Video game scholar Dr. Nina Huntemann spoke on the effects of violence, race and gender in video games as part of the 2010 Media Awareness Day on Wednesday, March 10, at Niagara University.

Huntemann is an associate professor of media studies in the department of communication and journalism at Suffolk University, Boston. Her research focuses on new media technologies, particularly video and computer games, and incorporates feminist, critical cultural studies and political economy perspectives. Most recently she co-edited with Matthew Thomas Payne the anthology "Joystick Soldiers: The Politics of Play in Military Video Games" (Routledge, 2010). She produced and directed the educational video "Game Over: Gender, Race and Violence in Video Games" (2000), distributed by the Media Education Foundation, and is currently creating an update to that film. She has published several articles on the image of women in video games, women's use of the Internet for social change, and the political economy of the U.S. commercial radio industry. Huntemann spoke about the impact of violence and racial and gender stereotyping in video games during the media day event.

A second event was an exhibition of student work and presentation of awards for a student video contest. Communication students from Niagara University and local high schools showcased research and creative work and competed for monetary prizes for video public service announcements on media literacy.

Media Awareness Day was created to foster awareness and understanding of the mass media. By learning how the media operate in terms of disseminating information, individuals can begin to interpret critical messages beyond those offered by the media and form their own educated opinions about the world.

Media Awareness Day is sponsored by the communication studies department of Niagara University and Lambda Pi Eta, the communication honor society of Niagara University.