Charlotte Newman
External Communications Coordinator, Hato Hone St John
Bachelor of Communication Studies in Screen Production, with minors in Professional Performance Communication and Creative Writing
Communication studies has an impressive range of creative avenues for students to explore, says Charlotte Newman who completed a Bachelor of Communication Studies in Screen Production, with minors in Professional Performance Communication and Creative Writing.
“I liked that the academic staff at AUT have successfully intertwined the different creative avenues to benefit and aid learnings across the board. Each course supported another course, which allowed me to ease into the workload comfortably.
“I’ve always possessed a love for storytelling in written forms that provoke strong imagery, and this has eventually evolved into a drive to create visual narratives, including films. I liked that as part of my degree I could include some creative writing courses as well as courses on professional performance communication, which helped me relax when public speaking in a formal manner and not get caught-up in overthinking my audience’s possible perceptions. Despite being a people person and a drama studies student in secondary school, I’ve always lacked some confidence in this area.”
Deciding to come to AUT for university study was easy for Charlotte.
“AUT has always appeared inviting and progressive. I was sold on the prospect of getting my hands on real screen production equipment to learn and improve, rather than a theory-based approach. This is an invaluable privilege as gaining access to such tools before entering the professional industry can otherwise be difficult.”
From TV to health communications
After graduating from AUT with her Bachelor of Communication Studies at the end of 2023, Charlotte is enjoying the variety her career offers.
“After I finished my studies, I worked as a film and television contractor for Warner Bros. Discovery and Sky New Zealand; most notably working in Sky’s on-air department during the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.
“I’ve recently started a full-time, permanent position at Hato Hone St John as the external communications coordinator. In this role, I’m responsible for monitoring and reporting emergency incidents to the media, assisting in the development and execution of community health campaigns, and general external communication duties.”
She is also finding the time to build on the screen production skills she developed at AUT.
“My short documentary, The Farm, continues to cycle film festivals, and I’m also in the process of researching and developing my next short documentary in my spare time.”
Advice for other students
Charlotte’s advice for other students is simple: create a semester plan.
“Get ahead before the semester has begun, so that falling behind is far less likely. Break down assignment outlines and highlight the relevant due dates. It can be a tedious task but if you work through the semester knowing exactly what is expected of you and when, each task will come easier to you.”
She would recommend the Bachelor of Communication Studies to other students interested in a career in this field.
“The communications degree has a welcoming and open-minded team of staff who want to see you succeed. The consistent need for collaboration makes it easy for students to socialise and build connections founded on their interests and opinions. Ultimately, the degree encourages industry networking, which will no doubt play a large role in your career path after graduation.”
