By using innovative breaking news simulation, CNN expands its CNN Academy curriculum

As the network continues to build its training and education programme, CNN Academy, it has provided participants from its CNN Academy hubs throughout the world with a distinctive journalistic training experience. Last week, CNN constructed a genuine breaking news environment over the course of five days so that 88 participants, all of whom are enrolled in different CNN Academy programmes, could hone and use the skills they had learned in various CNN Academy courses throughout the world. 

The large-scale event, which was held at twofour54’s Yas Creative Hub in Abu Dhabi, saw participants working in teams to explore a fake scenario that gave them the opportunity to assume the roles of reporters, news writers, and content producers. Verifying sources, participating in fictitious press conferences and interviews, answering emails with updates, decoding documents, and utilising a specially designed, interactive social media platform with proof, bots, decoys, and news to sort through were all part of this process. The participants also conducted research and gathered news at a set-like scene at the twofour54 Kizad backlot, where they spoke with CNN reporters posing as activists, eyewitnesses, and business representatives.

The scenario, which was developed by CNN journalists in collaboration with Prof. Rex Brynen of McGill University, a pioneer in serious gaming, and Jim Wallman of game design firm Stone Paper Scissors, promoted strategic thinking, team building, tact, and decision-making. Six teams were chosen to write, create, and edit the final packages after the participants developed the topic and the best angles and submitted them to a panel of senior CNN professionals, simulating the conversation with editors in a newsroom. The innovative programme offered a safe-to-fail setting where participants could put their abilities to use while being guided and supervised by CNN and experiencing the hectic environment that journalists operate in every day.