Experience of a Lifetime: A Tour of CNN
Georgia State Journalism 3010 students embark on their tour of CNN’s headquarters (GSU).
CNN – a highly respected news source that’s served as one of the world’s leading news outlets throughout the past three decades. On September 18, my classmates and I had the pleasure of going behind the scenes of CNN’s headquarters located in Atlanta, Georgia.
Swearing, laughing, tension, cohesion – organized chaos. This was the environment of the CNN workplace. Each employee was laser-focused on one task, and one task only, doing their job.
“If we get things wrong it doesn’t matter why or how we got them wrong, just that we screwed up — then we’re out of business”, says CNN Digital News Editor, Monte Plott.
The control room was filled with producers, directors, and technicians in constant communication. Everyone shared the same sense of urgency, while also maintaining their composure.
It was very intriguing to witness first-hand how everyday individuals worked as a unit to provide breaking news to the public. Furthermore, I was impressed by the due diligence of the editors as they fact-checked their journalists’ sources in a speedy time before their stories were issued out to their audience.
Plott went on to say, “The only thing we journalists have going for us is our credibility”.
About the Author:
Caleb Smith is a junior currently enrolled in the MW 12-1:15 section of Journalism 3010 at Georgia State University. His major is Journalism with a concentration in Broadcasting. Follow Caleb on Instagram @Mindofsolomon.