Six students from Florida A&M University (FAMU), including two students from the School of Journalism & Graphic Communication (SJGC), recently attended Bloomberg’s HBCU Academy of Excellence in New York City, gaining first-hand exposure to the world of business journalism and financial reporting.
The three-day program brought together more than 70 students from Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) from across the nation. The initiative, part of Bloomberg’s larger diversity and inclusion efforts, promotes traditionally underrepresented students’ career aspirations in business and finance journalism.
The FAMU students were selected from an applicant pool of more than 800 scholars and included SJGC students Micah Barkley, editor in chief of the FAMUAN, and Cordell Jones, the FAMUAN’s chief of staff. Rattlers Carlynn Andrews, Amari Brown, Tosin Jolagun and Jalen Mason were also part of the 2024 cohort.
In her LinkedIn post, Barkley shared she and five other students were selected to be a part of the news team. As a news team member, she received insider training on “how business journalism works as a whole and how Bloomberg…creates a reputable environment and space for that work to flourish.”
Barkley was also offered an internship during a career event held on campus last week. Her internship will begin next summer.
Students in the 2024 cohort engaged in mock interviews with Bloomberg associates, increased their knowledge of financial markets and were introduced to the fundamentals of business journalism.
Mira Lowe, SJGC dean, praised the program’s impact on SJGC’s students’ professional development.
“Bloomberg’s HBCU Academy of Excellence provides a unique platform for our students to sharpen their skills and broaden their career perspectives,” she said. “Real world exposure and experiences are vital for preparing them to thrive in the evolving media landscape.”
Although they were not part of this year’s cohort, Athaiya Mack, a current SJGC public relations student, currently serves as the FAMU Bloomberg campus ambassador, and Sidney Berry, a Spring 2024 graduate who previously served as the FAMU Bloomberg campus ambassador, now holds a position with Bloomberg Media as a media rotational associate.
Bloomberg’s HBCU Academy of Excellence is held annually with the goal of building a pipeline of diverse talent in the field of business journalism. Bloomberg is currently accepting applications for undergraduate students who attend HBCUs to join the 2025 and 2026 cohorts.
As described on its website, “Bloomberg is a global leader in business and financial information, delivering trusted data, news, and insights that bring transparency, efficiency, and fairness to markets.”
