Michael Huntsberger, assistant professor of mass communication, will present “Community Media in the 21st Century: Participatory Culture and the Revitalization of Democracy” on Wednesday, March 13, at 7 p.m. in 201 Riley Hall at Linfield College.
Operating alongside for-profit commercial media companies such as NBC and Fox, and non-profit public media organizations such as NPR and PBS, the “third sector” of community media provides a way for ordinary citizens to participate directly in the organization, production and distribution of radio, television, and multimedia content. Huntsberger’s presentation explores how people around the world are democratizing human culture through community media projects and programs. Investigating the concept of public value in mass media, the research looks at cases from North America, Europe, Africa and the Pacific Rim, and examines the performance of community media based on missions, governance structures, content and mechanisms of public involvement. He will also discuss how community media build social capital through direct citizen engagement.
Huntsberger teaches courses in electronic media production, mass communication ethics and mass communication history. He earned his Ph.D. at the University of Oregon in 2007. Since 1980, he has worked as a manager, producer, engineer and consultant in commercial, public and community media. Huntsberger has published several book chapters and his research focuses on public service media, mass media policy and technology. His articles have been featured in The Journal of Media Education, Southern Review, Journalism and Mass Communication Educator and the Journal of Mass Media Ethics.
The lecture is free and open to the public. The Linfield College faculty lecture series offers one presentation each month by a member of the Linfield faculty. For more information, call 503-883-2409.
