theMEL.media, brainchild of Professor Mark Seignious, chair of the communication department, launched January 2021. Northwestern’s Media Entertainment Lab provides students from any major hands-on experience in the following areas:
- Public relations – Instagram themelpr.unw or whereisthemel
- Television
- Film – Instagram five16filmfest
- Radio – Instagram themel.fm
“THE MEL is a student-led creative learning environment. Participants produce real content without fear of failing. There are no graded assignments and endless ways to get involved both in front of the camera/microphone and behind the scenes,” explains Seignious.
“I’m working with Northwestern Media’s podcast network. I’m helping develop social media presences for their podcasts as well as writing for the web and taking part in the web development process. I’ve worked on website design, writing copy, and overseeing content creation for the website’s launch in a few months.“
Elena Nowlin – Public Relations ’22
Communication department workshops have existed for many years. Now all are working synergistically to create a more real-world media experience – hence, the birth of THE MEL. One unique benefit of studying communication here at UNW is that KTIS and Northwestern Media are literally just upstairs, and they generously provide internships (many paid!) and other types of work experiences to communication students as they pursue Christ and pursue craft.
Elena Nowlin, theMEL.media executive director of PR Workshop, made it upstairs this summer as a Podcast Network Assistant. “I’m working with Northwestern Media’s podcast network. I’m helping develop social media presences for their podcasts as well as writing for the web and taking part in the web development process. I’ve worked on website design, writing copy, and overseeing content creation for the website’s launch in a few months.”
Calling ALL students from ALL majors! Would you like to be part of a team (and get credit for it)? Consider joining one of the communication department workshops next semester and take the next step toward your career in – well, just about anything. What industry doesn’t need strong communicators with solid writing, speaking, website and social media skills?
