Students from Mount Wachusett Community College’s Introduction to Mass Media class recently presented a public program titled “Information Anxiety” at the Levi Heywood Memorial Library. The event marked the launch of what is expected to become an ongoing media literacy series for the greater Gardner community.
The presentation was developed through a collaborative planning committee that included MWCC faculty and staff John Little, David Thibault-Munoz, Ellen Pratt, and Dr. John Szivos, along with Marita Clement, Director of the Levi Heywood Memorial Library. The program focused on helping participants better understand today’s complex media landscape and develop practical skills for evaluating information.
The student presenters — Brandon Russo-Serrano, Ben Miner, and Kiarah Moore — did an excellent job engaging the audience and representing the college. Their work was well received by community members and demonstrated the value of hands-on learning experiences.
The series follows the National Association of Media Literacy Education (NAMLE) definition of media literacy, which emphasizes the ability to access, analyze, evaluate, create, and act using all forms of communication. The goal of the program is to empower community members of all ages to think critically, communicate effectively, and confidently distinguish accurate information from misleading content.
Additional programs are being planned for the academic year, with future sessions expected to be offered through the public library and potentially the Gardner Senior Center.