ATLANTA—CNN and the Georgia Institute of Technology today announced the launch of the CNN Academy Sports Journalism Bootcamp and Simulation, a two-week immersive program designed to prepare the next generation of storytellers for the fast-paced world of sports media. 

From May 18–30, 2026, approximately 160 participants from across the United States will convene on Georgia Tech’s and CNN’s Atlanta campuses for an expansive, deeply immersive two-week study and training program. Hosted in partnership with CNN and Georgia Tech’s Ivan Allen College of Liberal Arts and School of Literature, Media, and Communication, the program offers hands-on editorial training, real-time newsroom simulations, and masterclasses led by professionals from CNN and TNT Sports. Participants will be thrust into a simulated breaking news environment, during which they will work in teams to practice skills spanning news gathering, mobile journalism, ethical decision making, and the role of technology in news.

Alongside the launch of the CNN Academy Sports Journalism Bootcamp and Simulation, Georgia Tech is also deepening its commitment to sports media and interdisciplinary education with the launch of two new academic minors that explore the intersection of sports, society, and business.

The partnership brings together CNN’s global expertise in journalism and Georgia Tech’s strengths in technology and storytelling—an intersection that reflects the evolving nature of modern media and the skills needed to succeed within it. 

“We’re extremely excited to bring our successful CNN Academy newsroom simulation program to the United States for the first time.  CNN specifically sought out Georgia Tech because of its students’ unique combination of technical expertise and creative storytelling,” said Mike McCarthy, Managing Editor, CNN Worldwide. “This partnership will provide participants with hands-on experience that mirrors the real-world intensity of a newsroom and prepares them for the kinds of challenges they will encounter in a professional career.”

Open to upper-level undergraduates and emerging journalists, the program offers both residential and commuter options.

Georgia Tech’s School of Literature, Media, and Communication first partnered with CNN Academy in 2024, when 20 Georgia Tech students took part in immersive newsroom simulations in Abu Dhabi and Dublin. Four of those students are now helping design the May simulation, bringing their firsthand experience to the next cohort. Several recent Georgia Tech graduates have gone on to intern or work full-time at CNN.

This initiative complements Georgia Tech’s academic expansion in sports-related studies, including:

• The Minor in Sports, Society, and Technology which examines the cultural, historical, and technological dimensions of sports and offers students a critical lens on how athletics shape and reflect societal change.
• The newly announced Sports and Entertainment Minor, which blends business acumen with insights into media, culture, and technology to prepare students for careers in the rapidly evolving sports and entertainment industries.

“At Georgia Tech, we believe technology and storytelling are inseparable tools for shaping the future,” said Amanda Murdie, Dean of the Ivan Allen College of Liberal Arts. “Through programs like the CNN Academy Bootcamp we give participants hands-on training and interdisciplinary expertise—along with a front-row seat to how journalism is evolving and how they can lead that change.”

Applications for the CNN Academy Bootcamp are now open. Details can be found here.