FIU CARTA Partners With NBCUniversal Launching NBCU Academy

Jordan Coll / News Director

FIU will partner with NBCUniversal News Group in the launch of the NBCU Academy, an initiative geared towards training and funding journalism programs nationwide.

The program will be offered to four-year universities and colleges to provide students with training, scholarships and funding. 

“By providing vital expertise and resources to tell important, but far too seldom told stories, NBCU’s leadership, and generosity will have an immediate and lasting impact on our students’ lives and our communities’ futures,” said Brian Scriner, Dean of the FIU College of Communication, Architecture and Arts (CARTA).

NBCU will invest $6.5 million in the initiative, of which $3.5 million will go towards scholarships. The FIU Department of Journalism + Media will receive $500,000 with $250,000 distributed to scholarship recipients and $50,000 for equipment.

Through the initiative, Comcast and NBCU aim to foster inclusive journalism by collaborating with minority and underrepresented groups. 

“In keeping with Comcast and NBCU News Group’s commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion, the multi-year partnership involves 17 academic partners including Historically Black Colleges and Universities, Hispanic-Serving Institutions and colleges with significant Latino, Asian, Black, Indegenous and Tribal populations,” according to an NBCU press release.

Raquel Lewis, an FIU broadcast journalism senior, said the programs like these are needed now more than ever.

“When June 2020 occurred with George Floyd and raising awareness to Breonna Taylor and all of the other black lives that were lost, then I fully knew I had to submerge myself into the media more,” said Lewis. 

Production groups such as NBC News, MSNBC, CNBC, and Telemundo will collaborate with university professors to provide mentorship programs and guest lectures.

NBCU is also bridging partnerships with diverse national journalism associations such Asian American Journalists Association, The National Association of Black Journalists, The National Association of Hispanic Journalists, The National Lesbian and Gay Journalists Association, National Association of Native American Journalists, the Online News Association, and other institutional partnerships.