28 Jul 2021 WACC intern learns value of communication rights

by Helen Wu

Working at WACC and on the Global Media Monitoring Project (GMMP) was a very meaningful and informative experience. I learned about what communication rights meant on a deeper level.

I also found out how communication rights affect different countries around the world because those rights tie into other issues such as gender equality, freedom of expression, or the right to access information.

My position as Communications Assistant /Multi-media Writer allowed me to support the GMMP through designing and creating social media promotions, organizing research data on Excel, and writing stories about GMMP findings. During my time at WACC, I strengthened my abilities to interact with new information and expanded my mindset too.

I valued supporting the GMMP because I had the opportunity to work with findings from national reports, and it really opened my eyes to how invisible and visible minorities, such as gender groups, were represented in news media. I realized that when groups are portrayed a certain way in the news, it can influence the lens in which society sees them through as well. I found out how research is an effective way to advocate for gender rights because research projects emphasize patterns over time and allows organizations to build solutions and make connections. One way that I helped with GMMP was by creating infographics to convey GMMP highlights to the global community so that audiences are aware of these topics.

During my time at WACC, I acquired many skills which I believe would be helpful to me in the future. I practiced recognizing the audience I was designing social media content for by considering elements such as: purposeful graphics, informative captions, and digestible information.

I also enjoyed furthering my capacities to work within a team environment. WACC held weekly staff meetings where everyone would share updates and keep each other in the loop about what was going on. I liked learning about all the different roles on the team and how they fit together to move projects forward.

I was very thrilled to learn more about what communication rights meant on a global scale and how I could be a proactive member of that global community. Before I started my position, I had only had experience working in my local community, so I was curious how my skillset would transfer over to large-scale initiatives. It was inspiring to discover how my skills as a Communications Assistant/Multi-media Writer applied to the GMMP, and I learned that there are many ways to be involved and participate in creating purposeful change worldwide.

Being a part of WACC’s team as a summer intern was a really enlightening experience. I am grateful to my mentor who provided guidance and feedback, which allowed me to grow in my role. I was also happy to be surrounded by people who are passionate about communication rights. The work environment was supportive, and I felt comfortable reaching out to other staff members when I had questions.

Supporting GMMP was also a fulfilling experience because I got to see change happening and how the project was promoting social justice worldwide.

Helen Wu worked at WACC for two months under Canada’s Summer Jobs program. She is a third-year student at the University of Toronto and Sheridan College studying Visual Culture & Communication with a minor in Education.

Above: Helen Wu poses with some of the infographics that she created as part of the Global Media Monitoring Project (GMMP) report launch. Photo by Sun Juan