Presenter: Autumn Erin Verna

Faculty Sponsor: Heesoo Jang

School: UMass Amherst

Research Area: Journalism

Session: Poster Session 5, 3:15 PM - 4:00 PM, Auditorium, A81

ABSTRACT

This project was a podcasting collaboration with a junior undergraduate student interested in learning journalism. Fall Semester of 2025, I interned at the University Inclusive Learning department at University of Massachusetts Amherst, where I mentored a student interested in learning about journalism, specifically podcasting. While this started as internship credit for the student, it evolved into a project grounded in individualized instruction, scaffolded mentorship, interest-driven learning. I structured our weekly meetings around accessible pedagogy by breaking down technical audio storytelling terms and structure into digestible and interactive lessons. Introducing terms like nat pops, bed music and reporter tracks while emphasizing the importance of creating scripts in a specific formula. Weekly assignments were balanced so that the student’s social and emotional disabilities were recognized and she felt supported, yet expectations for what could be accomplished were high. Because the student had an interest in ancient literature, the podcast was titled Lives, Lore and Literature, with the first episode focusing on the ancient Germanic poem Nibelungenlied. By the end of the semester we had successfully written, recorded and edited an entire episode. Most importantly, this research emphasizes how accessibility in journalism is very much achievable without changing the rigor in any courses. Adaptability and patience can make technical fields like podcasting become much more inclusive at the collegiate level.