Q&A with Tom Llamas of "Nightly News"

• It's part of NBC News' "Reporting in America" campaign to visit cities across the country to get closer to local communities.

We spoke to Llamas about his plan to get a Primanti's sandwich and stop by a local bar, as well as why the region is important on the national level and the future of news in the age of AI.

This interview has been lightly edited for length and clarity.

Anything about Pittsburgh stand out to you?

• "When you come through Fort Pitt Tunnel and the city just opens up and you're just like, 'Whoa.' ... This place is a distinct American city. It's not like you can pluck it and put it anywhere else."

What makes Pittsburgh one of the key cities to report from this year?

• "You have a lot of great culture here, incredible history, and politically speaking, right now, there's not a state or region more important than Pennsylvania. Every vote matters, of course, but when you talk about the biggest, most consequential battleground state, it's here."

How do we build back trust in news and help the industry bridge the gap between local and national news?

• "I think as a journalist — as a reporter or an anchor, producer, photographer, whatever you're doing in your local newsroom or your national newsroom — I don't think you can sort of worry about existential questions. Because I think you'll drive yourself crazy."
• "That being said, I still think we serve a very important purpose, especially local newsrooms. With all the talk of AI and new media ... you still need somebody to originate the news. And our reporters at NBC Nightly News and our local reporters, they are originating news."