Nick Jarek arrived at UMass Lowell in the fall of 2018 without declaring an adult.
He enrolled in a wide range of courses in his first year, including a course in principles of lighting, which he said would meet a scientific requirement in the laboratory.
“We all did everything: be behind the camera, prepare the shots and edit. I fell in love with the whole process, putting all the pieces together and working with sophisticated cameras, â€he says. “And it’s very group-oriented. You work as a team, which I really liked.
Photo by K. Webster
“I wanted to take all the classes they had, because I want to be prepared for whatever I do after I graduate,†he says. “NESN (New England Sports Network) is the dream, but I have the skills to work on radio, be a cameraman for the Red Sox or edit films.”
In their final year, each student must complete an internship or create a wrap-up project such as a movie, podcast, or digital marketing campaign, depending on their interests and career goals, explains Romaniko.
“We want to offer a lot of flexibility in the curriculum,†he says. “We want to give students a solid background in drawing on journalism, English and art, while providing them with strong skills in video and audio production. It’s very convenient to work with real clients.
Courtesy photo
King, who majored in English, was one of the first students to earn a digital media minor. He now oversees all UML Athletics broadcasts for ESPN and NESN, as well as video content for the web and social media.
“Every work experience I have had after graduating from college, to this day, is due to the minor in digital media and the connections and experiences I have gained during that time,†King said.
“The digital media program has been a huge stepping stone for me,†she says. “It gave me a competitive advantage because it made me a one-woman production team: I can write, shoot, edit and produce. “
“Regional demand shows the need for professionals with versatile experiences and academic training,†he says.
Photo by K. Webster
Junior Ashley Habenicht, who like Jarek is pursuing a digital media concentration for her BLA degree, says she is excited to take more classes with Frank as he has spent three decades producing and directing everything from commercials to movies and television programming.
“He’s a really good teacher, and he has real experience producing documentaries, music videos and TV shows,†she says. “He can do a bit of everything. “
Photo by K. Webster
Frank and Romaniko say that with the expansion of the program, the university has invested $ 60,000 in industry-standard cameras, audio recorders, lights, and other essential equipment so that students can work with. the latest technology.
The Digital Media Program also benefits from a partnership that Canon offers to college and university programs that purchase its cameras and lenses. Canon will loan its new cameras to UML for a few weeks at a time, allowing students to work with high-end equipment, and will co-sponsor professional photographers and filmmakers as guest speakers.
Although she already has extensive video experience, Coviello says UML’s digital media courses expand her knowledge and expose her to a wider range of career options. Now that all of her classes are in person, she can’t wait to get her hands on some of these top-of-the-line Canon cameras.
“I’m excited because I have more experience working with better cameras, working with lights, and finding other people in my major and networking with them,†she says. “I’m going to do what I really love.
