The telecommunications department will look at how diversity isportrayed in the media through its annual Prism Conferencetoday.
The conference begins at 8 a.m. in the Ball Building and lastsuntil 3 p.m. Speakers of different races and genders will attend,and students can debate diversity-related issues at paneldiscussions.
"Students can come to the conference and hear mediaprofessionals talk about diversity and how it relates to them,"sophomore Adam Trent said. "They can see panels on the 'Playmakers'show that is on ESPN and the light it sheds on thebehind-the-scenes life of pro football. There will also be a panelon body image that focuses on women. Women have often beenstereotyped by the media to look a certain way. Students can comeand find out why. There is representation for all of minoritygroups on campus."
Trent and the rest of Associate Professor MariaWilliams-Hawkins' Analysis and Criticism in the Media classorganized the event.
"This is a colossal undertaking for sophomores," Hawkins said."My students select a marginalized group, examine how that grouphas been represented and then research the realities of theirexistences by talking to people in the group. Then they surveytheir opinions about their representations and compare theirmediated representations to reality."
The students used their research to construct a paper, whichthey will submit to a panel of judges at the conference.
"We have also talked with telecommunications professors to bejudges, organized food for the conference and gone around to… Muncie businesses to solicit advertisements for money touse for the conference," Trent said.
The students also selected a keynote speaker, Hawkins said.
Rafael Sanchez, a reporter for Indianapolis WRTV-6, will givethe keynote address.
The students chose Sanchez because of his extendedrésumé and his racially diverse background, Trentsaid.
Other speakers — including newscasters, professors andMuncie's deputy police chief — will also leaddiscussions.
"The conference provides students who do not have a raciallydiverse background a chance to come out and meet minorities and newpeople," Trent said.
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