Communication skills and confidence-building for journalists: a pilot study.

Mennie, Lynne; McKay, Fiona

Abstract

The impact of lockdowns and e-learning during the COVID-19 pandemic has raised concerns about self-confidence and social anxiety emerging in students accessing higher education (Hawes et al. 2021). This has had a particularly marked effect in journalism education and employment, where strong communication and "team-player" skills are essential (Wenger et al. 2018). In attempt to improve the communication skills, confidence and resilience of a new S1 cohort, our solution was to introduce a mini module to run alongside one of their current journalism modules. This was designed and delivered by an external trainer with production, counselling, coaching and youth theatre management experience. Through a series of practical workshops and "playful" exercises, students were encouraged to develop their individual and group communication skills. In weekly, self-reflective submissions, students reported after each session feeling more confident, less anxious, more bonded as a group and more resilient. They also recognised their growth as applicable to their development as journalism students, their position as future journalists, as well as increased tranferable benefits.

Citation

MENNIE, L. and MCKAY, F. 2022. Communication skills and confidence-building for journalists: a pilot study. Presented at the 2022 RGU annual learning and teaching conference (RGU LTC 2022): enhancing for impact, 21 October 2022, Aberdeen, UK.

• Presentation Conference Type: Lecture
• Conference Name: 2022 RGU annual learning and teaching conference (RGU LTC 2022): enhancing for impact
• Conference Location: Aberdeen, UK
• Start Date: Oct 21, 2022
• Deposit Date: Mar 3, 2023
• Publicly Available Date: Mar 3, 2023
• Keywords: Journalism students; COVID-19; Self-confidence; Social anxiety
• Public URL: https://rgu-repository.worktribe.com/output/1898945