Look out for the CTVT inspired project “Hert-Attack” [www.hert-attack.net] running at Hertford Regional College where students are creating a locally focussed website delivering their own brand of content to local people. Target audience 16-24. It has been driven by second year National Diploma media students who have had fun building the project from nothing, using skills from presenting to video production, shooting videos, bands, 5-a-side footie … including a long day by the ‘red carpet’ in Leicester Square for the Bond Premiere of “Quantum of Solace”, and a trip to Wembley following the pumped up fans of Stevenage Borough FC who went on to win their Final at the national stadium. Most of the team took away genuine experience – you might say work experience having spent nine months in a formal production team producing media for a public website.
As of September 2009, the project has been running under the heading of ‘Social Action and Community Media Production’, seeking to deliver much more of a focus on the local community rather than exhibit the video production skills learned on the course. Beyond doubt is the value to the students of collaborating on a large, external project, designed to forge links with real people outside college. Chris Haydon, director of Community TV Trust, leads the FE College project and as ever looks to develop links between Education and Community.