CNN Academy’s “Voices from the South: Storytelling for Impact” Program 2025

Are you an emerging journalist from the Global South with a passion for storytelling that drives change? The CNN Academy’s “Voices from the South: Storytelling for Impact” program is now accepting applications for its 2025 cohort. This fully funded opportunity is designed to equip early-career journalists and storytellers from Latin America, the Caribbean, Africa, and Asia with the tools to report on global health and humanitarian crises through a powerful local lens.

---

About the Program

In today’s interconnected world, global health challenges require more than medical solutions—they demand compelling, culturally rooted stories that reflect the lived realities of affected communities. From pandemics to vaccine equity to disaster response, the Voices from the South program empowers storytellers to spotlight these issues with depth, empathy, and impact.

The program is divided into two immersive phases:

---

Phase One: Virtual Training

Duration: July – October 1st, 2025
Format: Online via CNN Academy Hub

Participants will undergo an intensive virtual curriculum focusing on:

• Advanced storytelling and mobile journalism

• Global health and humanitarian reporting

• Cultural and political context in the Global South

Completion Requirements:

• Attend all virtual sessions

• Earn designated digital badges

• Submit a compelling story pitch

---

Phase Two: In-Person Training & Simulation

Date: November 2025
Location: Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates

Selected participants will receive an all-expenses-paid trip to Abu Dhabi for:

• Hands-on mobile journalism workshops

• Real-time reporting simulation (CNN Academy Simulation 2025)

• Mentorship by CNN journalists and media experts

This high-intensity simulation will challenge participants to apply their skills in a fast-paced newsroom environment, reporting on global health and humanitarian stories under real-world conditions.

---

We encourage you to Join us on our different channels if you want to be the first to learn about immigration and scholarship opportunities.

• Whatsapp: Naijonline Scholarship Updates
• Facebook: Naijonline Scholarship Updates
• Twitter: Naijonline Scholarship Updates

CNN Academy’s Voices Program (Eligibility Criteria)

To apply, candidates must:

• Live and work in a Global South country (Latin America, the Caribbean, Africa, or Asia)

• Be an early-career journalist, content creator, or storyteller

• Have a portfolio of relevant storytelling work

• Be fluent in English (spoken and written)

• Be committed to completing the entire program

• Be willing and able to travel to Abu Dhabi for Phase Two (CNN Academy covers all travel costs)

---

CNN Academy’s Voices Program (How to Apply)

Application Deadline: June 23, 2025

Application Process:

1. Submit an online application verifying your background, motivation, and eligibility.

2. If selected, gain access to Phase One virtual training.

3. Upon completion of Phase One:

   • Submit a story pitch focused on a pressing health or humanitarian issue in your region.

   • Provide proof of Global South nationality and samples of previous work for Phase Two consideration.

---

CNN Academy’s Voices Program (Final Deliverables & Global Exposure)

After completing the Abu Dhabi simulation, participants will return home to develop their final story, due by January 31, 2026.

Top stories will be showcased on CNN’s global digital and broadcast platforms, providing unprecedented exposure and a platform to amplify underrepresented voices from the Global South.

---

CNN Academy’s Voices Program (Why Apply?)

• Gain world-class training from CNN media experts

• Tell authentic stories that challenge global health narratives

• Receive international recognition and career-boosting visibility

• Join a network of influential journalists from around the world

---

Summary of the Program

---

 Apply Now to Become a Global Storyteller

Are you ready to bring unheard stories to the world stage?
Apply now and be part of the next generation of journalists shaping the global narrative.