ACE Bootcamp 2026 Program

ACE B B

ABOUT OUR PROGRAM

The Florida A&M University School of Journalism & Graphic Communication (FAMU SJGC) is one of the premier historically Black college and university (HBCU) journalism, visual, and mass communications programs in the country.

Founded in 1982, it is the first program of its kind at an HBCU to receive national accreditation. With a focus on academic excellence, experiential learning, and professional development, SJGC prepares students to be influential storytellers, communicators, and leaders who can meet and exceed the demands of a competitive, evolving media marketplace.

The second annual FAMU SJGC Accelerating Career Excellence (ACE) Broadcast Bootcamp is an immersive, three-day journalism program designed to enhance students’ skills. Sponsored by the Dow Jones News Fund and the Knight Foundation’s Chair in Inclusive Journalism, participants will gain practical experience in building their broadcast portfolios and résumés, including storytelling, newsgathering, pitching, on-air delivery, and audience engagement.

The bootcamp features professional mentors and SJGC alumni who provide personalized coaching, résumé critiques, job readiness training, and support in developing capstone projects.

Share your experiences using #ACEBroadcastBootcamp and #FAMUSJGC on social media.

Dear Students, Alumni and Special Guests,

With gratitude and Rattler pride, we welcome you to the second annual ACE Broadcast Bootcamp. Now more than ever, the changing media landscape demands journalists that our communities can trust to empower them with information and accurate storytelling.

According to a recent Pew Research study, Americans report feeling overwhelmed, doubtful, compelled, curious, and selective about the information they choose to engage with. Further underscoring just why the work you are doing during this week’s bootcamp will help newsrooms and communities flourish, as we send students out into the world to make an impact.

Thanks to the generous support of the Dow Jones News Fund and the Knight Foundation Chair of Inclusive Journalism, this bootcamp will offer immersive training and meaningful guidance from experts in their fields, ensuring our scholars are prepared for the industry’s present and future course.

To our students: We encourage you to fully embrace this opportunity. Connect with mentors, ask thoughtful questions, learn from your assignments, collaborate with peers, and push through obstacles designed to make you resilient. The experience you gain will not only enhance your current skill set but also position you for longterm success.

To our mentors, speakers, and sponsors: Thank you for your commitment and investment. Your contributions strengthen our training programs and help advance the broader news and media ecosystem.

We look forward to watching our students grow throughout this program and ultimately become alumni who embody our university’s motto, “Excellence with Caring,” in every newsroom they enter.

Sincerely,

Mira Lowe Dean, School of Journalism & Graphic Communication

Florida A&M University

ACE CHAIR’S WELCOME

Dear Mentees,

On behalf of the mentors of SJGC’s ACE Broadcast Bootcamp, we are excited to welcome you to this three-day, hands-on experience.

You have chosen to invest your time sharpening your skills, expanding your thinking, and challenging yourself—an early sign of your commitment and potential. This bootcamp is more than a learning experience; it is an opportunity to grow in your chosen profession.

You will build a solid foundation in journalism fundamentals, including news gathering, interviewing, and fieldwork, while receiving hands-on coaching in reporting, producing, anchoring, visual storytelling, scriptwriting, narration, and editing.

Additionally, we will focus on on-air performance and delivery, while sharing practical guidance on pitching and researching stories, managing deadlines, navigating breaking news, and planning your career. You will also gain productivity and professional development strategies to help you stand out in today’s competitive media marketplace.

Led by Florida A&M University alumni and supporters, this bootcamp reflects the SJGC legacy of producing impactful journalists and media professionals. Let the skills you gain this week help you carry that legacy forward with pride and purpose.

Remember, journalism is about more than presenting the news; it is about informing communities, engaging audiences, and making an impact. Be bold, disciplined, and confident that your voice has value.

Sincerely,

Rod Carter Class of 1990 Anchor, WNCN, Raleigh

ABOUT OUR SPONSORS

For more than six decades, the Dow Jones News Fund has prepared thousands of journalists and journalism educators who have gone on to prestigious careers at respected American media. DJNF alumni include Pulitzer Prize winners, founders of the National Association of Black Journalists and the Online News Association, as well as industry leaders who are redefining the culture of major newsrooms.

For 75 years, the Knight Foundation has supported the people, ideas and insights that lead to thriving communities. The foundation invests in local journalism, arts and culture, and community development. Since 1990, the Knight Foundation has endowed 26 chairs and professors at 23 universities nationwide, including FAMU, advancing media and journalism education in the digital age.

MEET OUR MENTORS

DAMANY LEWIS

WSOC TV–CHARLOTTE, NORTH

(Broadcast Journalism, ‘00)

CAROLINA

Damany Lewis anchors WSOC Channel 9’s “Eyewitness News This Morning,” Monday through Friday. He has nearly two decades experience in broadcasting. A Chicago native, he also worked at WPXI-NBC in Pittsburgh, where he won several Emmys for his anchoring and reporting, and as an anchor/reporter for the ABC and NBC stations in Sacramento. Prior to that, he covered numerous stories that affected the community for WXII 12 in Winston-Salem. Additionally, he worked at Jacksonville’s WJXT on the front lines covering hurricane season and police and education beats.

