Scripps College of Communication to offer two graduate workshops July 17 and 24

The Scripps College of Communication will offer two professional, graduate workshops in July: interacting with the media for non-journalists and crisis communication. Both workshops will be virtual and offer one credit hour toward their corresponding graduate certificate.

The interacting with the media for non-journalists’ workshop will be held on July 17 and co-taught by former Washington Post ombudsman Andrew Alexander and E.W. Scripps School of Journalism Director Emeriti Tom Hodson. John Born, former Ohio Department of Public Safety director, will facilitate the crisis communication workshop on July 24.

“In today’s rapidly changing media environment, we interact with media in our jobs, as small business owners, as public officials, and in our charitable and non-profit work. We also are consumed by media in our daily personal lives,” Hodson said. “But we don’t have the basic tools to handle those engagements with the maximum effectiveness.”

The interacting with the media for non-journalists’ workshop will include direct instruction, group discussion and individual exercises. It is designed to provide fundamental media training to make participants more comfortable and effective promoting their product or idea.

Participants will identify and examine their own current media use, learn interview techniques, and develop a media strategy for their chosen organization.

Alexander has over four decades in the news business and teaches journalism and media courses at OHIO. Hodson brings his experience interacting with media as a journalist, teacher, administrator and public official.

The workshop functions as the first component in the interacting with the media for non-journalists graduate certificate.

The crisis communication workshop will combine direct instruction, guest speakers, and hands-on exercises, like developing a crisis communication outline for an organization they select.

“There is a significant national gap in formal and relevant education to prepare communication professionals and leaders when a crisis impacts an organization,” Born said. “Ohio University, and particularly the Scripps College of Communication, is uniquely positioned to deliver this educational experience that will deliver practical applications.”

Previous workshops were praised by attendees for offering knowledgeable instruction and opportunities to apply what they learned.

The workshop functions as the first component in the crisis communication graduate certificate

Register here by July 14 for the interacting with the media for non-journalists workshop, and here by July 21 for the crisis communication workshop. The cost of each workshop is $450.