Educational Access in Malden
One of the benefits of this webiste is the chance to update the public on what’s been going on at MATV or to comment on certain issues relating to community media. Sometimes I’ll be writing on topics that might need clarification or if it’s important enough, some form of advocacy. Either way, my goal is to bring an understanding to anything that involves the world of communication from the use of public access television to cyberspace and beyond. So much of this new technology is every changing and it will always be my intention to update everyone with easy to understand language that makes these changes easier to comprehend.
Speaking of changes, there are some changes happening at Malden Access Television, Malden’s Media Center. Lindsay Alaimo, who has been the MATV Education Access Coordinator for almost 4 years, has moved on to take a new job at the Archeology Institute of America. Her new title is the Assistant to the Executive Director and she was the first to let me know that Harrison Ford is on her Board of Directors. While the staff and members will miss her very much, we wish her well on her new adventures and just maybe, she will find that ancient crystal skull.
Ms. Alaimo was a very valuable staff member and as far as I’m concerned she was the “Queen of Final Cut Pro” which is the computer software we use to edit videos. Her warm smile and cheerful nature will be sorely missed and her work with the youth of our community was outstanding. She was a major factor in the success of our summer program, the Kids Video Adventure Workshop and was instrumental in assisting the kids with winning both the regional and national awards at the ACM Hometown Video Festivals in 2007.
Now that Lindsay has left us, we are faced with finding someone who will take on her former position as the Coordinator of the Educational Channel here at MATV, which is seen on Channel 15 for those who are Comcast customers. For those who have chosen Verizon Communications as their cable provider, you will have to wait several months before they will be able to bring you your community channels. In fact, I would suggest that any customer, who switches to Verizon, ask before you switch, so that you are given a timetable when you will be able to receive the MATV signal. It isn’t automatic that you will be able to receive the transmission as of now.
With that said, I thought this would be a great time to explain what the job involves and how it relates to our mission here at the media center. As most of you know, it was in 1988 under the terms of a licensing agreement with the City of Malden and the original cable provider, Time Warner that MATV was given the responsibility of managing and operating the three PEG channels. These channels represent the Public, Education and Government programming for the residents of this community and reflect the idea that any local citizen or organization can get access to not only what is seen but actually get trained and be given channel time on one of those channels.
The responsibility of the Education Access Coordinator is primarily to develop, coordinate and promote programming for MATV’s Education Channel. This means that the person works directly with the teachers, students, parents and local school and government officials to teach, support and facilitate new shows on that channel. The ideal candidate needs to be familiar with television production as well as computer technology in non-linear editing, graphics and have experience in teaching students and volunteers the basics of computer/video production. It’s a full time job and advocacy and outreach are major components of the position.
Malden is fortunate to have 5 wonderfully modern and well designed K through 8 elementary/middle schools. In fact, the Salemwood School has an actual television studio that has been set up in the building that MATV oversees. This fall, we will be upgrading the facility with a new digital system that will be simple and easy for both the students and faculty to use. It is one of the main objectives of the Education Coordinator to manage and facilitate the use of this studio. The basic premise is that the more people that are trained in how to use the studio, the more programming that will be seen on the channel. MATV encourages any student, parent and teacher to get involved in our program because as the media changes, it becomes easier to use and the formats and technology are actually fun to operate.
One of the new challenges that I want this new person to have is to also work closely with the Malden High School. Last October, MATV worked closely with the Malden High 150th Committee and helped make that three day event so successful. This summer, you can now view many of the activities that were taped that weekend on channel 15. Because of that, I saw an incredible opportunity to reach out to the administrators and teachers to build a better collaboration and hopefully rekindle our relationship. Malden High School needs a working television studio and I am making a commitment today to help make that happen. I will keep you all posted on this development as we proceed with discussions on how we will accomplish this.
This is an exciting time to be the leader of MATV and I am committed to building a strong connection with the educational community. I promise that I will choose a highly qualified and dynamic person who will pursue this mission of developing the best educational channel in the area. Stay tuned for any news we bring because by the end of August, we should be on our way to finding that individual who will take on this exciting challenge.
