcast deadlines.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bella also noted the intensity of keeping up with simultaneous competitions and the constant demand for digital content. Monitoring multiple live feeds at once required initiative, focus and the ability to quickly identify moments aligned with audience interests.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Both emphasize that preparation begins long before the Games themselves. Campus involvement, internships and collaborative experiences help develop the communication instincts necessary to contribute effectively in high-pressure environments.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Their journeys demonstrate that while the Olympics represent the pinnacle of global storytelling, the skills required to succeed are developed gradually through consistent practice and professional engagement. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Though Jackie and Bella contributed to the Winter Olympics in different roles, their experiences share a common foundation in storytelling and professional relationships. From production rooms to social strategy discussions, both helped shape how audiences connected with athletes and their journeys. For PRSSA members interested in high-impact communications opportunities, their paths serve as a reminder that the road to global storytelling often begins closer to home than you might think.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Bella LoBue is currently an Assignment Editor with NBC National News, who just completed an assignment with the 2026 Milan Cortina Olympics. She has won two Emmys, Outstanding Interactive Experience and Outstanding Live Special, for her work on the 2024 Paris Olympics with NBC Sports. She is a 2024 graduate of Hofstra University, where she was President and Treasurer of their PRSSA Chapter during her academic years.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Jacqueline (Jackie) Litowinsky is a senior at Seton Hall University, studying public relations and journalism. She currently serves as the president of SHU’s PRSSA chapter, working previously as director of SHU’s student-run firm, the Litore Agency. Other than joining the team for NBC Sports’s Winter Olympics coverage, she has worked in PR for ESPN and as a reporter for Gotham FC and FOX Sports University. Connect with her on LinkedIn<\/a>!<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

From production rooms to social strategy discussions, both helped shape how audiences connected with athletes and their journeys. For PRSSA members interested in high-impact communications opportunities, their paths serve as a reminder that the road to global storytelling often begins closer to home than you might think.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":35,"featured_media":14281,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"_uf_show_specific_survey":0,"_uf_disable_surveys":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[2892,3742,3775],"tags":[2560,2217,15,40,274],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t