By: Radhika Patel
4 press conferences to prepare for, 3 focus areas to prepare with, and 2 days to prepare in is no easy task, especially for the scholars of the Communications and Social Theory class of Bellarmine University. After the sudden cancellation of Congressman John Yarmuth’s visit with the Communications focus area this past Monday, a spontaneous change in plans instigated these scholars’ eager anticipation of the press conferences, held on Wednesday.
When the journalists of Bella’s Journalism and Mass Media focus area adjoined with Tim’s Communications class at the renowned Hillary’s a week before, sparks flew and ideas were ignited. Both classes were challenged to imagine hypothetical political scenarios; ideas ranged from the incorporation of casinos in the state of Kentucky to the implementation of a new software in all Apple devices specifically for the purpose of catching criminals. Each scholar was then expected to step into the role that came with each press conference; scholars in the Communications class reemerged as governors, press secretaries, and CEOs while Bella’s class avidly penned questions as journalists to ask the various celebrities.
To assure the press conferences ran smoothly, the Communications class focused indicatively on the plethora of distinct questions the journalists were bound to ask. In order to help prepare the scholars to properly “answer” each question, Tim showed examples of politicians who display a range of question-answering strategies, such as Kellyanne Conley, who serves as a counselor to the president, and the numerous candidates who partook in the Democratic Presidential Primary Debates of June.
Scholars then practiced the new techniques they had just learned by joining with their respective press conference panels, and debating issues that may come up on Wednesday. When asked how these controversial questions had prepared her, Marina Smart of Murray High School revealed, “It has prepared me for amicable debate. You have to separate your own views from your person and from what other scholars believe.”
As Tim went around and asked potential questions, a collective light could be seen in the scholars’ eyes as they realized that their newfound passion for their topics could also apply in real-life scenarios. In fact, Ben Wilson of Ballard High School stated, “The ability to prepare for difficult questions is something that you can carry into the world. This is very helpful for job interviews and just college itself.”
It is prevalent that Tim has equipped the scholars of the Communications and Social Theory class fully for this Wednesday’s conferences. As the rest of the campus awaits eagerly for news of the results, one can immediately ascertain that these scholars are well on the path to discovering the forces that affect them as individuals.
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