ONA is excited to announce the 2024 cohort of the HBCU Digital Media Fellowship. Six students—selected from a highly competitive pool of over 100 applicants representing more than 15 Historically Black Colleges and Universities—will travel to Atlanta for training and mentorship during the 2024 Online News Association Conference (ONA24), Sept. 18-21.
The fellows will work with lead mentor Michael Grant, founder of Get Current Studio, to create a digital project during the conference and learn about emerging tech for online news. They will also have opportunities to network with the leading innovators in journalism and tech while in Atlanta, and receive a complimentary one-year membership to ONA to stay connected with the community beyond ONA24.
Learn more about each of the 2024 HBCU Digital Media fellows.
L-R: Top row – Asia Alexander, Alyssa Cooper; Middle row – Kylar Gray, Sydney Rencher; Bottom Row – Mikekel Robinson, Zora Thomas
Asia Alexander, Journalism Major, Howard University — Asia is a Junior at Howard University, studying journalism with a minor in political science.
Alyssa Cooper, Broadcast Journalism Major, Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University — Alyssa is a senior from Tallahassee studying broadcast journalism at Florida A&M University.
Kylar Gray, English Major, Spelman College — Kylar is a senior at Spelman College, majoring in English with a focus on Digital Media.
Mikekel Robinson, M.A. Professional Communication & Digital Media, Texas Southern University — Mikekel graduated from Texas Southern University with a B.A. in Broadcast Journalism and is now pursuing an M.A. in Professional Communication and Digital Media.
Sydney Rencher, a Professional Communication and Digital Media Major at Texas Southern University — Sydney, graduated from Florida A&M University in the spring of 2024 with a B.S. in Broadcast Journalism. She is now pursuing her degree in Professional Communication and Digital Media at Texas Southern University
Zora Thomas, Mass Communication Major, Xavier University of Louisiana — Zora is a junior from Milwaukee, Wisconsin, majoring in mass communication at Xavier University of Louisiana.
ONA’s annual conference is the premier platform to learn and contribute to shaping the future of digital journalism. Join us in Atlanta to connect with the 2024 HBCU fellows and other emerging talent in journalism.
About the Program
This fellowship provides students from Historically Black Colleges and Universities unique mentorship and hands-on training opportunities at ONA’s annual conference, this year in Atlanta from Sep. 18-21.
Students selected as the 2024 Fellows through a competitive application process will each receive a free conference registration to ONA24 and a one-year ONA student membership.
Throughout the week of the conference, fellows work closely with longtime lead mentor Michael Grant, founder of Get Current Studio, and are immersed in intensive digital journalism training. Fellows also receive training from industry leaders, which in the past have included Microsoft and Canva. Their schedules are tailored to their individual career interests and include time to attend conference sessions and networking events where they connect with journalism innovators from across the industry. Fellows put their new skills into practice by producing multimedia packages for the conference.
The application process for the 2024 HBCU Digital Media Fellowship closed on May 30, 2024. To be among the first to learn about upcoming ONA programs, subscribe to the ONA Weekly newsletter.
Participating in ONA23 with the HBCU Fellowship gave me more clarity on my path for my career. It’s because of ONA that I was able to secure my first job post grad and create meaningful friendships with the other HBCU fellows.Ianna Fenton, 2023 fellow from Howard University, now Associate Producer for Bay News 9 in Tampa, Florida
For more information about how you can support the 2024 HBCU Digital Media Fellowship, email Hanaa Rifaey, Head of Strategic Partnerships.
Meet the Past Fellows
2023 HBCU Fellows
2022 HBCU Fellows
2021 HBCU Fellows
2019 HBCU Fellows
2018 HBCU Fellows
2017 HBCU Fellows
2016 HBCU Fellows
2015 HBCU Fellows
2014 HBCU Fellows
