WASHINGTON - Students from the Howard University Cathy Hughes School of Communications, along with Associate Professor Jennifer Thomas, are participating in the CNN Academy Newsroom Simulation in Abu Dhabi, UAE, from December 8-18.

Howard University seniors Kyle Fisher and Donovan McNeal are the only representatives participating from an HBCU. Fisher studies strategic communications and criminology, while McNeal majors in digital journalism and environmental studies. This week, they are among 160 of their peers from around the world attending the Abu Dhabi bootcamp. Professor Thomas, a former CNN executive and veteran news producer, joins them as their faculty advisor.

Fisher was a White House Correspondents Association Scholarship recipient this year and was an on-location NBCUniversal summer intern for the 2024 Paris Olympics. He was also the sports section editor for The Hilltop, and an All-MEAC long and triple jumper in track and field.

“The Atlanta bootcamp exposed me to capturing TV-ready footage and audio with mobile devices and crafting multimedia stories under deadline,” Fisher said. “I look forward to learning about the integration of AI in journalism and sharpening my skills in breaking news reporting during the Abu Dhabi experience.”

The CNN Abu Dhabi learning opportunity follows attendance at the CNN Breaking News Academy, a five-day Atlanta bootcamp held in October. The training covered topics including the art of storytelling, mobile journalism, ethics, artificial intelligence, and writing for digital platforms.

McNeal, who currently serves as investigative editor for The Hilltop and has produced news for media outlets such as Ark Republic, said he gained new videography and editing skills at the academy.

“Through collaboration with my peers and instruction from accomplished professionals, I gained new videography and editing skills,” McNeal said. “The Abu Dhabi simulation offers a unique opportunity to experience the fast pace of breaking news reporting in an immersive environment.”

The CNN Academy Newsroom Simulation in Abu Dhabi focuses on the role of artificial intelligence in journalism and provides hands-on training in investigative reporting. There, participants will engage in a week-long immersive exercise centered on the role of artificial intelligence in the newsroom and learn the fundamentals of investigative reporting. Thanks to a partnership with CNN Academy, Delta Air Lines is providing the students traveling from the United States free travel to the UAE.

Thomas is director of the Annenberg Honors Program in the Cathy Hughes School of Communications and an associate professor of broadcast journalism in the Department of Media, Journalism and Film. She is a Fulbright Specialist Scholar and a former AEJMC Scripps-Howard Teacher of the Year.

“Traveling to Abu Dhabi with Howard students marks a groundbreaking experiential learning opportunity,” Thomas said. Representing Howard as the only HBCU among global participants is a tremendous honor.”

In the Annenberg Honors Program, communications students take part in honors courses that culminate in the completion of a master’s-level thesis. In addition to rigorous academics, students in the program participate in university-wide events, attend field trips, and contribute to community service projects. 

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