Behind the Scenes of CNN’s World Headquarters

 Every aspiring journalist needs to go on this tour

Computers light up as CNN writers create content that is broadcast around the world.| Photo by Madison Dedmon

 By Madison Dedmon

 Since I was a teenager, I have known that I wanted to be a journalist. So, when given the chance to go on an exclusive CNN tour, I could not pass it up. Monte Plott, a distinguished digital news editor with CNN, was my tour guide.

Instead of doing the typical tour, we were given an in-depth look inside: how writers and producers scramble to get news broadcast around the world. The tour started at 9 a.m. in a packed the newsroom.

The sound of fingers firing away at the keyboard was audible as soon as I entered the main newsroom. Seeing everyone quickly move around to make deadlines filled me with excitement.

I felt a sense of belonging and wanted to be a part of the organized madness. Monitors plastered with CNN content and current digital trends caught my attention. Something else that caught my eye was the desk of a familiar face. It was Christina Maxouris, a digital news intern and fellow Georgia State University journalism major.

Her experience of getting hired as an intern for CNN really was motivating. She had applied over and over again for the past two years, but never took no for an answer. Maxouris said she polished her writing and continued to email her work to editors. Finally, she was offered a position.

Since starting her internship, Maxouris said she has had over 40 bylines in just one month.

This was motivating to hear – someone who has been rejected from a CNN internship just kept applying and honing in on journalistic skills.

Next, we went to the control room where producers and technical directors oversee live broadcasts all the way in Washington D.C.

From there, we went to the CNN Sports area.We were not able to go inside, but it was still interesting to watch through the windows. Just being in that atmosphere made me feel a sense of belonging.

I realized that I could see myself working for CNN one day. However, I know I need to keep working on writing and reporting skills to be a credible journalist.

Plott summed it up this way: “As journalists, the only thing we have is our credibility. That means getting it right-getting everything right-from beginning to end.”