• BACKGROUND

  Local television news remains the most trusted news source for people in communities throughout the United States. Local television newsrooms produce the majority of the original reporting being done in most communities. News Producers may be the most vital core component to creating any local television newscast.

   

  These Producers help shape the editorial direction of any day by taking part in the story selection process. They write, coordinate, plan, and execute each newscast in a highly collaborative environment. The Producer weaves each story together to create a full, vibrant picture of that day to inform the community. Quite simply, without Producers there is no way to execute local television news.

   

  Newsroom leaders throughout the country also share one common frustration: the difficulty attracting, training, and keeping our next generation of Newscast Producers. Many journalism school students become enamored with on-air exposure, unaware of the significant role of a Newscast Producer. The growth of online news platforms has also pulled potential Producers in other directions.

   

  Newscast producing serves as a direct pipeline to newsroom leadership. The majority of newsroom managers, including news directors, have a background in producing. Attracting more diverse candidates into the producing profession is critical to guarantee a wide variety of voices in newscasts now and in the future and must be a priority.

  
  Many stations have taken on the burden of training Producers on their own due to the difficulty of getting qualified candidates. The fundamentals of the producing craft can be taught and learned in one year. Once a person is in a producing position, they will enjoy tremendous upward mobility. That could take the form of moving into larger markets or simply advancing to positions of greater authority in their newsroom. The pathway for producers to move into major markets is much more direct than it is for on-air talent.

   

  Producing is a wonderful way for diverse candidates to work their way into newsrooms where multiculturalism is needed now more than ever. Today’s audiences want news and content that more accurately reflect their communities. News Producers are the individuals who can truly impact that outcome through their own cultural identity and background. It is of the utmost importance to train today’s students to become tomorrow’s television news producers.

• PROGRAM INITIATIVE

  Ivy Tech Community College will become the first known college in the country to create a one-year certificate program (two semesters; 22 credit hours) in partnership with the DuJuan and Tina McCoy Foundation, Circle City Broadcasting, and JPMorgan Chase Foundation called the Multicultural Media Producing Program (MMPP).

   

  The curriculum will be customized and align with the Professional and Community Communication certificate. Students will be part of a program cohort and provided not only academic curriculum, but wraparound support and hands-on experiences in partnership with Circle City Broadcasting.

   

  MMPP will be open to all students of all backgrounds but will have an added emphasis on ensuring multicultural and underserved individuals have access to the program.

• IVY TECH INDIANAPOLIS

  Ivy Tech will work in conjunction with the Circle City Broadcasting news leadership team to create a curriculum that satisfies Ivy Tech degree standards and delivers highly trained producers to enter the news producing workforce in America.

   

  First inaugural class began Spring 2023.

• CIRCLE CITY BROADCASTING

  The Circle City Broadcasting news leadership team will become adjunct professors to the program as well as offer regular practical application to the program via its news producing TV stations located in Indianapolis Indiana, WISH-TV and WNDY-TV.

   

  MMPP will primarily focus on newscast producing but offer additional guidance and instruction in producing specials and TV show production.

• THE DUJUAN AND TINA MCCOY FOUNDATION

  The DuJuan and Tina McCoy Foundation is dedicated to funding programs that advance the education, promote equality of life and advance careers of multicultural and diverse individuals and communities.

   

  DTMF will provide annual scholarships to selected individuals of MMPP based on need and a one-page essay on why they would like to enter the program.

• VISION OF PROGRAM

  We believe this program can grow to be one of the most effective means to introduce more diverse individuals into the leadership ranks in newsrooms across America while impacting communities by offering varied perspectives on how news is delivered and presented and produced. We believe that this program can become a model for other colleges and broadcasting companies in America.

• The Multicultural Media Producing Program
  

  The Multicultural Media Producing Program is a one-year certificate program at Ivy Tech Community College in Indianapolis. As the first known program of its kind, the MMPP is designed to train today’s students to become tomorrow’s television news producers and newsroom leaders.

