Cox Institute and Newsy Expand Student Training Relationship

This article was originally posted to the Cox Institute site.

Newsy, a leading cross-platform television news network, has expanded its summer training relationship this year with the Grady College’s James M. Cox Jr. Institute for Journalism Innovation, Management & Leadership.

Two Grady journalism majors – Skylar Nicholson and Alexandra Travis – are interning at Newsy studios in Washington, D.C., and three Grady students – Jada Bowman, Mikaela Cohen and Caroline Windham – spent the first week of June at the Newsy training facility in Columbia, Missouri, before moving into seven weeks of online training.

“We’re really fortunate to have this relationship with the Cox Institute. While Newsy continues to break ground as America’s fastest-growing news network, the opportunity to add to the training of these already very skilled students from the Grady College fits right into where we’re going,” said Nathan Byrne, the supervising editor for academic partnerships at Newsy. “The timing couldn’t be better. I’m eager to see what these students do with the new talents they develop and hone in their time with Newsy.”

Nicholson said her summer “has been fantastic,” adding that she is writing two to three headline stories for the show “The Why” each night and helping with longer form packages. She also returned to Georgia with Newsy to help cover a story on the heartbeat bill, HB481, and the impact it is having on the state’s film industry. Nicholson said she has been assigned to some congressional hearings, describing hearings as one of her favorite things to help cover. “I am learning so much from the team here in Washington, D.C.,” she said.

Travis also said working with Newsy has been a great summer experience. “Their dedication to innovation has taught me so much already,” she said. “Interning on the Documentaries team has made me feel more prepared to enter the media field than ever before. The practice I have gained with pitching, and the creative freedom they have given me on my story ideas has taught me so much about topics I am passionate about covering and the best storytelling techniques.”

Newsy, a subsidiary of The E.W. Scripps Company, delivers its content on cable television; on over-the-top services including Hulu, Roku, Amazon Fire TV, Apple TV, Sling TV, and Pluto TV; and on connected television including Xumo. Newsy is also available through its mobile apps and at newsy.com.

Keith Herndon, director of the Cox Institute, said it is important to sponsor training programs with organizations that are committed to helping students succeed in their early careers. This year, the Cox Institute supplemented funding for the Newsy program with support from the William S. Morris Chair in News Strategy and Management.

Herndon, who also holds the Morris Chair, said the training programs with Newsy grew from conversations with its CEO Blake Sabatinelli, who has been the keynote speaker for the last two Grady Mobile News Lab project showcases. The Newsy relationship will continue with Sabatinelli returning in October for his third Mobile News Lab product showcase and more Grady journalism students participating in Newsy training next summer.

“Our students benefit so much from the relationship we enjoy with Newsy,” Herndon said. “It is important for them to experience an organization attempting new things and new approaches at a time when so many older models are struggling.”

Windham, who is participating in the Newsy skills training, said the week on site before moving into the remote work was important because it allowed her to experience Newsy firsthand.

“Being able to hear from all levels of company employees, from the CEO to the animation head, really showed me the great culture surrounding Newsy,” she said.