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Communication Skills

Digital Journalism · Level 6  ·  5 Chapters

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What Communication Skills covers

Communication Skills in Digital Journalism Level 6 covers how messages move between people, from picking a channel to working in a group. It starts with the communication process, its principles, barriers, flow and patterns, sources of information and organisational policies. Written communication follows, with its types, elements and organisational requirements. Non-verbal work covers body language, gestures, posture and the workplace dressing code. Oral communication adds questioning techniques, etiquette and active listening. The last outcome is group discussion: establishing rapport, developing action plans, turn-taking, conflict resolution and team-work.

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Careers after Communication Skills

Communication Skills prepares a digital journalism graduate to deal with colleagues, sources and audiences in writing, in speech and in groups.

  • Online news desks in Nairobi - write copy to the organisation's requirements and pick the channel that suits the message and the audience.
  • Corporate communication offices in Nakuru - apply written and oral communication, workplace etiquette and the dressing code when representing an employer.
  • County information offices in Eldoret - use questioning techniques and active listening in interviews and public meetings.
  • Community engagement teams in Machakos - build rapport, lead group discussions, develop action plans and settle disagreements with conflict resolution techniques.
  • Freelance writing and editing services in Thika - choose between formal and informal written forms, follow a client's requirements and communicate clearly with each client in person and online.

The five outcomes of the unit are all used in these roles: channels, writing, body language, speaking and group work.

Chapters

1
Apply communication channels.
8 topics
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2
Apply written communication skills.
3 topics
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3
Apply non-verbal communication skills
4 topics
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4
Apply oral communication skills.
4 topics
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5
Apply group discussion skills
7 topics
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What Communication Skills covers: 25 main topics in 5 chapters

1. Apply communication channels.

  1. 1.1 Communication process
  2. 1.2 Principles of effective communication
  3. 1.3 Channels/medium/modes of communication
  4. 1.4 Factors to consider when selecting a channel of communication
  5. 1.5 Barriers to effective communication
  6. 1.6 Flow/patterns of communication
  7. 1.7 Sources of information
  8. 1.8 Organizational policies

2. Apply written communication skills.

  1. 2.1 Types of written communication
  2. 2.2 Elements of communication
  3. 2.3 Organization requirements for written communication

3. Apply non-verbal communication skills

  1. 3.1 Utilize body language and gestures
  2. 3.2 Apply body posture
  3. 3.3 Apply workplace dressing code

4. Apply oral communication skills.

  1. 4.1 Types of oral communication pathways
  2. 4.2 Effective questioning techniques
  3. 4.3 Workplace etiquette
  4. 4.4 Active listening

5. Apply group discussion skills

  1. 5.1 Establishing rapport
  2. 5.2 Facilitating resolution of issues
  3. 5.3 Developing action plans
  4. 5.4 Group organization techniques
  5. 5.5 Turn-taking techniques
  6. 5.6 Conflict resolution techniques
  7. 5.7 Team-work

Revise this unit

Exam-style questions 70 Written to CDACC standard, with answers Test yourself 162 Multiple-choice, one at a time Practise questions 124 Quick recall — check you know the facts
3 more for this unit
Oral exam preparation 36 What the assessor asks, and how to answer out loud Worked calculations 22 Step-by-step maths with the common mistakes Quick cards 787 Myth busters, skill tips and scenarios

Beyond the syllabus

Decision simulator 4 On site, what would you do? Workplace scenarios 81 Real site situations — what would you do? Turn this into income 48 Where this skill earns — what to charge, how to find clients

Other units in Module I