By DAWNE LEIKER

dleiker@dailynews.net

What started out as a class project for three graphic arts students has become a day to celebrate the evolution of media spawned by the Gutenberg press.

Last fall, Rebecca Farr, Aaron Jacques and Ian Tompkins, Fort Hays State University senior graphic design majors, brainstormed about creating a poster to promote civic engagement for the American Democracy Project's poster contest.

The team's concept developed into a poster advertising a fictional day of recognition for the ample media access we enjoy today.

As the three debated the topic, Jacques said, they began to question why they, themselves, weren't more involved in the democratic process. Perhaps, they pondered, it could be because there simply is too much media to choose from.

"People are very choosy about what they listen to. They filter out things that pertain to issues of democracy," Jacques said.

The three then began to discuss the origins of media.

"Gutenberg was our inspiration," Farr said. Johannes Gutenberg's use of moveable type and his invention of the mechanical printing press "made it easier to spread knowledge to the lower class."

Farr created a poster for the contest advertising a fictitious day of the trio's creation, Gutenberg Day.

When most assignments are turned in and graded, most students turn their attention to the next project.

However, Farr, Jacques and Tompkins became more intrigued with the idea of creating a holiday to celebrate the history of communication and promote conscious choice in media consumption.

The three students approached the American Democracy Project program committee to seek help in making Gutenberg day a reality. The committee suggested the trio celebrate their holiday by giving a presentation for Times Talk and Talking Democracy.

They settled on the date Feb. 3 for Gutenberg Day, the day Gutenberg died in 1468. The day they hoped would help generate discussions about media consumption habits.

Twenty-two people attended their Gutenberg Day presentation in the Stouffer Lounge of the Memorial Union on Wednesday. Audience members and the three students discussed concerns about college-age students who have a perceived lack of interest in relevant news content, and many other topics related to communication.

Farr said members of her generation who use media to make informed democratic choices will "hold great power and sway over the rest of us."

It is important to realize, Tompkins said, media can have a negative or positive effect on consumers.

"Problems will develop," he said. "It (media) has the power to rally for bad and for good, and the only way to overcome is to emphasize the good."