Tag Archives: HC Media

Arts and Entertainment

Students’ podcasts are on the air

 

Communication students at NECC are making leaps and bounds in spreading information, bringing attention to contemporary issues in mass media and discussing controversial topics through HC Media’s podcasts.

Thomas Matatall, Communication major, is a discussion leader in his podcast “Breaking the Norm.”

“Our podcast is with my co-host Courtney Spera. We talk about uncomfortable topics for college students mainly, things like social justice issues. We tend to be more liberal, so when we talk about politics it tends to be more on the Democratic side,” said Matatall.

Other divisive topics like Planned Parenthood, abortion and gun control laws are brought out on a conversational platter as well. In the first episode, the issue of double standards in society — including the controversial “Free the nipple” campaign that is frequently referenced in media — were examined. “It was our first one, so it was a little rocky. My favorite part is to be able to do it with my best friend, we have a good time and talk back and forth. There’s a lot to come, you can get a podcast app on your phone,” said Matatall.

Another podcast that has made its debut is “Here and There” created by Tracy Mukami and Abdul Kamara. Mukami, a Communication major, is a leader in the discussions about very real racial issues in modern society, but also focuses on the positives of being an African American. “The podcast is my friend and I, we basically try to break the racial social barriers in society. He’s a first-generation African, and I came from Africa when I was younger, so I’m pretty much first-generation too,” said Mukami.

To try and break the social barriers, the duo uniquely offers a positive outlook by discussing where they come from, and the similarities and differences among cultures.

“We talk about how we were raised, what we enjoyed seeing, what was different, and how we were able to transition from this lifestyle to the outside world,” said Mukami.

One might expect someone who comes from a different culture to experience a lot of difficulty experiencing a college campus, however for Mukami it simply wasn’t the case.

“A lot of people were really understanding. People kind of have something in them where they want to learn, and get educated, especially at NECC. It’s very diverse and I really like it,” said Mukami. According to her, one of the most enjoyable parts of being on a radio podcast, especially when addressing social injustices or racial inequalities, is the feedback from listeners.

“People are interacting back and forth with us. When we tweet it out and have people comment back or subscribe, that tells you how you’re doing,” said Mukami.

The biggest struggle and point of contention in the current social climate is trying to get people to understand the difference between those who identify as African Americans, and those who identify as Black Americans.

“I consider myself African because I’m not even a citizen of the country yet, but I also still go back to my country. My mom speaks the language, and I understand. Then, with African Americans, some don’t know where their roots are from.  We have this whole different culture but Black Americans can also relate to it, we’re kind of in that little pod, not everyone can understand that from the outside. There can be German Americans, or French Americans who happen to be black, and their grandparents or people before them. Once you’re here and you’ve lived here for awhile and adjusted to it you’d be African American. It all depends on how the individual feels,” said Mukami.

“Here and There” has one episode out right now, and plans to do one or two each month, each being about 30 minutes long.

“We will be having guests on the show, of people of different backgrounds, from different schools, different cities. So we will have people who are in Lowell which is not as diverse in certain areas, then we’ll go to Fitchburg, and compare the different environments, and whether it’s in college or high school we’ll compare to similarities and differences growing up,” said Mukami.

Other podcasts include a sports talk with Eddie Hoar and Matt Couture, called “Couture & Hoar Sports Talk” which is now available online. To reach the podcasts, go to  http://haverhillcommunitytv.org/category/podcast-series to check out current podcasts.                

News

HC Media gives future NECC podcasters a space on the air

 

By Thomas Matatall, Correspondent

NECC will soon see podcasters begin recording at HC Media as hosts and co-hosts of their own show. Pre-production will be starting in November.

There will be four podcasts, each having a main topic, consisting of sports, overcoming life obstacles, race and uncomfortable subjects.

Each podcast will be a length of 30 minutes.

An episode may have a guest speaker who will add their own point of view to that episode’s discussion.

For those who don’t know what a podcast is, it is basically a radio show.

It’s a recording of the hosts conversing back and forth. There’s an editor to make it all fit into one episode neatly and add music and jingles.

You can find each show on iTunes and through podcast apps on your phone.

At the first meeting at HC Media, students went around the table and shared what their podcasts were going to be about.

Also in the room were Amy Callahan, program coordinator of the Journalism/Communication department; Executive Director Darlene Beal; Director of Operations Matt Belfiore; and Radio Coordinator Shawn Smith. Smith will be helping out most with all the podcasters.

Expect for conversations to get emotional, controversial, depressing, harsh and fun.

The benefit of having a podcast is to get insight on topics that people are usually afraid to talk about with one another. And remember: it’s OK to disagree with what you’re listening to.

News

Opening up doors for future employment

 

By Shaina Richards

The internship program at NECC recently started up again this semester for Communications, Business, and CIS majors.

Sarah McCarthy, Chris Bowden and Brian Hough started as interns at HC Media, the local public access studio in Haverhill and were able to become permanent employees.

Internships open up opportunities for future employment by building up students’ resumes and providing students with important contacts and experience in their desired field of work.

McCarthy, who has been working at HC Media for 2 years, was one of the first students to do an internship at HC Media through NECC. She had been attending college at NEIA in Boston, but when it became too expensive, she came to NECC.

McCarthy had a background in film, so she decided to take both the TV Production and Video Production classes offered through NECC. She started volunteering at HC Media in 2012 and became an intern in 2013.

As a volunteer, McCarthy worked more on the shoot. As an intern, she worked more “behind the scenes” by helping to also prepare for the shoot.

“Volunteer work was more relaxed, putting in the effort you wanted to put in. As an intern, there was more emphasis on doing things in a timely manner,” McCarthy said.

McCarthy ended up not getting the three credits for taking the internship class, because after only three months as an intern, she was hired as a production coordinator at HC Media. She is currently content with how things worked out.

“I’m good here. HC Media is really growing, and I’d like to see where they go,” said McCarthy.

Chris Bowden, age 30, will have been employed at HC Media for 4 years this September. He also started as an intern and had taken the TV Production course through NECC.

“At that particular time in my life, I had no real direction and was struggling to find a career path. Not long after being in the class, I realized that video production and technology was something that I was passionate about, and I desired to know more,” said Bowden.

After becoming a member at HC Media and becoming “acclimated with the video production process,” Bowden volunteered for any and every shoot. Soon after, he was offered an internship as the videographer for the city government meetings.

“Being an intern and full-time staff member, I have gained an immense amount of knowledge that has helped me build my career as a videographer, producer and editor. I can safely say that HC Media has equipped me with the tools and know-how of video production that I otherwise would not have been able to acquire without expensive education and years of training. I greatly benefited and grew as an individual from hands-on training and by working side-by-side with the amazing HC Media staff and other volunteers,” said Bowden.

Brian Hough, age 21, started video production classes during his junior and senior years in high school.

“I fell in love with video production, particularly editing, in a whole new way,” said Hough.
As a Haverhill resident, Hough knew HC Media was a great local station where he could learn more. He spent three years as a member and interned during the summer at HC Media.

Bough said, “HC Media was also my first real step into a professional working environment. That’s where I really learned a lot of my time management skills, something that has come in handy.”