   

  The Multicultural Media Producing Program was created with the vision to introduce more diverse individuals into the leadership ranks in newsrooms across America while impacting communities by offering varied perspectives on how news is delivered, presented, and produced.

  Ivy Tech Community College in collaboration with JPMorgan Chase, Circle City Broadcasting, and the DuJuan and Tina McCoy Foundation created the program. It is open to students of all backgrounds, with an emphasis on ensuring multicultural diversity and accessibility for underserved individuals.

• PROGRAM LEADERS
  

  Amanda Owen-Pride

  Department Chair, School of Arts, Sciences, and Education

  Indianapolis-MMPP@ivytech.edu

  Amanda Owen-Pride is currently serving as the Department Chair of the School of Arts, Sciences, and Education as well as the Department Chair of General Studies, Liberal Arts, and Student Success at Ivy Tech Community College Indianapolis. Amanda has worked in higher education for 20 years across public and private institutions. Amanda has served at Ivy Tech for  10 years, in various roles. Amanda has a strong value for education earning her Bachelor of Science degree in Communications, minor in Marketing from Indiana State University and her Master of Arts degree in Communications from Northern Kentucky University. Amanda plans to complete the Ed.D in Ethical Leadership from Olivet Nazarene University this year. As a servant leader, her true passion is people, building relationships, and helping individuals grow in the direction of their dreams. Amanda has almost a decade of experience teaching communications courses at Ivy Tech.

  

  Adam Krent

  Executive Producer at WISH-TV

  Adam Krent is an executive producer at WISH-TV. He joined the WISH-TV team in November 1996. Adam started his broadcast career in Terre Haute at WTHI-TV. Adam graduated from Carmel High School and went on to Indiana State University where he earned a degree in Radio/TV/Film, and Secondary education, with a minor in mathematics. Before graduation, Adam did his student teaching at Ben Davis High School in Indianapolis in the radio and television department.

  Adam has been behind the scenes producing newscasts and breaking coverage for some of the biggest stories in central Indiana during the past 25 years. Adam has been honored for his producing, earning an Emmy, and Associated Press awards for best newscast and best producer. When away from work, Adam is an avid sports fan who enjoys traveling, going to the movies, and spending time with family. Adam started his broadcast career in Terre Haute at WTHI-TV.

   

Coursework will include but is not limited to, instruction on professional communication, and how newscasts are written, produced, and broadcasted. Students will earn a Certificate in Professional & Community Communication (PCC-CT) upon completion.

• Courses for the certificate
  • ENGL 111 – English Composition
  • COMM 101 – Fundamentals of Public Speaking
  • BOAT 216 – Business Communication
  • COMM 102 – Introduction to Interpersonal Communication
  • COMM 201 – Introduction to Mass Communication
  • COMM 202 – Small Group Communication
  • COMM 212 – Culture and Communication
  • COMM 280 – Internship [Emphasis: News Writing and Producing]

  Students will receive practical experience at the Circle City Broadcasting studios in Indianapolis, where the company produces more than 80 hours of live news and programming weekly.

  The MMPP will be anchored by Amanda Owen-Pride who teaches Communications and is the Department Chair for the School of Arts, Sciences, and Education at Ivy Tech Community College – Indianapolis. The Circle City Broadcasting news leadership team will oversee internship training and development.

   

  • The Summer eight-week term begins on June 5, 2023.
  • The Fall 1 eight-week term begins on August 21, 2023.
  • The Fall 2 eight-week term begins on October 23, 2023.
• IN-STUDIO LEARNING

  Students will meet with WISH-TV news experts twice a week for 16 weeks. Topics include, but are not limited to:

  WEEK 1 - 8/22/23

  What is a news producer?

