Comm-entary is the UNH undergraduate journal of communication. It features samples of the best scholarly work produced by UNH undergraduates on topics of media, rhetoric, and language and social interaction communication.
Comm-entary is edited and published by a student editorial board under the guidance of a faculty advisor from the department of communication. The editors solicit, review and select manuscripts. They also work with authors on revisions of the manuscripts for publication of the finished journal. Work on each edition of the journal typically begins in October and ends with its publication in April or May. Participation on the editorial board is open to any UNH undergraduate. Any UNH student may submit work to be considered for publication in Comm-entary.
UNH Tales reached out to the business manager of Comm-entary, Sriyaa Shah ’18, to get some background information on this unique organization and see what it entails!
UNH Tales: What does Comm-entary aim to do for students and how does Comm-entary relate to the major of communication?
Sriyaa: Over the years, Comm-entary has served a number of valuable purposes on campus. The journal's articles have enlightened campus community members with respect to the nature of the discipline of communication. Since communication is a broad field, we can include papers from other majors that discuss rhetoric, media or social interaction. The journal has helped educate prospective students and their parents about the character of the major, and Comm-entary's articles have been used in some courses as models of high-quality student work
UNH Tales: What is its purpose?
Sriyaa: Comm-entary gives communication students a venue to publish their research and scholarship. This is not only limited to written papers, they could also submit multimedia pieces such as documentaries, short films, podcasts, and more. This is a fulfilling experience for students who have produced high-quality work. Aside from that, the journal gives communication students the opportunity to participate in the editing process by serving on the board of Comm-entary and soliciting, reviewing and selecting work to be featured. Finally, it helps to educate campus community members and prospective students about the character of the major and the nature of the communication discipline.
UNH Tales: Have employers or others noticed students for their published writings?
Sriyaa: Participation in Comm-entary is an invaluable extracurricular experience. Having work published in Comm-entary is an impressive achievement for students to add to their resume. It signals to potential employers or graduate schools that the student has been recognized for their academic scholarship, and this sets them a step ahead. In my experience, employeers have looked at my resume and were impressed that I had experience with working in a journal. Since most of the work is online, it is really easy for recruiters to look any student up.
UNH Tales: How long has Comm-entary been making journals and what is the organization's background?
Sriyaa: It started around 20 years ago and the idea was initiated by a faculty member.
UNH Tales: What are some examples of great pieces of work Comm-entary has received from UNH students?
Sriyaa: Comm-entary has received around 40 submissions this year and we are excited to showcase the high quality of student work. The submissions cover all areas of the Communication discipline, ranging in topic from language and social interaction communication to media to rhetoric. One submission that we received, “Art Therapy and the Virtues Between the Old and Young,” was also published in a magazine. Furthermore, the works produced by students have an interdisciplinary nature, addressing a multitude of different areas of study, which make them engaging for anyone to read.
UNH Tales: Why should people join Comm-entary, and why should students submit work to Comm-entary?
Sriyaa: I think it is a combination of many of the things I mentioned above. It is a really good stepping-stone for students who want to go into public affairs, communication or marketing. You connect with peers in our major who have similar interests as you. You get out what you put in.
