Media and Politics Class curates voter education exhibition on campus

The Miller Gallery at Alvernia University became a hub of civic engagement this fall as the Media and Politics class, led by Professor of Communication and Digital Media Dr. Jodi Radosh and Professor of Political Science Dr. Victoria Williams, unveiled the voter education exhibition. The display, carefully curated by students seeks to educate the campus community about the importance of voting and media literacy during the election season.

"We've been doing this class every four years for quite some time. It's our chance to team-teach and really delve into media and politics, especially around presidential elections," said Radosh. "This semester, we wanted to go beyond classroom discussions and create something tangible-a project that helps spread awareness of key issues and the power of voting, both on campus and in the broader community."

The interactive exhibition highlights various facets of political media and the importance of informed voting, aiming to equip students with the tools to navigate today's complex media landscape.

"In this class, we educate students on what media is, how it works, and how politics and media are intertwined," said Williams. "A key focus is developing skills in media literacy so students can better understand media bias and find credible sources of information. This project has been a great way for students to apply these skills in real-time."

The display features in-depth posters created by each student to highlight the presidential candidates' takes on pressing issues. It also has different marketing materials and posters from each candidate, custom Alvernia "vote" pins and a selfie station with different props that encourage voting.

"As a bio major, I'm not usually involved in political conversations, but this class has taught me a lot about media literacy," said junior Brianna Pascal, a biology major who participated in the project. "I feel more informed as a voter now, and I understand the importance of being able to navigate political information."

The project also drew alumni support. Jason Hugg, founder of Berks Weekly, returned to share his experiences from the field and answer students' questions. "It's always great to give back to Alvernia and share my behind-the-scenes experiences from rallies and events. Voting is so important, not just for students, but for the community as a whole. I'm really impressed with how the students have put together this exhibition to encourage each other to vote."