Written by Lewis Donaldson
Where do I even start? I sat down to write and I’m not sure I can say everything I want to in this blog. I’ve learned so much and had the chance to do so many things over the last three years.
I’ll do my best. Here’s an insight into what it’s really like to study communication…
Make a TV show
Yep. There aren’t too many other places where you can do this.
Over three months, our Communication class worked together to produce Discovery Den, a kids TV show for local daycare students.
Ideating, planning, scripting, editing, painting, sourcing props, building the set, conducting experiments, building puppets, rehearsing, and of course, presenting.
Science, story-time, craft, an animal quiz and a masterclass in toothbrushing. Five segments, five presenters and an audience of four-year-olds.
Radio
The Bathurst campus has its very own radio station AND national news service.
This year marks 50 years of the community radio station 2MCE. Students like me can get on air to present programs like Community Drive or the Talking Newspaper – or make their own show.
Charles Sturt has its own newsroom to produce National Radio News – a news service broadcast across Australia to more than 80 stations and 1.5 million Australians.
Having the chance to work in the newsroom whilst studying, putting theory to practice and working with journalist mentors is, personally, the best bit of the degree and studying on-campus.
The people you meet
We met and heard from communication alumni and faces from the field, including people like Edwina Bartholomew, Emma Alberici and Jane Hutcheon.
Stan Grant provided a workshop in the TV studio too – speaking about his career and providing great advice on asking better questions. He showed us exactly how when he flipped the script and interviewed Ali and myself – pulling out answers we didn’t even know about ourselves.
And the places you go…
Some of our Communication class had the chance to visit media outlets in Sydney to get an insight into the industry.
We visited 2GB where we met some of the faces behind the radio, like Mark Levy, and toured the ABC’s new Parramatta facilities.
And the content creation too
Plenty of chances for that.
From mock-reporting on the 1986 Space Shuttle Challenger disaster to election coverage, from producing podcasts on digital technology and sustainability to presenting a satirical piece on food waste.
There have been so many chances to make use of the creative spaces, like the podcast rooms and TV studio to make content and refine our skills.
The other stuff
Then there are the opportunities for placement, the scholarships, writing blogs for Charlie, creating social content for the university, and the majors (News and Media, Strategic Communication, and Design and Content Creation).
But I’ll wrap it up here. That’s an insight into what it’s really like to study communication.
Charlie blog is a SSAF initiative.
