The old broadcast studio in the Department of Communication and Journalism at the University of New Mexico is being renovated.
The former television and news studio was converted into a livestream studio with new set, existing camera/audio equipment and lighting.
Pictured: The former UNM news studio
The department’s audiovisual technician, Santi Colmenero, has been working on the renovation since September 2023, repurposing equipment that the school previously used for other purposes.
“Some of our larger cameras and lighting were not being actively used, they were just lying around unused,” said Colmenero. “So I took the initiative, took the space and redesigned it to meet modern contemporary needs.”
Now the space is set up for the creation of high-quality video productions. The live stream studio can produce various media types, such as video podcasts, which can then be uploaded to YouTube or Facebook Live. Initially, it will only be accessible to faculty and students taking C&J courses, but the department plans to eventually open the production space to all UNM members and off-campus community groups.
Courtesy: Department of Communication and Journalism
“I can now tell my students that there’s a lab downstairs where they can learn how media is made, to get a more critical understanding of the media that they’re already engaging with, and to me that’s really invaluable,” said Associate Professor Michael Lechuga. “The role of a public university is to serve the public, so if we can provide an opportunity for members of the community around campus or the state to use our resources to promote the values of the university, I think that’s great.”
Lechuga says recycling the studio and transforming it into a space better suited to students’ media usage today provides an opportunity to make connections that weren’t possible before.
Courtesy: Department of Communication and Journalism
“Some of our graduate students are doing amazing research but don’t always have the opportunity to travel to conferences to present their research, so a studio like this would be great for them,” Lechuga said. “Post-COVID, a lot of people are using the online option, so this is just another way to plug into the global dialogue where our students are really on the cutting edge.”
Ilia Rodríguez Nazario, associate professor of communication and journalism, says this is a continuation of the faculty’s evolution, keeping pace with ever-changing technologies and offering students more hands-on experience in the classroom.
“We are very excited about this new live stream studio because it gives undergraduate students the opportunity to practice the skills they learn in courses that are essential for success in all communications careers,” she said. “The studio also allows us to Be more present and where people are and use technologies that younger generations are more comfortable with.”
Courtesy: Department of Communication and Journalism
Whether it’s a course on multimedia journalism, social media, or public speaking, ideas for this space are already bubbling up.
“I had a vision of bringing some UNM art students or someone in the performing arts here who could share their work with a larger community. It would be really great to build those connections across campus,” Lechuga said.
Starting Monday, August 19, a link will be available on the department’s website through which teachers and students of communication and journalism can book a time slot for the studio.
Pictured: The former UNM news studio
