New Democracy and Media Class for US Students

This fall, eight students enrolled in Democracy and Media, a class taught by Director of Global Education and Leadership Studies Department Chair Beth Yavenditti and Library Director Elizabeth Nelson and new to the St. Luke’s curriculum.

Students in this class will engage in group discussions as they wrestle with important questions, including: What is the role of the media in a democracy? How is the changing media landscape altering the way citizens consume news and the way journalists report it? To what extent do the media shape public opinion? Are cable television, the internet, and social media corroding or improving American democracy?

Yavenditti shared, “We decided to offer this class after some of the conversations we had last year as a community about the First Amendment, social media, and politics. We thought it would be interesting to take a deep dive into some of these important issues and questions raised. As future leaders and engaged citizens, students in this course will think about what democracy means and how they engage with and are influenced by the world around them.”

Throughout the semester, students will learn about the principles and foundations of democracy and perspective-taking, as well as how to identify perspectives represented in the media and be thoughtful consumers of media. They will practice how to have difficult but civil conversations while strengthening their communication and collaboration skills.

“The media has always played a seminal role in the progress of our democracy. Students will see how the media’s role has evolved throughout American history and develop skills to identify and combat bias and misinformation. Practicing these skills will reinforce our goals of creating critical consumers and promoting civil discourse,” said Nelson.

Click here to see photos from the class.