Discover Our Majors: Communication

Ashley Scott, a communication major with a minor in journalism, is building a future in media one class, one campaign and one connection at a time.

“It’s only the first semester of my second year, and I’ve already had so many experiences that I can put on my resume and take with me as I move forward,” said Scott. “I’m already starting to see how the things I’m learning will connect to the real world.”

Connecting the Dots

Scott’s major courses during her first year gave her a firm foundation in communication theory. Now as a second-year student, she’s increasingly drawn to the social and practical dynamics behind the concepts she’s learning.

“I love that so much of the focus is on sociology — how people communicate and talk to each other, why it is that we interact in certain ways, and how certain technologies have evolved the way we communicate,” said Scott.

It’s helped me see just how powerful communication is in your everyday life.

In one course, Interpersonal Communication, Senior Lecturer Julie Mayberry allows Scott and her classmates to act out different concepts in communication through interactions in the classroom.

“It’s helped me see just how powerful good communication is in your everyday life,” said Scott. “Now whenever I talk with someone, I’m always thinking about how I can articulate my point more clearly.”

In another course, Introduction to Public Relations, Assistant Professor Kalyca Becktel challenges students to create mock public relations campaigns for real-world clients. Scott and her groupmates are partnering with the N.C. Department of Transportation’s Rail Division on a campaign to raise awareness about women’s safety on North Carolina railways.

The students have been meeting with representatives from the Rail Division and visiting their facilities to learn about key safety initiatives, such as a program that brings in trained volunteers to help passengers navigate stations and make their connections. Scott says the project has helped her understand the importance of fact-checking and relationship-building in crafting effective communication strategies.

“I’m learning how to become a better researcher, the differences between credible and noncredible sources, and how to work as a team to build trust with clients,” said Scott. “When we step into a professional space, it might be our agency’s reputation or our client’s reputation at stake, and we’re learning to build campaigns that rise to a professional level.”

Preparing to Shine

Scott envisions herself one day becoming a television reporter in a major media market such as New York City or Washington, D.C. Her media-related interests range widely, however, and she knows she has many experiences ahead that will shape the path she takes.

“I’m interested in investigative journalism, but I also like politics and entertainment journalism,” said Scott. “My classes have given me confidence in communicating successfully with a lot of different kinds of people, in a lot of different settings.”

Scott is eagerly pursuing activities beyond the classroom, including as a member of the Black Students Board, Public Relations Student Society of America, Black Campus Ministries and Fusion Dance Crew. She uses each of these opportunities to practice and hone her communication skills.

Her role as a student creator with University Communications and Marketing has been particularly empowering.

“This job has opened up so many doors for me,” said Scott. “My managers, Victoria and Molly, just recently connected me with a workshop that the National Association of Black Journalists is hosting in Witherspoon Student Center. It’s going to be a whole day of exciting opportunities, like learning to write press releases, how to do interviews and even create commercials.”

The skills that I’ve gained are helping me create things like mock interviews and story segments that I’ll need when applying for real-world jobs.

Scott is confident that the portfolio of experiences she’s building will serve her well in her career.

“The skills that I’ve gained are helping me create things like mock interviews and story segments that I’ll need when applying for real-world jobs,” said Scott. “It’s all helping to make my resume look a lot more professional, a lot more credible.”