CONTACT:
- John F. Barber, Digital Technology and Culture, 360-546-9645, jfbarber@vancouver.wsu.edu
- Sheri Byrd, Office of Marketing and Communications, 360-546-9602, byrds@vancouver.wsu.edu
VANCOUVER, Wash.- When Vancouver public access TV debuted an open mic program last summer, John F. Barber volunteered to co-host. He's had such fun that he's working with the TV channel to teach a class in the spring.
Students will produce two programs that will be included in Channel 11's schedule and FVTV professionals will co-teach the course with Barber. Programs are broadcast to 80,000 subscribers in Clark County.
"Being a part of the show is a thrill," said Barber, co-director of the digital technology and culture (DTC) program at 91³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏÍø. He likes how Fort Vancouver Television (FVTV), Comcast Channel 11, and his show "Clark County Connects" give the community a forum, an "electronic soapbox" for sharing ideas.
"The nature of the programs to be produced (by the students) are not of a traditional broadcast or journalistic genre," Barber said. "Rather, in keeping with the focus of the DTC program, they will be digital narrative or digital storytelling."
The opportunity to produce video narratives complements ongoing opportunities for DTC students to produce documentary videos, Web sites, animations, podcasts, Internet radio programs and other digital media content for nonprofit organizations in southwest Washington.
"In addition to expanding the scope of community access media and learning how to become future community leaders," Barber said, "this partnership also helps 91³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏÍø students gain project management experience in digital media."
Barber is the leading scholar for American author Richard Brautigan, a native of Washington, and also the award-winning author of "Dr. John's Eazy-Peazy Guides" to improving communication skills ().
91³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏÍø is located at 14204 NE Salmon Creek Ave., east of the 134th Street exit from either I-5 or I-205, or via C-Tran bus service. We offer 16 bachelor's degrees, nine master's degrees, one doctorate degree and more than 36 fields of study. Visit us on the Web at .
Photo: John Barber. Click thumbnail for high resolution image.