LANETRA BENNETT

WCTV EYEWITNESS NEWS–TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA

(Broadcast Journalism, ‘00)

Lanetra Bennett is an award-winning news anchor and reporter at WCTV, the CBS affiliate in Tallahassee, her hometown. She began working at WCTV as an associate producer in 2001, eventually producing the 10:00 newscast, and later became a reporter. Today, she is the co-anchor of “The Good Morning Show” and single anchor of “Eyewitness News at Noon.” The “Good Morning Show” won “Best Morning Show” in 2020 and “Best Midday Newscast” in 2024 by the Florida Association of Broadcast Journalists. She was voted Tallahassee Magazine’s “Best TV Personality” in 2023.

LENTHEUS CHANEY

WTXL ABC 27–TALLAHASSEE,

FLORIDA

Lentheus Chaney is a multimedia journalist at WTXL in Tallahassee. He has a strong passion for storytelling that informs, entertains, and inspires. He began his career as a self-taught writer, editor, and publisher of a magazine, all from his home. He recently earned a bachelor’s degree in journalism and media communication from Colorado State University. Chaney has served as an editor for various magazines and contributed as a freelance reporter at a prominent African American community newspaper in Georgia.

MEET OUR MENTORS

MARIAH WIGGS

WHNT NEWS 19–HUNTSVILLE, ALABAMA

(Broadcast Journalism, ‘22)

Mariah Wiggs, a Florida native, is the inaugural Host of WHNT News 19’s new lifestyle show, “Day to Day with Mariah.” Not only has she etched her name in News 19 history in just four years since beginning her career, but she has also fulfilled multiple roles, including MMJ and weekend morning anchor. While working at News 19, she continued her studies at Florida State University, earning a Master of Science in Professional Communication in December 2024. She also hosts many programs and galas for various organizations and educational events.

ROD CARTER

WNCN CBS 17, RALEIGH, NORTH CAROLINA

(Broadcast Journalism, ‘90)

Rod Carter is a weeknight evening anchor at CBS 17, joining the station after nearly two decades at WFLA in Tampa. He serves as an adjunct professor at FAMU SJGC, teaching reporting and writing, and previously taught at St. Augustine’s University. He is the founding chair of the ACE Broadcast Boot Camp and led the former NABJ–FAMU Journalism Short Course. He’s held several leadership roles within the National Association of Black Journalists, including board secretary and 50th Anniversary Committee chair. He is pursuing a Ph.D. in adult and continuing education at the University of Tennessee–Knoxville.

SAUNDRA WEATHERS

SPECTRUM

BAY NEWS 9–TAMPA, FLORIDA

(Broadcast Journalism, ‘09)

Saundra Weathers is a senior reporter at Spectrum Bay News 9, where she has worked for 12 years. She reports on a wide range of topics and has a series dedicated to social justice stories called “Justice for All.” With her reporting, she’s able to amplify the issues in underserved communities and help communities find solutions. She is the president of the Tampa Bay Association of Black Journalists and Emmy award-winning journalist. Her impactful reporting has led to changes in legislation and garnered her awards from the Associated Press and the Society of Professional Journalists.

MEET OUR MENTEES

In order of appearance.

BACK ROW

VALDEMAR CARNEGIE

Senior, Journalism

Palm Beach County, Florida

KANDON FEARS

Senior, Journalism

Atlanta, Georgia

AMBER STOTHART-ARAUZ

Senior, Journalism

Bronx, New York

ELIJAH LOTT

Junior, Journalism

Jacksonville, Florida

KYAH STORNIOLO

Senior, Journalism

Pensacola, Florida

FRONT ROW ELYZA KATES

Junior, Journalism

Fort Lauderdale, Florida

AUTUMN HADDOX

Junior, Journalism

Nashville, Tennessee

NOT PICTURED ALICIA ADAMS

Senior, Journalism

Ocoee, Florida

SARAH ALLI BROWN

Senior, Journalism

Chicago, Illinois

MEET OUR GUEST SPEAKERS

BRIAN JACKSON ANCHOR, GOOD DAY CHICAGO

Brian Jackson is a Chicago native and Good Day Chicago anchor at FOX 32, where he helps viewers start their day with stories that inform, connect, and resonate. His career has taken him across the country — with stops in Washington, D.C., Florida, and Seattle — before returning home to Chicago. Along the way, he’s built a reputation as a versatile journalist, contributing as an anchor, reporter, and sports anchor when needed. That range allows him to bring energy, perspective, and authenticity to every story he tells.

KIM GODWIN FORMER PRESIDENT, ABC NEWS (Broadcast Journalism, ‘84)

Kim Godwin retired after an unparalleled 40-year career in broadcast journalism. She was most recently president of ABC News, making history as the first African American to lead a national broadcast news network and the first woman and person of color to hold the position in the network’s history.

