CNN Anchor Gives Campus Talk | Schools

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CNN Anchor Gives Campus Talk

Submitted by GCSU

Thursday, February 21st, 2013, 3:32pm

Topics: Schools

Jonathan Mann, CNN International anchor, visited Georgia College to share his media experiences with mass communication students.

Mann met with TV newscast and video theory and practice students during the meeting.

“My advanced video students were able to interact with one of the most thoughtful and articulate TV journalists working in the field today,” said Dr. James Schiffman, assistant professor in the Department of Mass Communication and former chief copy editor at CNNI.

“Jon Mann generously shared his thoughts on what elements are needed for compelling visual storytelling. He also offered students a firsthand perspective about how TV journalists go about developing and producing interesting stories.”

The meeting took place in the university's Arts and Sciences Building where Mann talked to students about visual storytelling elements such as space, motion, diversity, depth and narrative.

“He taught me it’s never too late to start,” said Nick Burgess, junior broadcasting student. “I want to go into foreign correspondence, sports casting or political broadcasting. This experience with him showed me that media isn’t such a scary, competitive place after all but a field you have to work your way into just like any other.”

Currently, Mann works as an anchor and correspondent for CNNI based in Atlanta. For 30 years, he has worked in print, radio and TV journalism.

Mann is a leading member of CNNI’s team, covering topics from the 2012 U.S. presidential election and Haiti’s devastating 7.0-magnitude earthquake to South African anti-apartheid activist Nelson Mandela’s release from prison.

His international news portfolio also includes traveling to Oslo, Norway, annually to cover “The Prize for Peace,” a special program that focuses on the winner of the Nobel Peace Prize.

“I hope students came away with a greater appreciation of how to work as a visual storyteller,” said Schiffman, “particularly how journalism can be a rewarding, worthwhile and adventurous undertaking.”