At Mt. San Jacinto College (MSJC), students aren’t just learning about digital media, they’re producing it.
“I really value the real-world experience that working with this level of equipment provides!” says Jade McGowan, an MSJC student working on a Digital Media certificate.
With the massive growth of digital media and the need for more media coverage of the Inland Empire, MSJC is answering the call with a brand-new, leading-edge studio and streaming platform, providing hands-on experience for McGowan and other students.
Under the direction of the MSJC Creative Media Department and managed by two full-time professionals who also happen to be graduates, Studio215 is a fully equipped broadcast and digital media production facility designed to mirror professional production environments.
“Studio215 was designed to operate not just as a classroom space but as a functioning media production hub, which makes it relatively unique among colleges in the Inland Empire,” says Alan Marsala, associate professor and chair of the Creative Media Department at MSJC.
“I think working in Studio215 will help me achieve my career goals by providing me with a solid foundation of experience that will shape me into someone who is comfortable working with a wide range of equipment, regularly engaging with a diverse array of talent, and can conduct myself professionally in a studio environment,” McGowan says.
Through hands-on projects and collaboration, students develop both technical expertise and the professional skills needed to work in fast-paced production settings.
Looking ahead, McGowan hopes to apply those skills in a meaningful way.
“I think what draws me to this career path is the opportunity to capture and interpret the world around me through a creative lens. I find that there are so many interesting stories to be told and so much beauty in the world. Digital media is my favorite medium to interpret these things and hopefully share my perspective with others.”
The studio, located on the college’s Menifee Valley Campus, includes a multi-camera television studio, professional audio systems, an LED wall, and a post-production suite that meets high industry standards. The facility supports live and recorded productions, streaming, podcasting, and professional color grading, allowing students to work with the same tools and workflows used in modern media production.
Among the productions in Studio215 is ieNOW, the Inland Empire’s first comprehensive media channel, streaming on Amazon Fire TV, Roku, iOS, and Android apps. Run by students under the guidance of faculty and studio professionals, ieNOW features regional artists, musicians, docuseries, food shows, business highlights, local sports events, and news. The channel includes both live-streaming and on-demand content, offering opportunities for local businesses to underwrite segments.
“While some colleges have media labs or small studios, facilities with a full broadcast workflow integrated with a regional streaming platform are uncommon at the community college level,” Marsala says.
eNOW provides students with hands-on experience producing real programming while learning technical, creative, and collaborative skills. Students build portfolios, gain production credits, and develop the professional experience needed to transition into media careers.
“Working with the Studio215 team to produce ieNow has been an amazing opportunity to deepen my understanding of studio production and learn what it takes to bring a show to life from behind the scenes,” says McGowan, who aspires to film wildlife conservation efforts and nature documentaries after graduation.
McGowan and his fellow Creative Media students are learning skills to help them find work in broadcast production, video production, digital content creation, live event production, social media marketing, and post-production.
“Their skills in camera operation, editing, live production, audio engineering, motion graphics, and streaming are in strong demand across media companies, marketing agencies, corporate communications departments, and independent production,” Marsala says.
Digital media jobs have a strong employment outlook, with employment expected to increase by 8 to13% through 2030 (bls.gov). In broadcasting, California is among five states with the highest concentration of employment opportunities (ihirebroadcasting.com).
Going forward, Marsala expects the studio to expand its student apprenticeships and programming with more regional storytelling, original podcasts, community-focused productions, and student-driven media initiatives.
“The ultimate vision is a self-sustaining career education program. We want to always be on the front edge of industry expectations and have the ability to evolve as quickly as our region requires,” Marsala says. “To this end, we are actively building a cohort of community sponsors so we can expand original programming on ieNOW, begin to develop content strategies with local organizations and creators, and continue to build ieNOW as a regional platform for storytelling in the Inland Empire.”