Reporter Alum Receives HBCU Fellowship

Aiyana Ishmael, who served as social media director for The Reporter during the 2017-18 school year, was awarded the 2019 HBCU Digital Media Fellowship as part of the Online News Association, a non-profit digital journalism organization. 

Ishmael, 22, did the three-day fellowship on Sept. 12-14 in New Orleans. She learned about creating multimedia packages, approaches to digital reporting and worked alongside a mentor during the annual ONA conference. 

“Journalism is the only career I’ve ever actually wanted to pursue and I think everyone struggles with not feeling good enough,” said Ishmael, who earned an associate of arts degree in mass communications from Kendall Campus in 2018. “It feels good to know your hard work isn’t going unnoticed.”

Ishmael currently serves as editor-in-chief of Journey, the student magazine of Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University. She is expected to graduate in 2021 with a bachelor’s degree in broadcast journalism.