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Are you passionate about storytelling?
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CNN
Do you want to learn how CNN gathers and verifies news?
Do you want to experience how a fast-paced, global newsroom operates?
Would you like the chance to put your journalism skills to the test in a unique newsgathering & storytelling simulation?

Then CNN Academy Abu Dhabi is for you.

CNN Academy Abu Dhabi empowers UAE nationals and residents with storytelling skills they need to succeed in today’s fast-paced media landscape.
Who Can Apply?
CNN Academy Abu Dhabi is open to UAE nationals and residents over the age of 21 who have a background and/or interest in media and multiplatform storytelling.

CNN Academy Abu Dhabi is tuition-free. However, participants need to ensure they can attend workshops and training sessions throughout the program.

The program will be delivered in English, so English proficiency is key.
  • Recent or current graduate students
  • Less than 5 years’ work experience
  • Interest in learning about climate storytelling
  • Availability to attend in-person training sessions in Abu Dhabi and CNN Academy Climate Storytelling Simulation (4th – 10th December 2023)
APPLICATIONS OPEN
25
May 2023
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25
August 2023
SELECTION
25
July 2023
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31
August 2023
When To Apply?
Course overview
Through in-person workshops and online webinar sessions with senior CNN journalists, production specialists and established content creators within the Abu Dhabi ecosystem with the support of Creative Lab, participants will learn how CNN gathers information, verifies sources, and produces content for its multiple platforms.
CNN's Becky Anderson with the winners of the 2022 CNN Academy Newsroom Simulation Ayesha Alblooshi, Daria Tarasova, Kathy Rose O’Brien, Zainab Alattas.
CNN's Becky Anderson with the winners of the 2022 CNN Academy Newsroom Simulation Ayesha Alblooshi, Daria Tarasova, Kathy Rose O’Brien, Zainab Alattas.
During the first weeks of CNN Academy Abu Dhabi, participants will complete ten core courses on topics such as Ethics in Journalism, the Art of Storytelling, Breaking News Coverage, etc.

The program will culminate in an industry-leading newsroom simulation that brings together CNN Academy participants from around the world for an intensive week of training at the Yas Creative Hub in Abu Dhabi.

This year’s CNN Academy Simulation will focus on climate storytelling and will take place alongside the 2023 United Nations Climate Change Conference, known as COP28, in Dubai.
Course Structure
Calendar
Friday September 22nd
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Friday
September 22nd
Introduction & Ethics in Journalism
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Friday
September 29th
Ethics & Storytelling + Legal Webinar
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Friday
October 6th
Ethics & Storytelling II
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Friday
October 13th
Mobile Storytelling I
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Friday
October 20th
Mobile Storytelling II
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Friday
October 27th
Writing for TV News & Scriptwriting
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Friday
November 3rd
Writing for Digital
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Friday
November 10th
When News Breaks
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Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday
November 14th, 15th, 16th
Global Media Congress at ADNEC Abu Dhabi
Friday
November 17th
New Platforms: AI & Podcasting
Friday
November 24th
Producing Digital Video
Monday – Sunday
December 4th – 10th
C Climate Storytelling Simulation Week
Sunday
December 31st
Final Project Submission
Shape
Friday
September 22nd
Introduction & Ethics in Journalism
Shape
Friday
September 29th
Ethics & Storytelling + Legal Webinar
Shape
Friday
October 6th
Ethics & Storytelling II
Shape
Friday
October 13th
Mobile Storytelling I
Shape
Friday
October 20th
Mobile Storytelling II
Shape
Friday
October 27th
Writing for TV News & Scriptwriting
Shape
Friday
November 3rd
Writing for Digital
Shape
Friday
November 10th
When News Breaks
Shape
Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday
November 14th, 15th, 16th
Global Media Congress at ADNEC Abu Dhabi
Shape
Friday
November 17th
New Platforms: AI & Podcasting
Shape
Friday
November 24th
Producing Digital Video
Shape
Monday – Sunday
December 4th – 10th
Climate Storytelling Simulation Week
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Sunday
December 31st
Final Project Submission
THE CNN ACADEMY CLIMATE STORYTELLING SIMULATION IN ABU DHABI
During the final week of the program, as global leaders meet at the UN climate conference, participants will attend the CNN Academy Newsroom Simulation at the Yas Creative Hub in Abu Dhabi which will focus on climate storytelling.

