JDM upgrading audio and video editing lab facility

The department of Journalism and Digital Media has undergone many changes since its creation in 2011. The number of individual DMJ and DMP majors has doubled in the last five years. Radio broadcasts and television telecasts hit new all-time high levels this past year.  National, regional and state media awards were collectively garnered by AUTV 20, AU Live, The Collegian and WRDL radio for the very first time.

Even the venerable facilities improved, as the JDM Convergence Newsroom was built four years ago, AUTV 20 added all new HD control room equipment and studio cameras in 2017 and WRDL received a new transmitter in 2018. However, move improvement to the facilities needed to be rendered to meet the growing demands of the program.

With the help of the College of Arts and Sciences and the IT department, JDM will spend tens of thousands of dollars to renovate the aging, smallish Mac editing room. The idea for the renovation came from a meeting between John Skrada, JDM Director of Broadcasting and Operations, and Dr. Dave McCoy, Chair and Associate Professor of Journalism and Digital Media. Skrada and McCoy developed a plan to knock down a block wall that separated 139 CFA (Mac Lab) and 140 CFA (equipment storage room), gut both rooms, install 17 new computer work stations and develop a modern teaching presentation area in the expanded space.

The new JDM Audio/Video Lab will be fully operational for Fall 2018 classes. Please take a look at a few photos that show the deconstruction of the two rooms.