SIOUX CITY, Iowa (KTIV) -
When it comes to politics, is media helping us understand the issues? For ten years, some Morningside students have been getting a clear perspective. They've been taking a special class that aims to cut through the fog.
Mass Communications Major, Claire DeRoin didn't used to care too much about politics.
"I would just kind of tune out ads or politics in general, as ignorant as that may be," Claire DeRoin, a Morningside student said.
But in the last couple months, DeRoin says that's changed for her and her classmates. They're enrolled in Morningside's "Media, Politics and Democracy" class. Every other year it teaches students about the roll media plays in politics.
"Media is a handmaiden to politics. You can't do politics this day in age without a media strategy," Professor Mark Heistad said.
Heistad teaches the course through the Mass Comm. Department. Three days a week he says his students analyze polls, political ads, debates, even satire.
The fruits of their research aren't answers though.
"Questions, questions, that's what I want them to come away with. They will tell you that's what I am all about in this class, questioning the relationship between media, politics and Democracy.
A positive relationship, a negative relationship? That's in the air.
"I don't know how many answers we are going to have, but I think we ought to have interesting questions," Heistad said.
DeRoin's class time has given her a little clarity.
"I know a little bit more about how things are the way they are. Or, why ads are run in such ways, at such times. It's really interesting to know things are done for a reason," DeRoin said.
© Three days a week students analyze polls, political ads, debates, even satire.
