Journalism, Media Studies & Communications Textbooks

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Messages that Matter: Public Speaking in the Information Age - Third Edition

Contributors: Misner and Carr

Publisher: North Idaho College

License: CC BY

Messages that Matter: Public Speaking in the Information Age is a student-focused textbook that provides practical and real-world instruction in the art of public speaking, with a focus on how speakers can learn to communicate with diverse audiences to achieve their primary goal of being understood as intended. Using an audience-centered approach, Messages that Matter provides instruction on: audience analysis, overcoming speaker anxiety, research techniques for speakers, how to practice and refine delivery, persuasion techniques, and group presentation fundamentals.

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Communication and Teamwork Skills to Support Neurodiversity

Contributors: Menhenett, Milne, and Krishnan

Publisher: Deakin University

License: CC BY-NC

A significant challenge for neurodivergent students is the transition to studying in a new environment. This book focuses on assisting students with this transition by guiding them through different learning activities and information to support the team-based learning they will engage in during their degree. The resources in this book are designed to be accessible for all students and staff, with the aim of developing an understanding of disability and neurodiversity, teamwork and communication skills and the ability to work collaboratively with peers to achieve common goals. The resources shared here can be utilised within individual units to support student skill development in inclusivity, engagement with others and the capacity to contribute towards highly functional teams.

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Communication Concepts

Contributor: Hawley

Publisher: Deakin University

License: CC BY-NC

Communication challenges abound in the 21st century. Communicators everywhere are struggling to connect with diverse, distracted audiences, in both urgent and everyday contexts. In other words, communication has never been more vital, but it’s becoming harder and harder to be heard. In this book, we make sense of communication. From multiple perspectives, we unpack the practices, politics, pleasures, and problems that are activated when meaning is shared across real and virtual spaces. This book will help you use the thinking tools of communication theory to understand why communication matters and how it impacts (and is impacted by) our rapidly changing world.

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Leveraging Data Visualization to Communicate Effectively

Contributors: Mitchell and Deckard

Publisher: PALNI

License: CC BY

This textbook introduces students to the principles of effective data visualization and how to use visualization techniques to effectively communicate information and insights. Additionally, it shares presentation strategies to address communication gaps that could arise if the visualized data does not have the proper context and labeling. Students will learn how to select appropriate chart types and design effective visualizations that clearly convey data patterns and trends, to support data-driven decisions. The textbook also covers best practices for labeling, scaling, and annotating visualizations, as well as techniques for avoiding common pitfalls and biases in data visualization. Through hands-on exercises and projects, students will have the opportunity to practice creating a variety of visualizations using tools such as Excel, Power Business Intelligence (BI) and several problem-solving tools like Ishikawa, SWOT, PEST/LE, decision tree and more. Students will be able to process, analyze and visualize data to evaluate patterns and trends, and learn ways to communicate more effectively regardless of the setting or the type of audience.

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Professional Writing and Communications for Business

Contributor: Purzycki

Publisher: University of Wisconsin-Green Bay

License: CC BY-NC-SA

This textbook, written by Dr. Kris Purzycki, is used in UW-Green Bay's Professional Writing for Business Majors (Writing Foundations 200).

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Oral/Interpersonal Communication

Contributors: Farmer and Bell

Publisher: WisTech Open

License: CC BY

Oral/Interpersonal Communication provides a comprehensive overview of foundational and advanced communication concepts, emphasizing practical skills for individual and group interactions. This textbook explores the communication process, including verbal and nonverbal strategies, the role of culture, and techniques for effective listening. It also covers essential topics such as public speaking, interpersonal relationships, teamwork, and conflict resolution. With a focus on real-world applications, the book delves into communication theories, ethics, and the impact of communication on relationships, organizational settings, and personal identity. Designed to prepare students for professional, social, and civic contexts, this resource encourages reflection and skill-building to foster meaningful and effective communication in diverse situations.

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The American Journalism Handbook: Concepts, Issues, and Skills - 1st Ed.

Contributor: Zamith

Publisher: UMass Amherst

License: CC BY-NC

This book is designed to help us understand the many changes to U.S. journalism and imagine new futures for it – futures in which it can serve as an even more useful tool for promoting a well-functioning society. But, before we can imagine new futures, we must take a step back and examine the institution of U.S. journalism through a critical and in-depth lens. This book aims to offer just that. It provides a conceptual foundation for understanding the development, logic, and practice of journalism in the United States; describes some of the key challenges, tensions, and opportunities it has faced, is facing, and will likely face; and offers guidance to help individuals develop the skills needed engage in impactful journalism.

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The International Journalism Handbook - 1st Ed.

Contributor: Zamith

Publisher: University of Massachusetts Amherst Libraries

License: CC BY-NC

International journalism is crucial to our understanding of the world beyond our own borders. This book is designed to explain key theories and concepts that allow us to understand the general practice of journalism around the world, and to illustrate some of the challenges that arise from practicing journalism in those contexts. It begins by providing a theoretical foundation that helps us understand why international journalism matters and the key forces that shape what it looks like; highlights some of the key challenges to bearing witness to developments, sourcing information, and simply doing 'the job' of journalism; and describes important similarities and differences in how journalism is imagined and performed in different regions of the world.

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Teaching Pronunciation with Confidence: A Resource for ESL/EFL Teachers and Learners

Contributors: Guskaroska, Zawadzki, and Levis

Publisher: Iowa State University Digital Press

License: CC BY

Teaching Pronunciation with Confidence is an essential resource for both English teachers and learners, designed to effectively build strong pronunciation skills and knowledge of pronunciation. This guide covers key topics, including English sounds, word stress, intonation, rhythm, prominence, connected speech, and pronunciation diagnostics to guide improvement. The book includes a wide array of interactive H5P activities and sound recordings, which can be used for classroom teaching, or homework and individual practice. These exercises provide practical experience, reinforcing the concepts covered in each chapter.

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Oral Communication for Non-Native Speakers of English - 2nd Edition

Contributors: Guskaroska, Goodale, Kochem, Ghosh, Compton, and Cotos

Publisher: Iowa State University

License: CC BY-NC-SA

This book is an essential instructional tool for developing oral communication skills in academic settings, specifically designed for international graduate students, teaching assistants, postdoctoral researchers, and those preparing to enter academia. The second edition introduces dedicated chapters on developing listening, speaking, and pronunciation. Through its wide array of interactive online activities, suitable for both classroom teaching and individual practice, learners can actively develop the skills needed for success in English-speaking academic environments.

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