Bedford broadcast students to use MPACT studio

Some Bedford High School broadcast students who were temporarily unable to use their studio to do their final radio shows before graduating are now on track to complete their program – thanks to some help from a Monroe station facility.

Monroe Public Access Cable Television (MPACT), a nonprofit created by the city of Monroe, approved a deal to let Bedford’s broadcast program students use its facilities and equipment while their home station is undergoing renovations.

Milward Beaudry, executive director at MPACT, also sits on an advisory committee for Bedford’s broadcast program. He said that MPACT typically lets other nonprofits use their facilities for an hourly fee; however, when he learned about the situation at Bedford High School, he was compelled to offer some help. He brought his idea to waive fees for the students to the MPACT board of directors, which approved a partnership.

“We thought it would be a good gesture because the seniors didn’t have access to do their final radio shows,” Beaudry said. “It gives them an opportunity to have access to do their radio shows that would normally be on the air.”

Although the students’ shows will not broadcast on MPACT’s affiliated radio station, REWIND 94.3 (WERW), they will be using the production studio to record a one-hour radio show. Three groups of students will be bused to the studio and spend one hour each recording their shows. They can then take the recordings back to their classroom and perform edits.

Tara Davis, radio/TV broadcasting teacher at Bedford High School, said that she has about 40 total students in the program, which includes a fundamentals class followed by the option for up to three years of advanced classes.

Students in the broadcast program usually get to take the air thanks to a low-power radio signal that broadcasts to 107.9 FM. Currently, the studio facility at the high school is being rebuilt and upgraded, thanks to some grant funding. Upgrades include a new broadcast tower, sound tiles, and more streamlined and user-friendly equipment.

In the meantime, the station’s radio license is set to expire on May 23. Davis said that the need to complete renovations is urgent, but finding experienced professionals to do the job has been difficult.

“There are not a lot of radio engineers to be found,” she said.

Though not all students in the program plan to pursue careers in radio, Davis said the program benefits them in a variety of ways. For example, creating radio shows helps them take ownership of their content and individualize the shows to match their interests.

“Sometimes they just talk about whatever is going on around us, (or) school life, what they’re doing for the weekend, a concert they’ve seen,” Davis said. “In between, they play whatever songs they like.”

Students also produce morning announcement videos that air on the program’s YouTube channel, WMLZ Productions Bedford High School.

Davis said that some students prefer to stay off the air and behind the camera, sticking to editing. Students also can take the Adobe certification test, which can help them gain skills valuable to their future careers.

“They’re not all going to leave here and be a reporter or DJ, but they all can benefit from some public speaking skills, which I feel like they get here,” Davis added. “We always want them to do work-based learning, so this is the perfect opportunity for them.”

Davis was glad the opportunity came to work with Beaudry and MPACT so that seniors in the program do not miss their last opportunities to produce their shows.

“I just thought that would be a really great collaboration opportunity for the kids to work in his space and then bring it back here for us to download and put on our station when it’s up and running,” she said.

Beaudry was excited by the opportunity as well, and he added that if other local school programs have similar needs, there may be ways to help them.

“We’re happy to help them out, and if any other school districts wanted to utilize our organization’s services, they can feel free to contact us.” For more information about MPACT, visit mpactstudio.org.

ON the Net: Bedford High School Broadcast Program’s YouTube channel, www.youtube.com/@wmlzproductionsbedfordhigh6427

This article originally appeared on The Monroe News: Bedford broadcast students to use MPACT studio