MATV Youth Programs

Youth are a very important part of MATV. Through our in-house and outreach programs, young people, ages 8 and up, learn to use digital media to tell stories, communicate about the things they care about, experiment, be creative, and express themselves, all while learning useful technology and collaboration skills.

Youth Channel is MATV’s premiere block of television created solely by kids of all ages.  Children are encouraged to tap into their creative resources and collaborate with other kids in order to create a professional show for cablecast on MATV Channel 15.  Past programs have included music reviews, anime, comedy, drama, anti-discrimination, and women’s rights. Styles include talk shows, documentaries, short promos, narrative film-style pieces, and stop-motion animation. Youth members have access to our digital studio complete with graphics system, full lighting, audio board, and set props; as well as our youth post-production studio including digital editing with iMovie.  Below is a list of our various youth training programs:

Youth Channel “Drop In” Program
Flexible program for MATV-trained youth ages 12-18.  The program is open Monday through Friday from 2:30 – 6:00pm.  Yearly membership is $10. The youth members are encouraged to work on independent projects.

Kids Video Club
A structured afterschool training program for kids ages 8-12.  Appointments can be set up to work with either the Educational Access Coordinator or the Executive Director.  Regularly scheduled day and times will be announced at the start of school year.

Kids Video Adventure Workshop
(Summer/School Vacation Program)
KVA is scheduled for two 2-week sessions in August and an intensive workshop is held during Winter & Spring vacation weeks. Participants will learn everything they need to know to create their own production including script writing, studio/on-location shoots and prop making. MATV holds a premiere screening to showcase the finished program to participants and their families and friends.  Youth who join the workshop will also have a full year’s membership to MATV and can join our Youth Channel or Kids Video Club program.  Offered for all Malden school students, this award-winning program is open to boys and girls ages 8-13.

In-School Outreach Programs
MATV offers a wide range of in-school classes to help teachers gain enrichment and variety in their lesson plans.  Working with 5th – 12th graders, our Educational Access Coordinator meets with a teacher who is interested in adding video production to their curriculum, and designs an appropriate program. Successful partnerships have included in-school classes at Linden, Beebe, Salemwood, and Malden High School.

After-School Outreach Programs
Since the early days of MATV, we have been offering video production to youth in after-school programs through Citizens Schools, the Partnership for Community Schools, the YMCA, and the YWCA. Children of all ages learn the basics of camera shooting, planning, and putting together a television production. This introductory experience to making television often results in a young person joining our Kids Video Club or Youth Channel program.

Are you a young person interested in learning television production? Or are you a parent who thinks your child might want to join the fun? Contact Lindsay Alaimo, MATV”s Educational Access Coordinator, at Lindsay@matv.org or call 781-321-6400 ext. 229.