Library Foundation SD partnered with the School of Journalism and Media Studies at San Diego State University to engage young adults in Banned Books Week. Eleven seniors, under the Glen M. Broom Center for Professional Development in Public Relations, led a communication campaign from Oct. 5 through 11 targeting 18-to-25-year-old San Diegans.
“This project was a powerful real-world application of everything I have learned at SDSU,” said team member Allie Amorde. “I’m looking forward to translating the skills I gained to my career after I graduate in December.”
Through qualitative research, the team found that Gen Z cares about free expression, but did not have enough knowledge about censorship to fight it.
The team produced tactics, including filming social media content, hosting a booth at the La Jolla Open Aire Market, putting banned books in Little Free Libraries, and creating a digital advocacy toolkit.
“Our work starts with talking to the community and hearing their perspectives. My goal for my capstone students is to teach aspiring professionals to use their communication skills for good,” said the course professor Dr. Kaye Sweetser.
The team’s efforts ignited participation in Banned Books Week. They drove a 93.2% increase in Instagram engagement within the target age group.
