By Julian Leon

MASS Communication and Sport Media are two of the many majors on campus but are among the few that truly deal with valuable equipment on a daily basis. The ability to have two studios, multiple editing suites and equipment is a luxury that not many programs have to offer. Students have found issues with using some equipment, but two key figures in the Mass Communications program who oversee all the equipment the program has to offer are Jeffrey Schiffman and Craig DoVidio, making sure that to the best of their ability and what the school can offer that all equipment is ready to be used.

Schiffman, an audio and radio production professor who is also the general manager of the York College radio station (WVYC), has been overseeing the equipment in the Mass Communications program for over the past 10 to 15 years. One of the things the program relies on is the ability to maintain good equipment for the students to be able to use. “We are constantly looking at the equipment to see if things need to get changed out and fixed,” Schiffman says. “There’s never a point where we aren’t looking at the equipment due to how frequently the equipment is being used by faculty and students.”

But along with constantly having to make sure all equipment is run smoothly there is a financial side to it. According to Schiffman, York supplies roughly around 30,000 a year for the program. “The budget includes all equipment, the studio softwares, Cheqroom for students to check out equipment whenever they need it,” he says.

All of this is done with the goal of supporting the Mass Communication program so that every student has an opportunity to best be prepared for the real industry.

DoVidio, a professor who oversees video production as well as various editing courses, says he wants to make sure as a professor and resource for students at the campus they they are best prepared for any challenge they may face in the industry.

“Every program needs to be concerned about students being competent and proficient in technology, software and soft skills,” he says. “The graduate needs to have a portfolio upon graduation to display to potential employers. That’s the magic mix – great skill set, great soft skills and varied examples of students’ work. That’s the path to success in the media industry.”

Part of that path is looking ahead, both professors said. New advancements are being made over the next couple of years. According to Schiffman, “We would like to set up a 5.1 editing suite for broadcasting live stream productions for our sporting events and any on campus events.”

As well as staying up to date with what’s changing constantly in the industry, Dovidio states, “We update and upgrade with new technologies every year based on faculty evaluation from NAB and field experience.”

Every program needs to be concerned about students being competent and proficient in technology, software and soft skills.

Craig DoVidio

The goal is clear when it comes to the success of the program, to enable students to have the best possible experience at York College of Pennsylvania within the Mass Communication program and to be fully prepared for the ever changing and flowing media industry.

Julian Leon is a senior majoring in Sport Media

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