in this issue

MCTV PRESENTS UNIQUE OPPORTUNITIES

Left to right: James O'Brien, Debbie Yatska, Steve Meredith, Mark Grossman, Lisa Boehm and Terry McGowan.

Maricopa Colleges Television (MCTV), owned and operated by the Maricopa Community College District, is unique in the world of college television and if anyone were to make an educated guess, MCTV will serve as a model to other college television stations. Why is MCTV so different and what makes it a station other colleges will want to emulate? It is unique because it is a partnership between a public college district and privately held television cable company, Cox Digital Cable System. It is different because unlike other college television stations, its primary purpose is the training of students in the areas of broadcast production, animation, graphics, music, sound design and post-production. The primary media outlet for MCTV will focus on course work, arts and entertainment, sports, student services and events and promotions throughout the Maricopa Community Colleges. Students enrolled in the Maricopa Institute for Arts and Entertainment (MIAET) at the Scottsdale Community College will produce the MCTV programs, giving students hands-on learning opportunities not available with other educational institutions' television and broadcasting tracks.

Dr. Steve Meredith, who was recently appointed general manager, will manage the day-to-day operations of the new station housed on the campus of Scottsdale Community College. Prior to his appointment, Meredith served as director of Vocal Music at Scottsdale Community College since 1989. In addition to his faculty duties, he served as Fine Arts division chair from 1996-98, and is the executive director of the Maricopa Institute for Arts and Entertainment Technology (MIAET) at SCC, a position he will continue to hold.

Meredith said MCTV is a district-wide project and should serve all of the Maricopa Community Colleges. "MCTV has a district-wide focus, not a single-campus focus. One of my primary goals for the upcoming academic year is to involve all of the Maricopa Community Colleges in MCTV programming." He added that the station gives the District an opportunity to enhance the marketing efforts of the Maricopa Community Colleges as a community of colleges as opposed to separate autonomous colleges. "We are a collective group, much like one big family, and I encourage all of the colleges to take advantage of the excellent opportunities that we now have through MCTVV."

MCTV has been working on several programming projects throughout the summer months. They include:

• Arizona Issues Forum, a public awareness program sponsored by the Institute for Public Policy and KPHO TV5. Four programs are held each year covering a wide variety of topics of interest to the community.
  
• Maricopa Magazine, news show format, will spotlight each of the colleges on a monthly basis. In addition, the District's Governing Board monthly meeting and fine arts productions by the colleges will air over MCTV.
  
• Maricopa Minute, a live daily events calendar that will feature events from the Maricopa Community Colleges.
  
• Surfside Cinema, a beach-themed student produced show, will review movies.
  
• MaricopArts, a partnership with Maricopa Community College District Fine Arts office to produce cultural programming.

The station will also be key in marketing Maricopa Community Colleges' benefits to the public, and to serve as the primary outlet for information about the college district.

Meredith said, "I think this type of partnership is definitely a model, particularly as cable systems expand in size. There are interesting opportunities for educational systems to create programs. Furthermore, in this scenario everybody wins; educational institutions need to expand their distance learning capabilities and in so doing, assist cable companies in their building community relationships and responding to the needs of the community. There just aren't any other colleges, whether two-year or four-year, that give television/broadcast students the hands-on processes of producing programs. We have students who have graduated with a BA in television/broadcast communications who enroll in our courses at Scottsdale. I expect this trend will continue now that MCTV is up and running."

Meredith's professional experience in TV has largely been in the field of music production and performance. He has performed on the soundtracks of the syndicated programs "Xena: Warrior Princess," and "Tarzan," as well as working with ABC Sports in the creation of music for College Football, the 1988 Super Bowl, Monday Night Football and the 1988 Winter Olympic Games in Calgary. Meredith is also an accomplished classical vocalist and has performed with orchestras and opera companies throughout the world.