David Gracon, professor of communication studies, took his students to visit Independent Media Center, Polyvinyl Records and WEFT radio in order to study how media may differentiate from mainstream media.

Alternative Media, a class which instructs students on alternative forms of the media industry, had the opportunity June 6 to visit these locations in the Champaign-Urbana area.

“This means producing media that is significantly different than the mainstream corporate media in terms of both content and style,” Gracon said. “I believe this is a very powerful and inspiring message for the students.”

Throughout Gracon’s class, students had the opportunity to learn about community radio and independent media.

After some phone tag and other arrangements, an itinerary was put into place, Gracon said.

“I think the merging of theory and practice is very significant to them (the students),” Gracon said. “If this is happening in Champaign-Urbana, why can’t it be happening in Charleston as well?”

Each location brought a new learning experience for the students. For instance, at WEFT the class learned the dynamics of a non-community radio station.

Students learned about citizen journalism at the Independent Media Center, Gracon said.

“Anytime you get them out of the traditional classroom, I feel this creates an exciting energy amongst the students,” Gracon said.

Matthew Devall, a senior communication studies major, enrolled in the Alternative Media course because he enjoys independent films.

“Because I produce my own films, it was exciting to go to places where media was actually being produced,” Devall said.

Before he arrived at each location, Devall was certain he knew the types of people who worked in media.

“I had stereotyped, to an extent, the kinds of people who I thought must work at these places,” Devall said. “I suppose I thought they must be political radicals or something of that nature.”

During the field trip, Devall was expecting those who worked in media to be more political.

“Most of the people were simply passionate about providing alternatives to what we usually see and hear,” Devall said.

Sara Sanderson, a senior communications studies major, was excited to go on the field trip.

“I enrolled in Alternative Media because I love learning about media,” Sanderson said.

Sanderson said she learned how people are able to create their own media by adding culture.

“I applied to this class because we learn that mainstream media really controls the music and news we hear,” Sanderson said.

Sanderson said alternative media is a different way of portraying media.

“The most unexpected thing I learned was at WEFT radio; that it was run by volunteers,” Sanderson said. “It was even more unexpected that it was really hard to get people to volunteer.”

Jennifer Brown can be reached at jebrown2@eiu.edu