Meredith College Celebrates COM Week 2020

Meredith College hosted Communication (COM) Week in February, an annual tradition in which the communication department partners with the Office of Career Planning (OCP) to host a variety of events to celebrate the major and its students.

The department kicked off COM week with the second annual tour of Curtis Media Group (CMG) , the largest single-shareholder radio broadcasting company in the country. Thanks to connections made by Doug Spero, associate professor of mass communication, students were given an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at the studios where more than 80 radio stations in North Carolina are broadcast. Some of CMG’s most well known radio brands in North Carolina include Pulse FM, 94.7 QDR, STAR FM, and more.

Jud Huessler, program director and host (pictured above), even gave the students the opportunity to give Meredith College a shout-out on the air while they were visiting one of the studios.

“Our department has been partnering with Curtis Media for more than 12 years now,” said Spero. “They’ve been very good to us – they always accept opportunities to come and speak to our classes and frequently hire our students for internships.”

On Tuesday, the communication department and the Angels Suited for Success professional certificate program cosponsored “In Great Company,” a networking event at which students could practice introducing themselves, sharing their stories, and building relationships with industry professionals. Professionals from more than 10 diverse organizations were welcomed to campus, including Genworth, Issuer Direct, Biogen, Chesterbrook Academy, and Novant Health. “Our team was impressed with how engaged our students were and the level of professionalism they showed,” said Flannery Clair, Career Development Coordinator from OCP. “We heard from professionals and students alike that the event was successful and meaningful.”

Networking opportunities continued into Wednesday for the annual Spring Career Fair hosted at NC State’s McKimmon Center by OCP. More than 80 organizations were in attendance including SAS, REVGEN, Blue Cross Blue Shield, and more.

Another unique mass communication opportunity was held on Thursday when five members of the news department at ABC 11 visited Meredith for a meet and greet and panel discussion with students interested in broadcast news and public relations. The panel spoke with students about what they do, the highs and lows of the field, and internship opportunities.

COM Week concluded February 24 with the Lambda Pi Eta Honor Society induction ceremony. Members gathered with friends and family, along with several communication professors, to witness 11 new members be inducted into the society. The purpose of Lambda Pi Eta is to promote and encourage professional development among communication majors, to provide an opportunity to discuss and exchange ideas in the field of communication, and to establish and maintain closer relationships and mutual understanding between communication faculty and students.

Meredith’s Department of Communication offers concentrations in interpersonal communication, mass communication, and public relations.