As a Communication and Media studies major at St.Norbert College I was able to study human interaction and expression to further understand oral, written, and multimedia theories, and how to apply these theories to be able to persuade, inform, and educate others. Being able to apply the knowledge I have obtained allows me to create media content, craft corporate messages for business communications, create marketing for products and services, and analyze the relationship between communication and its impact on society.
As a central component, the Communication and Media Studies major (with a media concentration) face the challenge of keeping up to date with the latest trends, technologies, and debates as well as transforming students into socially-aware individuals who critically analyze the ways in which media reflects, represents, and influences society and the world as a whole. With my involvement in courses such as Media effects and Persuasion, my perception of the media I am consuming has become more complex. From this exposure I am able to point out the effects that violent video games have on behavior, analyze the underlying messages hidden in various advertisements, the negative effects of hegemonic masculinity portrayed in television series, and the media bias that is present in news sources. In today’s society when we rely on technology and media to obtain all of our information and communicate it is important to be able to decipher between reliable and unreliable sources. I decided on this path because being able to research and communicate messages are some of the most fundamental skills an educated individual can obtain regardless of their future career path.
While all of the theories and critical thinking will assist me after graduation, being involved in my courses have also advanced my writing and presentation skills. Assignments that have assisted in this were weekly reading engagements in Media Effects, the comprehensive – argument based quizzes in Media Law and Regulation, and the creative design of an advertisement campaign in Persuasion. These all have helped me to think critically and present my ideas in a clear and concise way. Due to all of my involvement I am confident in my ability to create content regardless of the topic and context and present said material in a coherent and professional manner.
In regard to my research involvement I was able to take part in Media Effects, which focused on various studies centered around topics such as: violent video games and the connection to behavior, the impact of television on child development, and the lasting impact of fear. This allowed me to concentrate on the cause and effects that various media outlets have on its consumers and the lasting effect that resides after interaction. For my personal research project engagement I looked into how Disney Princess films affect young girl’s perceptions of love and gender roles in connection to their future relationships. Being able to look at multiple studies allowed me to understand the data behind the research and write a strong analysis and argument that supported my report.
Over the past four years, I was involved in various internships that allowed me to take my knowledge and participate through means of work experience. I was fortunate enough to study abroad in Dublin Ireland for a semester in addition to Interning with a local organization. I was partnered with Fighting Blindness which is a non-profit that funds research focused on curing blindness and other sight impairments. While being a Communication and Marketing Intern I was able to further my Communication experience by being in charge of creating media content, specifically #EyeSpy Wednesday posts, which included a weekly fact about sight and various conditions. I also took part in planning their annual Retina event which involved scientists discussing their findings and networking taking place between individuals with seeing impairments to raise funds towards further research. Finally, I was able to gain insight into the power of having a celebrity influencer connected to a cause or organization. At our event they had guest speakers including the Minister of Finance, Paschal Donohoe, as well as their celebrity ambassador Victoria Smurfit. Victoria’s daughter Evie has a sight impairment and has been partnered with the organization for countless years in the form of an ambassador. This partnership is great because it allows Evie to support a cause that hits close to home for her, while also having a positive effect on so many others involved in the sight loss community. Having this opportunity has given me the experience needed to further my future goals and endeavors, regardless of where my career path takes me.
As my time at St. Norbert comes to a close, I am hoping to secure a career in PR. The reason I have leaned towards PR is due to taking my obtained knowledge and experience to protect, enhance, or build reputations through various media platforms including media, social media, or self-produced media. To be able to find the positive messages and translate it into a positive story when the news isn’t positive allows for mitigation on the damage that could have been generated.This role shows just how influential and important communication is, and the power that media platforms have in getting that message across to various individuals.
