From the classroom to the crisis desk: Students gain real-world newsroom experience at CNN Academy simulation - Northwestern Uni

From the classroom to the crisis desk: Students gain real-world newsroom experience at CNN Academy simulation - Northwestern University in Qatar
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From the classroom to the crisis desk: Students gain real-world newsroom experience at CNN Academy simulation
January 20, 2026
Ten students from Northwestern University in Qatar’s Journalism and Strategic Communication Program participated in the CNN Academy Global Health Storytelling Simulation 2025, an intensive experiential learning program designed to replicate the demands of contemporary global journalism.
Held in Abu Dhabi from November 17 to 22, the six-day simulation brought together more than 150 students from universities around the world. Participants were placed in a fully constructed fictional country and assigned roles within a simulated global news organization, where they reported on unfolding humanitarian, political, and social developments under real-time conditions.
Working inside the fictional state of Brynania, Northwestern Qatar students contributed to reporting, editing, and editorial leadership within their assigned teams and covered evolving crises and policy developments while responding to shifting storylines and audience needs. They also engaged in newsroom-based workflows that required rapid reporting, ethical decision-making, cross-team collaboration, and editorial judgment
The experience reinforced core elements of Northwestern Qatar’s journalism curriculum, which emphasizes evidence-based reporting, ethical practice, and hands-on learning. Students were required to apply classroom instruction to practical scenarios, strengthening skills in reporting, verification, and collaborative storytelling.
“Our partnership with Media City Qatar provides our students with learning experiences that extend their learning beyond the classroom. Opportunities like this allow them to engage with the realities of newsroom practice in a structured and thoughtful way. We appreciate Media City Qatar’s continued collaboration, which supports our efforts to prepare students for the professional roles they will take on in Qatar and beyond”
- Marwan M. Kraidy, dean and CEO of Northwestern Qatar
Among the participants was journalism student Isra Fejzullaj, who described the experience as both demanding and affirming. “Among 150 students selected from around the world, I was honored to be one of 10 journalism students representing Northwestern University,” she said. “Every interview, every editorial choice, and every breaking development shaped the direction of our reporting.”
Senior journalism student Juyoung Kim served as an editor during the simulation, coordinating coverage across multiple teams and storylines. Her team’s work was recognized with a Runner-Up Award, reflecting the quality and coherence of its editorial output under time-sensitive conditions. “As the editor, I had the privilege of shaping our narrative, threading our perspectives together and bringing our characters’ voices to life,” said Kim. “It was an honor to hold that responsibility, even in a simulated environment, and it reminded me of the impact I can make.”
Media City Qatar supported the students’ participation in the simulation as part of an ongoing institutional partnership. “Our partnership with Media City Qatar provides our students with learning experiences that extend their learning beyond the classroom,” said Marwan M. Kraidy, dean and CEO of Northwestern University in Qatar. “Opportunities like this allow them to engage with the realities of newsroom practice in a structured and thoughtful way. We appreciate Media City Qatar’s continued collaboration, which supports our efforts to prepare students for the professional roles they will take on in Qatar and beyond.”
Through engagement in international training initiatives and simulations, Northwestern Qatar continues to prepare students for professional roles in journalism and media. These experiences support the University’s commitment to developing graduates equipped to navigate complex information environments and contribute responsibly to public discourse.
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