Jocelyn Johnstone – word perfect in every way
J ocelyn Johnstone has had a lifelong love affair with words. It started at school, continued as a newspaper and freelance journalist, communications consultant, lecturer at Ara, teacher of Speech and Drama, and concluded in public relations, crisis management, media relations, and a five-year spell as a writer for Christ’s College. “I always knew I was going to write for a living,” says Jocelyn, who retired from her part- time role at College in December 2022. “Taking a journalism course at high school at Cape Canaveral when I was on an American Field Service Scholarship just further clarified my intentions.” However, getting into journalism was no easy feat. Christchurch’s two major newspapers took on just two cadets a year and competition for the roles was fierce. However, the next decade working on the Christchurch Star was full of excitement. “There was the opening of the Town Hall, the Commonwealth Games in Christchurch, the Erebus disaster – some really big events which involved our newsroom,” she recalls. With a young family, and on the Elmwood Normal School Board of Trustees, as well as leading the local Neighbourhood Support group, Jocelyn decided to combine part-time work
with using her ATCL and LTCL in Speech and Drama to help countless children and adults acquire speech and presentation skills and gain their own qualifications. At the New Zealand School of Broadcasting at the then Christchurch Polytechnic (now Ara), she lectured to students studying for their broadcasting degrees.
Writing for Christ’s College for the past five years has meant a change of pace. “Working in this setting, among these beautiful buildings, has been a joy. There have been moments where the crisis management skills from earlier were invaluable – the day of the mosque attacks for one, and the outbreak of Covid-19 in School House,” she recalls. “However, largely, it has been telling positive stories, writing positive collateral for the school, producing College magazine and Register , and mixing with some fabulous young people and accommodating staff.” Retirement means more time for travel, tennis, book group, service to the community, walking, gardening, family, and friends – and just maybe giving that memoir a go.
“It seems amazing to see these people now on the desk fronting the 6pm news each night,” Jocelyn says. “I still find myself correcting their diction sometimes and begging them to pronounce their ‘ings’ and ‘dark ls’ properly.” During the 1990s, she lectured in English conversation at a Japanese university in Osaka. A full-time role as Publications
Editor for the Canterbury District Health Board in the
early 2000s led to her acting as Communications Manager, before life in public relations beckoned in a small, boutique agency. Working with corporate companies and individuals was invigorating, devising their strategies, and protecting their reputations, as well as ensuring they knew how to handle the media when it came knocking.
COLLEGE 2023
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