Across seven days participants will attend talks and workshops at the COP28 venue and crucially learn from top CNN journalists what it takes to effectively engage audiences about one of the world’s most pressing issues.
Participants will be given a chance to put theory into practice, taking part in an intensive, competitive challenge to investigate and report on an unfolding climate disaster in a fictional country.
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The CNN Academy Newsroom Simulation has been designed in consultation with CNN journalists from around the world that puts journalism skills to the test in a realistic setting.
The CNN Academy Newsroom Simulation has been designed in consultation with CNN journalists from around the world that puts journalism skills to the test in a realistic setting.
Apply Your Skills
During the CNN Academy Newsroom Simulation, you will:
01
Understand newsroom workflows during breaking news coverage
04
Enhance interviewing, investigative reporting and decision-making skills
02
Experience the diverse roles of a news coverage team (producer, reporter, photojournalist, editor, editorial director)
05
Improve technical skills for multiplatform content production
03
Apply fact-checking tools and social verification methods
06
Learn how to work under time constraints and with limited resources
01
Understand newsroom workflows during breaking news coverage
02
Experience the diverse roles of a news coverage team (producer, reporter, photojournalist, editor, editorial director)
03
Apply fact-checking tools and social verification methods
04
Enhance interviewing, investigative reporting and decision-making skills
05
Improve technical skills for multiplatform content production
06
Learn how to work under time constraints and with limited resources
FROM THEIR OWN WORDS
Aldana Alhashmi
The challenges that I faced through CNN Simulation was extremely different from anything else of course, because of the fact that it’s news reporting, and in my opinion the challenge was trying to gather all the news and putting it together in a report so that the anchor can speak it out seamlessly, which is extremely challenging.
Mohammed Alshamsi
The most exciting part throughout this whole CNN Academy program was interacting and working with groups and teams from all over the world, from China, Kurdistan, Spain, and even people from Latin America. It was a very immersive experience, I didn’t expect it to be so global and to see different perspectives on media and journalism from around the world, this was the best thing that happened throughout.
Suad Ashimi
My favourite session was the content creation and production. My main job is advertising, I do a little bit of media creation, and journalism for different media companies. Having the opportunity to sit with renowned professionals in this field who were able to take me through the principals and pillars of it, I found that really interesting.
Vanessa Mansour
My experience in CNN Academy Abu Dhabi has been unbelievably amazing, it has tested me as journalists in ways I had never imagined.
Marvine Kidweye
The highlight of this experience is the groups work, we get to interact with different nationalities from different perspectives of life with different talking capacities, it’s crazy, it’s mind blowing!
CNN ACADEMY
STUDENT PROJECTS
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The World Through One Lens
Aldana was a CNN Academy participant that inspired everyone around her, including Maroa who put together this piece to highlight how losing your sight can give you perspective that very few have.
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Art Where No One Looks
An artist sees art where others don't. This is the story of Noura Al Ramahi's sustainable art.
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The Art of Calligraphy
Arabic calligraphy is a corner stone of Arab and Islamic culture. This is the story of the man who sketched it on to the UAE's currency and passport.
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A New Life for Plastic
Check out how a company in the UAE is giving a new purpose to plastic by recycling it into clothes.
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A Slam Dunk for Poetry
Listen to one of the first English speaking Emirati poets as he tells his story of becoming a two-time grand-slam champion.
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Abu Dhabi's Madrollers
Get a sneak peek into Abu Dhabi's adrenaline filled rollerblading community.
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Abu Dhabi's Fabric of Time
The untold story of a 25 year-old tailor's shop in Abu Dhabi and the man inside.
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The Forest in The Middle of The Desert
Take a stroll through Abu Dhabi's plant market and the ones keeping it flourishing.
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Dubai's Underground Supper Clubs
Dubai is known for its food scene, but here is a side to it that you may not know.
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Chemotherapy Reimagined
Step into the lab and learn how a new version of chemotherapy could transform cancer treatment.
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Blast From The Past
A Lebanon glass house is using glass from the country's port blast to bring new life into glass vases and art pieces.
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Drumming a New Beat
COVID-19 has left stands and performance theaters empty across the world in 2020. Kharsha, an Emirati / Japanese drumming band, have felt first-hand what that feels like. With a great question mark cast on the band’s future, they can only hope for the show to go on soon.