Under her leadership, the news network remained No. 1 in America. As an experienced executive, Godwin has held positions at the vice president level or higher at all major networks: ABC, CBS, and NBC. She is a seven-time Emmy-winning producer.

SHAQUILLE BREWSTER CORRESPONDENT, NBC NEWS

Shaquille Brewster is an NBC News Correspondent. Based in Chicago, “Shaq” covers national stories and breaking news across the network’s programs and digital platforms including TODAY, Nightly News, MSNBC, and NBC News Now. His coverage has included extensive reporting on the murder of George Floyd, trial of Derek Chauvin and police reform efforts. A Forbes “30 Under 30” honoree, he covered the 2024 presidential election with a focus on highlighting and amplifying conversations with voters and the issues that mattered most to them. His coverage has extended from mass shootings and crime to hurricanes and the Olympics.

AGENDA

THURSDAY, APRIL 9, 2026

DAY 1: STORYTELLING AND WRITING ESSENTIALS

8:00 AM – 9:00 AM | SJGC Gallery

Breakfast

9:00 – 9:30 AM | Room 2040

You Had Me at Hello

Kickoff Introductions: Who are you and why are you here?

9:30 – 10:30 AM | Room 2040

Hook, Line, and Sinker

Storytelling that grabs attention from the first word.

10:30 – 11:30 AM | Room 2040

Scoop It Like You Mean It

News gathering, interviews, and chasing the story.

11:30 AM – 12:00 PM | Room 2040

Make Me Believe

Structuring stories to make them compelling, clear, and punchy.

12:00 – 1:30 PM | SJGC Gallery

Lunch & Learn: Ask Us Anything

Speaker:

Brian Jackson, Anchor, Good Day Chicago & Former Anchor, WTXL Tallahassee

2:00 – 3:00 PM | Room 2040

Write On!

Creativity without losing clarity and writing that sings.

3:00 – 4:00 PM | Room 2040

Mic Check, Please!

Using your voice, diction, and personality on air.

4:00 – 4:30 PM | Room 2040

Daily Wrap

Recap, homework, and prepping for tomorrow.

Homework for Day 1:

Pitch three story ideas (one big enterprise story outside of campus).

FRIDAY, APRIL 10, 2026

DAY 2: STORY DEVELOPMENT AND COACHING

8:00 AM – 9:00 AM | SJGC Gallery Breakfast

9:00 – 9:15 AM | Lecture Hall Room 2002

Back in the Spotlight

Reintroduction and daily overview.

9:15 – 10:15 AM | Lecture Hall Room 2002

Pitch Please!

Present story ideas and defend your concept.

10:15 – 10:45 AM | Lecture Hall Room 2002

Beat the Clock

Time management tricks when deadlines are breathing down your neck.

10:45 – 11:15 AM | Lecture Hall Room 2002

Breaking But Keeping It Together

Handling breaking news without losing your cool.

11:20 AM – 12:00 PM | Lecture Hall Room 2002

Reclaim Your Prime Time

Maximizing your productivity under pressure.

12:00 – 1:30 PM | SJGC Gallery

Lunch & Learn: Ask Us Anything

Speaker:

Kim Godwin, SJGC Alumna, Former President, ABC News

1:30 – 4:30 PM | TV-Studio A, Control Room A, TV-Studio B (Interview Set), Computer Lab 3052, Broadcast Newsroom

Mentor Mashup: Hands-On Hustle

Rotating coaching sessions: photography, anchoring, interviews, and producing.

4:30 PM – 5:00 PM | Wrap and Reflect Wrap-up, homework, Q&A, and reflection.

Homework for Day 2:

Choose one TURNABLE story for production on Saturday.

SATURDAY, APRIL 11, 2026

DAY 3: PRODUCTION AND CRITIQUE

8:00 AM – 9:00 AM | SJGC Gallery

Breakfast

9:00 – 9:15 AM | Classroom 1003

Lights, Camera…Ready?

Prep for the day and final story selection.

9:15 AM – 12:00 PM | Camera Checkout Room, SJGC First Floor

Go Shoot or Go Home

Students gather footage, and mentors provide guidance.

12:00 – 1:30 PM | SJGC Gallery

Lunch & Learn: Ask Us Anything

Featuring:

Shaquille Brewster, Correspondent, NBC News

1:30 – 2:30 PM | Computer Lab 3052, Convergence Newsroom

No Draft Dodging

Writing your story under mentor guidance.

2:30 – 2:45 PM | Computer Lab 3052, Convergence Newsroom

Talk the Talk

Voiceover training and narration practice.

2:45 – 4:00 PM | Computer Lab 3052, Convergence Newsroom Package It Up

Editing, assembling, and polishing your story package.

4:30 PM – 5:30 PM | Computer Lab 3052, Convergence Newsroom

Screen Test & Debrief

Viewing student stories, feedback, and celebration.

5:30 PM – Until | SJGC Gallery Dinner