Last Updated on May 31, 2023
Langston University, Tennessee State University, and Texas Southern University, have been named to the NBCU News Group’s NBCU Academy, joining 14 other colleges and universities as new academic partners.
“We are excited to join the NBCU Academy. The access to resources accompanying this opportunity will be transformative in preparing our students. The curriculum support and professional development will enhance our talented faculty's ability to develop a diverse pool of media professionals committed to solutions journalism.”
Dr. Ruth Ray Jackson, Vice President of Academic Affairs, Langston University
On the heels of second anniversary of NBCU Academy, Cesar Conde, NBCUniversal News Group Chairman, has announced that NBCU Academy had increased its membership by 50 percent, with 15 new schools joining the 30 colleges and universities that have been part of the award-winning program.
Since its inception in 2021, NBCU Academy partners have received funding, resources, training and development — in addition to access to the News Group’s world-class journalists.
“Journalists who trained at Texas Southern University are leading the industry in markets all across the nation as multimedia content creators. As we continue that important work, and as journalists continue to play an integral role in our society, we are proud to join with the team of world-class journalists at NBCU to provide an even higher level of instruction and hands-on training to our students.”
Dr. Christian Ulasi, School of Communication Interim Dean, Texas Southern University
The 14 new NBCU Academy academic partners include:
- Berkeley M.E.T. in Berkeley, CA
- Columbia College Chicago in Chicago, IL
- Fond du Lac Tribal and Community College in Cloquet, MN
- Helena College- University of Montana in Helena, MT
- Langston University in Langston, OK
- Metropolitan State University of Denver in Denver, CO
- Mt. Hood Community College in Gresham OR
- Nevada State College in Henderson, NV
- Tennessee State University in Nashville, TN
- The Ohio State University, College of Engineering and School of Communication in Columbus, OH
- Texas Southern University, School of Communication in Houston, TX
- United Tribes Technical College in Bismarck, ND
- University of Arizona, School of Journalism in Tucson, AZ
- University of Central Florida, Nicholson School of Communication and Media, in Orlando, FL
- University of Missouri School of Journalism, in Columbia, MO
“This expansion is a direct result of the success we’ve had with our partners. We are proud to build off the momentum of the past two years and continue the program’s impact as we grow further in the Western region.
Yvette Miley, Senior Vice President of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion for NBCU News Group
Existing HBCU academic partners include:
- Claflin University in Orangeburg, SC
- Clark Atlanta University in Atlanta, GA
- Florida A&M University in Tallahassee, FL
- Hampton University in Hampton, VA
- Howard University in Washington, D.C.
- Morgan State University in Baltimore, MD
- North Carolina A&T State University in Gresham OR
- Xavier University of Louisiana in Gresham OR
NBCU academy free online industry training courses
Conde also announced that NBCU Academy will offer a course on the fundamentals of journalism, which is publicly available on the redesigned NBCUAcademy.com for journalism students and media professionals.
The free course will build a foundation for newsgathering and storytelling through firsthand lectures and curriculum produced by journalists and leadership across NBC News, MSNBC, CNBC, and Noticias Telemundo. Through a series of online modules, the course will provide interactive scenarios and best practices on the essentials of reporting, journalism ethics, interviewing skills and more.
Next Level Summit for Journalism Students
This spring, NBCU Academy will present its third “Next Level Summit” on March 22. The free, all-day virtual program will feature journalists and executives across the NBCU portfolio and offer networking, headlining sessions and breakout discussions on trends that are transforming the media industry. NBCU Academy hosted two Summits in 2022, which were attended by nearly 4,000 participants, including students and media professionals worldwide.
NBCU Academy has elevated the next generation of journalists, providing students from underrepresented communities a pipeline into newsrooms across media and technology. NBCU Academy’s pioneering Embed Program creates roles for recent graduates from partner schools and institutions with diverse student populations.
A commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion
In two years, NBCU Academy has assigned 11 Embeds full-time, two-year job assignments across the News Group’s on-air and Digital platforms, Marketing, Global Talent Development & Inclusion, Data Sciences, and Diversity, Equity & Inclusion.
NBCU Academy reflects Comcast NBCUniversal and NBCU News Group’s commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion. This initiative provides tools, resources, and platforms for underrepresented voices in partnership with Historically Black Colleges and Universities, Hispanic-Serving Institutions, STEM Programs, and colleges with significant Latino, Asian American and Pacific Islander, Black, Indigenous and tribal populations.
In June 2020, Comcast NBCUniversal announced a multi-year commitment to help address systemic racism and inequality. In July 2020, NBCU News Group Chairman Cesar Conde announced the Fifty Percent Challenge Initiative, a goal for the News Group workforce to be 50% women and 50% people of color.
