Wayne State Course Tackles AI's Real Impact on Communication Careers
Wayne State University is offering students a chance this spring and summer to examine how artificial intelligence is reshaping journalism, public relations, advertising, and media production through a new hybrid course taught by Dr. Rahul Mitra, an associate professor of organizational communication.
"Artificial Intelligence and Communication Work" goes beyond teaching students to use AI tools. Instead, it asks them to think critically about how those tools are changing professional identities, workplace expectations, ethics, and authenticity in communication fields.
The timing matters. In May, journalists at McClatchy newspapers including the Miami Herald withheld their bylines to protest AI-generated versions of stories created from their original reporting. The protest highlighted ongoing tensions over credibility and transparency in media.
The Course Structure
Mitra designed the class to emphasize critical thinking and interpersonal communication rather than technical skill alone. Students hear from professionals already using AI in their daily work, including Nick Mattar, a Wayne State alumnus and CEO of Marketing 1080, and Nina Knauff, owner of a public relations agency.
The course includes a service-learning component with Detroit Rescue Mission Ministries. Students apply AI tools to real communication projects for the nonprofit, then reflect on what they built and why it matters.
During a recent visit to the organization, Chiara Clayton, the nonprofit's director of communications, discussed how organizations balance AI's efficiency with maintaining authentic voices. She raised concerns about AI-generated images and content, pushing students to think about when speed matters less than credibility.
A Misconception Worth Addressing
Mitra said one persistent myth is that AI eliminates the need for thoughtful work. "Professionals have realized that's not true at all," he said.
He frames prompt engineering as inherently communication work. "You are communicating with the technology to make sure the technology does what you need it to do," Mitra said.
For communication professionals, this distinction matters. The technology requires the same clarity, precision, and strategic thinking that good communication always has.
Why This Matters for Your Work
Sascha Raiyn, a fourth-year journalism student and reporter for WDET-FM, enrolled because she wanted to move beyond anxiety about AI. "Most of what I hear about AI makes me anxious, and I wanted to be more educated about what to be fearful about and what might be the upsides," she said.
After taking the course, Raiyn found the reality more complicated than the headlines suggest. "I feel like what I've learned so far is maybe a little bit scarier than I expected, and also, I have developed more interest in learning to use it well."
Mitra hopes students leave the course thinking about how technology should serve people, not the reverse. "We want people to be thoughtful, mindful, civically minded citizens who are able to make key decisions on technology," he said.
For communication professionals navigating these tools in your own work, understanding both the capabilities and limits of AI is becoming essential. The course reflects what many in the field are already discovering: ignoring the technology isn't an option, but using it thoughtfully requires work.
Learn more about AI for PR & Communications and how professionals in your field are applying these tools.
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