Whether in the classroom, at work or reading information online, clear communication is key. Elizabethtown College’s Introduction to Communications course, taught by WGAL news anchor Matt Barcaro, teaches students to think critically about media messages, explore communication industries and assess the accuracy of content they encounter. 

“There are three main goals for COM120: to learn how to think critically about messages that are sent through media, to get introduced to various industries and jobs in media and to sharpen media literacy skills to better assess the accuracy of content in media,” Barcaro said. 

Students say they appreciate Barcaro’s real-world experience within the media. 

“I honestly thought it was cool that we were having a news anchor come in and teach our class. He is very welcoming and inviting with his class expectations and that’s something I appreciate,” first-year student Sarah June said. 

“I was excited to work with a news reporter. It’s great to gain education from someone who works in the field in real time,” first-year student Lizzie Camilli said.

Each week, the course explores topics such as digital media, public relations and newspapers. This variety gives students the chance to explore career options in communications while gaining essential media literacy skills.  

“I feel like it gives me a good overview of potential careers, I like how diverse it is. I’ve loved the filmmaking and script writing portions the best,” first-year student Ky Tracy said.

Guest speakers from different media industries regularly visit, providing insight and networking opportunities.

“One of my favorite lessons was when we had someone who owned a marketing company come in and talk to the class about what a career in marketing looks like. I was able to connect with her and talk about a potential internship,” Camilli said.

In addition to learning about media careers, the course teaches skills like lateral reading, a method for cross-checking sources. 

“I have been using lateral reading more often now than I ever have. Professor Barcaro really hammers in our heads that lateral reading is very important to get the right information out there, with all the bias that there is,” June said. 

The class structure focuses on real-world examples and collaboration. Group work allows students to practice communication skills in a hands-on way. 

“This class has allowed me to open up more with peers. Learning to communicate during group work in this class has carried over to other social interactions where I am better able to communicate with others,” Camilli said. 

Although COM120 is a requirement for communications majors and minors, the lessons are relevant to any student, regardless of their field of study. 

“Everyone is a consumer of information, whether it’s from a news article or a post on your TikTok feed,” Barcaro said. “Some information is reliable, but much of it is not. Students, no matter their major, get exposed to information they can’t control, so I try to make COM120 applicable to everybody’s experience with digital information. How do you know if the post you’re seeing – and possibly sharing – is accurate? I hope to give my students the skills to walk through that process on their own.” 

Students like June, said the course provides valuable insight into their majors and potential career paths as the outcomes of this course are broad and practical. Students develop media literacy while gaining communication skills that can be applied in the workplace and academic research. 

“I’ve had students who found careers in media because of what we’ve discussed in class…and some have been linked up with internships from guest speakers who’ve visited class. There are lots of opportunities out there! I hope to make them accessible to my COM120 students,” Barcaro said. 

From researching media careers to discussing how different forms of communications operate, students learn how messages shape public perception. Camilli said these lessons are essential in building a foundation for a career in communications.

“At the end of the semester, I hope students feel more prepared to assess the accuracy of the information around them,” Barcaro said. “It’s not easy! But hopefully they leave COM120 with more awareness of how messages in the media are designed to affect them, and they can choose how to interact with it.”