News Desk
ABU DHABI: Viory, the video news agency of the Global South, has launched a new training model aimed at closing the gap between journalism education and industry-ready skills, through its new programme NewsroomSIM.
The initiative, led by Viory’s journalism experts, immersed Abu Dhabi University (ADU) media students in a live virtual simulation of how a professional video newsroom operates. The virtual class, which took place on April 23, forms part of Viory’s wider effort to build a stronger pipeline of industry-ready journalists across the Global South.
NewsroomSIM saw ADU media students spend the day working through two structured sessions covering newsroom operations and workflow and the fundamentals of video news packaging , with sessions led by Deputy Head of Output Desk Danny Snowdon and Senior Output Editor Haya Qubbaj, providing a practical understanding of how a newsroom operates in real time.
For many of the students, NewsroomSIM offered their first real look at how a professional video newsroom functions from the inside. Across the day, they followed the core process of modern news production, from how stories are assigned and managed to how raw footage is developed into clear and compelling video content.
The impact was immediate, with students able to connect classroom learning to a live newsroom within a single day. One participant, Afnan Abdelrafi Elbakhit, Student of Mass Communication – Media Production at ADU said: “Initiatives like this workshop help clarify your career path by turning abstract ideas into real experience. Instead of just hearing about journalism or media, you actually saw how a newsroom works, what tasks are involved, how fast-paced it is, and the kind of skills required”.
Crucially, NewsroomSIM offers a direct route to employment. Top-performing participants will be awarded internships at Viory, offering a direct pathway from the classroom into a working international newsroom.
Zulayho Siddikova, General Manager of Viory, said the program was built around the belief that journalism education is most powerful when it mirrors real working conditions. “We wanted ADU students to experience not just the theory of a newsroom, but its rhythm, its pressures and its standards. The quality of engagement from participants has been exceptional, and we look forward to welcoming some of them to Viory.”
The approach was welcomed by ADU’s academic leadership. Dr. Wissam Mouawad, Associate Dean of Academic Affairs at the College of Arts, Education and Social Sciences, said: “Initiatives like NewsroomSIM are exactly what students need to bridge the gap between academic learning and professional practice. Having access to Viory’s professionals and their real-world expertise gives students a meaningful head start as they prepare to enter their professional careers“.
NewsroomSIM reflects Viory’s broader commitment to supporting media development and building stronger journalism communities across the Global South. The program forms part of its ongoing efforts to invest in emerging talent, improve the media landscape and build partnerships with academic institutions across the region.
