NWU Skool vir Kommunikasie / School of Communication

📢 Second Examination Opportunity – Important Date Change

Dear Students,

Please take note that all second examination opportunities originally scheduled for 30 June 2026 have been rescheduled to 13 July 2026.

This decision has been taken as a precautionary measure in light of the possible nationwide protests planned for 30 June 2026 regarding illegal foreigners.

Please also note that classes will only commence on 14 July 2026, allowing students writing the second examination opportunity to complete their assessments before the start of the academic term.

Students are advised to make the necessary arrangements and to monitor official NWU communication channels for any further updates.

Thank you for your understanding and cooperation.

School of Communication

The School of Communication at North-West University had a strong presence at the inaugural IAMCR Africa Regional Conference, with several lecturers presenting research across political communication, digital media, crisis communication, artificial intelligence, development communication, participatory media, and public discourse.

Among the presentations delivered by School colleagues were:

🎓 Dr Hannelie Otto and Prof Lynnette Fourie that examined whether political parties’ pages create meaningful opportunities for democratic participation and public engagement at the local government level in the JB Marks Municipality.

🎓 Dr Musara Lubombo presented his research on culture and political crisis communication: A socio-cultural reading of Zimbabwe’s Operation Restore Legacy.

🎓 Dr Chilombo Banda and Mr J Chuen’s presentation was titled: “ Tale of Two Campuses: A Comparative Study of Social Media’s Role in Shaping Student Voice and Movements at NWU and UFH”.

🎓 Mrs Soligah Solomons-Chambwera shared her ongoing PhD research on the potential and limits of appropriating generative AI in reporting natural disasters in South Africa, while Prof Carol Lesame examined how political leaders construct meaning and exercise power through presidential communication, using critical discourse analysis to examine political messaging and public communication.

Prof Fourie, furthermore, shared research soon appearing as a chapter in an upcoming book on crisis communication. The colleagues involved in penning the chapter include Prof Krishnamurthy Sriramesh (extraordinary professor in the School), Dr Elbe Kloppers, and Profs. Lucinda Sutton and Louise Bezuidenhout, Their chapter is titled: “Crisis communication in developing democracies: A socio-cultural perspective of the Fishrot case in Namibia.”

The conference also saw several School colleagues serving as session chairs, including Dr Hannelie Otto, Prof Lynnette Fourie, Prof Carol Lesame, Prof Lida Holtshausen, Dr Chilombo Banda, and Dr Musara Lubombo, contributing to scholarly dialogue across a range of communication research themes.

Take a break from exam prep, doom-scrolling, conference abstracts, marking, research proposals, or whatever else is currently filling your weekend.

We're excited to share the very first issue of CommTrend, the new newsletter of the School of Communication at NWU.

Inside, you'll find a snapshot of what our staff and students have been up to lately: research, conferences, projects, achievements, publications, community engagement, and a few of the stories that often happen quietly behind the scenes.

It's a chance to see what colleagues are working on, what students are achieving, and what is happening across the School.

Grab a coffee, take ten minutes, and have a read.

We hope you enjoy the first issue of CommTrend. And of course, we must give a massive shout-out to all the staff and students who made this first issue a roaring success! We'll introduce you to the editor, Ms Cornia Pretorius, and her team in the weeks and months to come. So, stayed tuned.

Radio reporter job:

If you live for the story behind the headline, thrive under pressure, and know how to turn facts into compelling radio… we want to hear from you.
Heart FM is looking for a dynamic News Reporter to join our fast-paced newsroom - someone who can dig deeper, think sharper, and deliver the news that Cape Town trusts.
If this sounds like you (or someone you know), keep reading.

Hey fam 👋📚
It’s officially exam season ⏳😵‍💫 Time to get serious about those upcoming examinations!

What’s your BEST, but maybe a little weird or unusual 👀🕵️…study tip for surviving exams successfully? 📖☕🧠 Maybe you sometimes explain difficult work to your pet 🐶 like you’re teaching a class…or maybe you eat a packet of your favourite Simba chips 🍟 because the flavour “helps the facts stick”. Or wait, maybe you wear the same hoodie 🧥 every time you focus, because it makes you feel in charge of the volume of prescribed reading materials.

Drop your comment below 👇⬇️ Help out a chommie.

Gear Up for Exams with NWU SALT! 🎓

Feeling the exam pressure? We’re here to help you reset and refocus.
Join us for a wellbeing and preparation experience designed to help you stay calm, confident, and exam ready:

✅ Ride Refresh – Cycle to clear your mind
✅ Experience Relax – VR sessions to unwind
✅ Prepare Succeed – Study tips & mock prep support

📅 Date: 20 May 2026
⏰ Time: 08:00 – 14:00
📍 Venue: Amphitheater

Prepare your mind. Relax your body. Reset your focus. You’ve got this!
Be active. Be prepared. Be ready. Be the success story!
*Open to the first hundred students.*

The School of Communication at the North-West University is proud to present a public lecture by Prof Dr Ana ADI - visiting Professor from Quadriga University of Applied Sciences in Berlin and host of the Women in PR podcast. Do not miss this in-person event. Be sure to RSVP: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfSm9AH8xgiY-8sd7TsJ_YGvcIokEm7FzarBnJgCDwwwmUAKA/viewform Seats are limited.

Can you spot Ms Corene Marx, one of our School’s lecturers, in the photos? She joined other faculty for the Young Eagle campaign in Gauteng to relate to school learners all about the School of Communication. Shout out to Ms Marx and our NWU staff for recruiting future NWU Eagles! 🦅

Always choose credible databases:

Not all sources are created equal...
Choose credibility. Choose quality. Choose NWU Libraries.
🔗 Discover more: https://libguides.nwu.ac.za/az/databases