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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 91̽�� 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 91̽�� 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.

About WOUB Public Media

As a member station of both NPR and PBS, WOUB Public Media is a trusted source of news, local content and educational resources that have proven to be worthy of the time, effort and support of our users. WOUB, an experiential-learning unit of the Scripps College of Communication at 91̽��, is a non-profit, community-supported multimedia organization which provides online and broadcast services, along with non-broadcast educational services and student professional development. WOUB serves 55 counties throughout southeastern Ohio, western West Virginia and eastern Kentucky with its broadcast signals. WOUB Radio’s FM Network has transmitters in Athens, Chillicothe, Ironton, Zanesville and Cambridge, while WOUB AM serves the immediate Athens area. WOUB TV is made up of seven television channels (WOUB HD, WOUB Classic, WOUB World, WOUB Create, WOUB Ohio, WOUB Kids and WOUB Voicecorps Reading Service) which are broadcast from two transmitters.

Through its support of public service, teaching, research and administrative missions, along with its high-quality local content and programming, WOUB enriches, enhances and expands the lives and horizons of the people in the communities it serves, as well as 91̽�� faculty, staff and students.