Creative Media Authority And Higher Colleges Of Technology Launch CNN Academy Professional Certificate In Global Journalism

The Creative Media Authority (CMA) and Higher Colleges of Technology (HCT) have joined forces to offer a CNN Academy & HCT Professional Certificate in Global Journalism. This initiative aims to identify and enhance creative talent within the Emirates. Students enrolled in the CMA and CNN Academy Abu Dhabi programme can now earn a professional certificate assessed by HCT, contributing to their Applied Media program.

Launched in 2020, CNN Academy Abu Dhabi empowers aspiring journalists with multiplatform storytelling skills. The training is led by CNN’s anchors, correspondents, and technical experts worldwide. Over 12 weeks, participants gain essential newsroom skills through interactive workshops, masterclasses, and digital tutorials. These include journalistic ethics, verification techniques, storyboarding, and scriptwriting.

This year’s course will be delivered alongside HCT’s Applied Media Division and accredited through the Bachelor of Applied Media degree. Mohamed Dobay, Acting Director General of CMA, stated that offering a professional certificate through HCT marks a first for CMA in nurturing young talent from the Emirate. "We aim to offer educational recognition around all courses offered through our talent development arm; creative lab," he said.

Dr Luc Verburgh, Chief Academic Officer at HCT, noted that this collaboration enhances key professional skills as part of HCT's new Digital Media degrees. "As a result of the industry-aligned learning experiences, our students will be more prepared for a career in the creative media industry," he commented.

More than 70 percent of this year’s CNN Academy Abu Dhabi participants are Emiratis. Dobay highlighted this as evidence of young creatives' readiness to seize opportunities for building successful careers in the industry. The programme aims to fuel Abu Dhabi's economy with skilled talent for creative industries like film production and digital media.

Alireza Haji Hosseini, Deputy Bureau Chief at CNN Abu Dhabi & Director of CNN Academy, emphasized the value of these skills for budding journalists. "Adding this educational merit will provide a further boost to our cohorts in Abu Dhabi," he said. The programme offers recognition for their work and knowledge gained from this unique experience.

Future Opportunities

Applications for the 2025-26 cohort will open at the end of Q2 2025 via the CNN Academy website here. This collaboration between CMA and HCT represents a significant step towards enhancing journalism education in the UAE.

With inputs from WAM