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The Unlikely Saviour
Isolated from friends, family and the rest of the world, Twitch — a live-streaming platform— has provided individuals with a window into the world throughout COVID-19. The pandemic has continued to fuel the growth of live-streaming and created a community impact, connecting individuals from all over the world with one another in these trying times.
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The Secret Behind UAE's Vanity License Plates
Talal Al Khoori is the owner of vanity plate Abu Dhabi #5. It is the second most expensive plate in the world and Talal broke records when he purchased it. To some, the practice of spending millions of Dirhams on vanity plates in the UAE is a sign of conspicuous consumption. But when you speak to Talal, you learn that spending so much on a simple alumimum plate has a positive impact on the wider society. Music courtesy of Mansoor Gottem.
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Agility Towards Success
Abdalla Almulla, the founder of MULA design studio, was one of many other designers and business owners affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. But through innovation and agility, Abdalla was able to handle the situation by changing the nature of his work from designing exhibitions to interior design projects.
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A Tale of Perseverance
Saleh Al Yaroubi suffered an accident requiring him to use a wheelchair for more than 40 years. We hear how he overcame his hardships, both mental and physical, seeking from his experience advice on coping with the mental effects of the COVID-19 pandemic today.
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There From the Start
The media industry in the United Arab Emirates has grown exponentially over the past 50 years. This piece profiles one of the first Emirati radio and TV reporters, and my uncle, Obaid Kaboos Alzaabi.
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Portrait of an Artist During a Pandemic
This story is about an artist and a painter who gets his inspiration from people’s faces and facial expression to put it in a nice drawing. He started drawing since he was a child and going through the pandemic lockdown kept him going and continue the thing he love the most which is painting.
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Passing Down the Wings
Falconry is an Emirati tradition passed down from one generation to another. Rashid Ahmed Mujrin is a professional falconer competing in major events. He's also keeping the tradition alive by teaching his sons the art of falconry.
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Pandemic Through the Eyes of a Child
Like many kids, seven-year-old Julie Kayali has been doing online schooling for over a year. With her family welcoming a newborn during the pandemic, how can Julie balance second grade and playtime from the safety of her own home?
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Virtual Vows
South Asian weddings are known for being huge and lavish affairs. During the pandemic however, South Asian couples were forced to shift these celebrations online and say I do through the screen. This piece revolves around the experiences of South Asian couples and a wedding planner who are now adapting to the new norm of virtual weddings.
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A Special Year for Special Kebab
Al Ustad Special Kebab is the oldest Persian family restaurant in the UAE. This is a story about the lessons it learnt from the pandemic a year after lockdown.
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Fashion and Faith
This is a piece about the representation of the Hijab in the fashion industry and the discussion surrounding hijab tokenism and the importance of representation. The topic has been ignited because of the departure of Hijabi supermodel Halima Aden from the fashion industry.
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Knocked Down But Definitely Not Out
Michelle Kuehn is a long-term Dubai resident who turned her passion of boxing into a successful business. Then the pandemic hit and everything she worked toward was crumbling in front of her eyes. This is the story of how she fought back and reclaimed her boxing gym from the grips of the pandemic.
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Olympic Dreams
Ines Boubakri became the first Arab and African woman to win an Olympic medal in fencing during at the 2016 summer games. She's dreaming of greater olympic glory during the upcomig games in Tokyo. But first she has to get through a global pandemic.
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Finding a Friend
My story focuses on the integration of Emiratis and Expats in the UAE. It follows my personal experience; for the first time in 14 years, I found myself in the same (virtual) room as Emiratis, thanks to CNN Academy. My story explores integration from various perspectives to ultimately celebrate the diverse social fabric of the UAE.
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Pressure, Parenting and Pandemic
The pandemic has put a lot of mental, emotional, and financial strain on multiple individuals. This is especially true for mothers who work full-time, take care of the family and the house. This story is about mothers finding a healthy stress outlet and taking time for themselves without feeling ashamed or guilty about it.
For more information, please contact cnn.academy@creativelab.ae