Fusion, USC To Offer Fellowships

Fusion will partner with the USC Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism to offer working fellowships to graduates specializing in specific journalistic areas.

The fellowships will fall within three units; digital storytelling, investigative reporting and documentary production, according to the network. As part of the fellowship program, three recent graduates will be hired annually to work for the pop culture news network Fusion, a joint venture of Univision Communications Inc., and the Disney/ABC television network. 

Fellows will work for an initial six-month period at either the network’s Miami headquarters or Los Angeles production offices and will be assigned to one of Fusion’s production units.

“Millennials are the most socially and culturally connected generation, so we have to think beyond the traditional modes of journalism,” said Fusion CEO Isaac Lee in a statement. “By creating a pipeline of innovation between Fusion and the world’s best journalism schools like USC Annenberg, Fusion can continue to push the envelope and develop new ways to communicate with this young, diverse generation.” 

R. Thomas Umstead

R. Thomas Umstead serves as senior content producer, programming for Multichannel News, Broadcasting + Cable and Next TV. During his more than 30-year career as a print and online journalist, Umstead has written articles on a variety of subjects ranging from TV technology, marketing and sports production to content distribution and development. He has provided expert commentary on television issues and trends for such TV, print, radio and streaming outlets as Fox News, CNBC, the Today show, USA Today, The New York Times and National Public Radio. Umstead has also filmed, produced and edited more than 100 original video interviews, profiles and news reports featuring key cable television executives as well as entertainers and celebrity personalities.