Newhouse School to hold Media Literacy Day for local sixth-graders April 25

Newhouse School to hold Media Literacy Day for local sixth-graders April 25April 24, 2008Wendy S. Loughlinwsloughl@syr.edu

On Friday, April 25, a group of 76 sixth-graders from Edward Smith Elementary School in Syracuse will visit the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications to participate in Media Literacy Day. Sponsored by Newhouse’s Diversity Committee and coordinated by Newhouse associate professor Tula Goenka, the event serves to increase communications understanding among primary school students.

“This experience is invaluable for the students,” says Rich Rogers, a teacher at Ed Smith School. “Children are bombarded with all types of messages via the many varieties of media. Some of the students will walk away [from Media Literacy Day] with a better understanding of corporate America, while others will simply become more aware of the way business is conducted through the media.”

Students will arrive at Newhouse for a welcome at 9:45 a.m. Newhouse Ambassadors — current undergraduate students in the Newhouse School — will serve as hosts for the Ed Smith School students. Participating Newhouse students include Ashley Askew, Rachel Brenner, Alyyssa Carolla, Racquel Clarke, Raymond Lapena, Naresh Rammohan and Alexandra Sturm.

Participating Newhouse faculty include Michael Schoonmaker, chair of the Department of Television, Radio and Film; assistant professor Ed Russell, a veteran advertising executive; and visiting professor Michael Haederle, a longtime, nationally known magazine writer.

For more information about Media Literacy Day, contact Charlotte Grimes, Knight Chair in Political Reporting and chair of the Diversity Committee, at 443-2366 or cgrimes@syr.edu.