Maskom graduating student Zarena Hermogeno represents PLM community at CNN Academy Fellowship Program

Fourth-year Bachelor of Arts in Communications student Zarena Hermogeno is representing the Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila community in CNN Academy’s ongoing “Voices from the South: Storytelling for Impact” fellowship.

Hermogeno is currently undergoing a two-phase international training program designed to amplify the voices of emerging storytellers from the Global South or regions such as Africa, Asia, Latin America, the Caribbean, and the Pacific.

Phase one of the fellowship program is already being held through virtual sessions on the CNN Academy Hub, running from July to October 2025. Hermogeno is currently in phase one. In this phase, fellows are taught courses centralized on ethical storytelling, reporting techniques, and global health issues.

Phase Two will be an in-person training on mobile journalism and field reporting through the CNN Academy Simulation that will be conducted in November 2025 in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates (UAE).

Upon her acceptance into the fellowship program, she conveyed her surprise, noting that she had not initially expected to be selected due to the large scope of applicants.

“I am very glad, humbled, and blessed to have this opportunity, kasi it's not all the time you land a global fellowship with over 1,800 applicants.”

The program has been an enlightening experience for Hermogeno as it has opened a global network of like-minded people for the purpose of storytelling. She emphasizes on her excitement of being accepted into the community of her fellow applicants.

“It convenes people who have a heart of journalism together. That is the heart of the fellowship, to bring people together,” she remarks.

Hermogeno expressed her deep gratitude to Ang Pamantasan and her time as a student journalist that has helped her achieve her current standing.

“I will miss campus journalism, I will miss AP, I will miss all the media organizations that I’ve participated in, and I will never forget how they helped me every step of the way…I especially give credit to my term as associate editor.”

Ultimately, she ends with a final remark—”I hope the publication [AP] is proud, I hope Liliosa is proud, I hope I've done everything I can for AP for it to be worth its while during my time. I hope I've laid the ground or seedlings for future journalists.”

Hermogeno has completed the coursework given by the academy and is awaiting further instructions to proceed to the second phase of the program.