Tuesday, February 23, 2016

[333] ‘MTSU On the Record’ takes a second look at stereotypes


MURFREESBORO — A unique approach to combating harmful societal stereotypes will be the focus of the next “MTSU On the Record” radio program.

Host Gina Logue’s interview with Katherine Benton, one of the students behind the “Double Take” campaign, will air from 5:30 to 6 p.m. Monday, Feb. 22, and from 8 to 8:30 a.m. Sunday, Feb. 28, on WMOT-FM (89.5 and www.wmot.org).

Benton, a junior advertising major from Smyrna, Tennessee, and her fellow students under the direction of Tricia Farwell, associate professor of advertising in the MTSU School of Journalism, began the campaign in October 2015. It ended in December. They used Facebook to enable students in debunking various misunderstandings.

While a good deal of the messages attacked stereotypes of Muslims, others drove home other points relating to race, gender, sexual orientation and individual perspectives on social issues.

“We got the opportunity to do this campaign as a part of a competition with EdVenture Partners, Facebook and the (U.S.) State Department,” said Benton. “They enlisted people, I think, from over 43 countries, all college students, to get kind of a new perspective on how to challenge this issue of violent extremism.”

For their efforts, the MTSU students received an Honor Roll mention for their Facebook page and were awarded a trip to Washington, D.C., which they enjoyed Feb. 3.

To hear previous “MTSU On the Record” programs, go to http://bit.ly/mtsu-otr.

For more information, contact Logue at 615-898-5081 or WMOT-FM at 615-898-2800.


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