Ball State: Media Matters

The world is at your fingertips.

That notion has never been more accurate than now — the age of online everything.

All of us, especially students, are saturated with media. In a way, this “public screen” is our second home. Logging into Facebook or Twitter has become as natural as opening a door. Now, it’s more apparent than ever how much media shapes our culture — hence the name of the organization with which I am proudly associated, Media Matters.

Media Matters aims to give students a forum in which they can step back from the ever-flowing stream of multimedia imagery and see how it shapes their world. 

Just as information now flows through multiple channels, this organization will be present in different forms. Its first radio broadcast will premiere Nov. 3 on WCRD (91.3) from 11 to noon. The show will include a discussion of a different issue every week as well as a guest expert on the topic. The first topic is politics and how pop culture and the media impacts our view of it — as well as our votes (something important to consider with the election under a week away). The first official guest is Dr. Paul Porter, Director of Cultural Affairs at University of Pennsylvania in Scranton and a BSU alum. 

In addition, the group will have a website in which students can register to join discussions and post content. Media Matters will even hold good old-fashioned face-to-face group meetings twice a month to discuss current events. 

Like much of what is online, Media Matters is an ever-changing organism that has a symbiotic relationship with its users. What it becomes is ultimately up to you. Are you ready? Don’t worry; in this age of political posturing, we salute people who stumble over their words. As long as opinions are honest and well supported, we don’t care if they’re inarticulate. Feel free to ramble! And to have fun!