Communiqué

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WOUB and Scripps College will host a panel discussion with recent alumni on how to balance career and mental heath


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The discussion will be held on Friday, January 26 at 1 p.m.

ATHENS, OH – The world of media and journalism is fast-paced and exciting, but as young media professionals enter the industry the responsibility of providing truthful and accurate news and information, along with the emotional impact of the stories they are covering, can be difficult to balance. That’s why WOUB Public Media and the Scripps College of Communication are hosting a panel discussion called Mindful Media: Balancing Truth, Journalism and Mental Health with three recent Ohio University graduates on Friday, January 26.

Alumni Lexi Lepof ’23, Zanovia Criss ’22 and Will Price ’22, who worked at WOUB Public Media while they were students, will talk about their personal and professional growth since graduation with a focus on mental health. The discussion will seek to unravel the complexities faced by aspiring journalists as they navigate the dynamic landscape of truth-seeking and storytelling. The group will discuss the unique mental health pressures associated with reporting on impactful events. Attendees will gain valuable insights into self-care practices, resilience-building strategies, and the importance of maintaining mental well-being in the pursuit of journalistic excellence. The panel will be moderated by WOUB News Editor-in-Chief Atish Baidya.

“Because of the amazing education they receive at Ohio University and the hands-on training WOUB provides to students, many graduates go into high-level media positions right after graduation,” said Baidya. “And that means they are quickly covering stories with major impact for their communities. Some of those stories are tragic in nature and hard to process. This discussion is an important one for media professionals to be having at all levels, but it’s even more important for those just entering the industry so they can prepare and develop strategies on how to handle the intensity and pressure of the job and balance their life.”

The event is open to everyone. A lunch reception will be held in the Schoonover Center’s Lasher Learning Center (SCHN 130) starting at noon. The panel discussion will follow at 1 p.m. in Schoonover 145. Funding for this event was provided by the Doug Drew WOUB Student Professional Development Fund.