Collaboration trains future veterinarians and journalists

A collaboration between Washington State University's College of Veterinary Medicine and Edward R. Murrow College of Communication is equipping veterinary and journalism students with the skills to effectively communicate about infectious disease outbreaks and bridge the gap between science and public understanding.

The Diagnostic Challenge is an immersive simulation in its 34^th year this week in which second-year veterinary students train using simulated clients. It has long focused on veterinarian-client communication but has adapted to include the journalism student element.

"It's important for journalism students to learn how to work with sources and understand the stories that they're trying to tell and why they're trying to tell them," said Wendy Raney, scholarly assistant professor in the Murrow College of Communication. "In the Diagnostic Challenge, the thing I'm emphasizing with my students is you want to build a relationship with veterinarians because they can provide public service in situations where there might be an outbreak that concerns people, and rather than creating panic, you can educate, but you need these expert sources to do that."

Lauren Rendahl ('25 Journalism), who is now the digital news producer at The Seattle Times, was among the first students to take part in the Diagnostic Challenge last year. Her case focused on a contagious respiratory disease that is often fatal to horses. The disease is so contagious that in many states, including Washington, cases of the disease are reported to the state veterinarian.

"It not only gave me an inside look at what they were doing, but it also gave them an inside look at what journalists do, and so I think it was super beneficial for both parties to learn what each other does and what that working relationship looks like," Rendahl said. "I just don't think I would have had that experience had this opportunity not been presented to me."

Rendahl had previously covered the Washington Legislature for The Spokesman-Review and later reported on community news while working at the university's student newspaper, The Daily Evergreen. She said The Diagnostic Challenge introduced her to an entirely new news topic - one that could benefit the lives of animals and their owners.

"Looking back, I think it's so important to train people early on to understand what it looks like to communicate with the media, so that then the general or broader public know what's happening," she said.

On the flip side, Raney said, in a time the media is more and more scrutinized, it gets Murrow students acclimated to the challenges of reporting and provides valuable interview experience.

"There's a certain amount of distrust toward the media in general these days and our students have to learn how to navigate that," said Raney.

Professor Jeff Abbott, director of the Diagnostic Challenge, said just as beneficial as it is for journalism students, it also helps veterinary students get over potential fears of working with the media and shows how beneficial relationships with local media can be.

"At the end of the day, both veterinarians and journalists serve the public," Abbott said. "The Diagnostic Challenge shows our students that when they work together, they can build trust, share accurate information, and ultimately make communities stronger and safer."