  WEEK 2 - 8/28/23

  Technical training on news systems

  WEEK 3 - 9/5/23

  Decision making in news producing

  WEEK 4 - 9/12/23

  Ethical news story selection

   

  WEEK 5 - 9/19/23

  Writing for broadcast media

   

  WEEK 6 - 9/26/23

  Using news graphics

   

  WEEK 7 - 10/3/23

  Using videos and soundbites

  WEEK 8 - 10/10/23

  Producing breaking news

  WEEK 9 - 10/24/23

  Producing teases and promotional videos

   

  WEEK 10 - 10/31/23

  Producing big stories

   

  WEEK 11 - 11/7/23

  Producing newscasts

  WEEK 12 - 11/14/23

  Emphasizing diverse stories

  WEEK 13 - 11/21/23

  Using social/digital media in news

  WEEK 14 - 11/28/23

   Writing political and government stories

  WEEK 15 - 12/5/23

  Writing crime and court stories

  WEEK 16 - 12/12/23

  Producing non-news programs

• APPLYING FOR CONSIDERATION

  The Multicultural Media Producing Program cohorts will each have about 20 students and courses will be offered each semester. Students must submit the scholarship application below to apply. Also students must apply to Ivy Tech Community College Indianapolis with the Professional & Community Communication certificate as their desired program of study.

  Application Here

  Please email your application to:  Indianapolis-MMPP@ivytech.edu

• The DuJuan and Tina McCoy Foundation
  

   

   

  The DuJuan and Tina McCoy Foundation will provide annual scholarships to selected individuals in the Multicultural Media Producing Program (MMPP). The scholarships are based on need and students can be awarded up to $2,000. The scholarship application requires a one-page essay based on the prompts below.

  The DuJuan and Tina McCoy Foundation is dedicated to funding programs that advance the education, careers, and quality of life of multicultural individuals and communities.

  ESSAY OPTIONS

  Option 1: As a multicultural news producer how would you strive for greater representation in the media when coverage is aimed at people and communities of color? 

   

  Option 2: What advantages do you see in the existence of a more diverse newsroom in media representation as a whole?

  Download the Scholarship Application

  Please email your application to:  Indianapolis-MMPP@ivytech.edu

• Fellowship for the Multicultural Media Producing Program Fellowship (MMPP)
  

  

  Fellowship for the Multicultural Media Producing Program Fellowship (MMPP)

  The NAB Leadership Foundation works with current and aspiring leaders in broadcasting to build a more diverse, innovative, and vibrant future for the industry by investing in our greatest resource: our people. CBS News and Stations is dedicated to providing the highest quality journalism under standards it pioneered and continues to set in today’s digital age.

   

  The Multicultural Media Producing Program Fellowship (MMPP) seeks to increase the diversity of the broadcast industry’s television news producers and maximize the benefits of a multicultural workforce. The NAB Leadership Foundation and CBS News and Stations are proud to support ten (10) students with additional education during the two-semester MMPP program being taught at the Ivy Tech Community College.

   

  Each MMPP fellow selected in the 2023-24 school year will benefit from the opportunity to participate in broadcast industry leadership, career development, and DEI training. This instruction may come in the form of recorded webinars or live online sessions. Each student will also be invited to the NAB Show in Las Vegas. Transportation, lodging for two nights and meal vouchers will be included.

  ELIGIBILITY AND APPLICATION PROCESS IS AS FOLLOWS:

  1.Student must be currently enrolled in the Ivy Tech Community College MMPP program. They may apply once they have completed the first semester of the program.

  2. Transcript
  3. Essay Response
  4. 30-minute video interview

  NABLF Fellowship application link will be live on August 15th, 2023.

• ViacomCBS
  

  ViacomCBS believes that to be the best creators and storytellers, the industry must reflect, celebrate, and elevate the diversity of audiences. The company has committed to assist in placing several MMPP graduates at their local television stations across the country.

   

  Possible local stations include:

  • KCBS in Los Angeles, CA
  • KPIX in San Francisco, CA
  • KOVR in Sacramento, CA
  • KCNC in Denver, CO
  • WFOR in Miami, FL
  • WJZ in Baltimore, MD
  • WBZ in Boston, MA
  • WWJ in Detroit, MI
  • WCCO in Minneapolis, MN
  • WCBS in New York City, NY
  • KYW in Philadelphia, PA
  • KDKA in Pittsburgh, PA
  • KTVT in Dallas – Fort Worth, TX