Gift from CBC/WRAL Community Fund of the Triangle Community Foundation Enhances Barton’s Communications Program

WILSON, N.C. — Barton College is pleased to announce a recent gift from the CBC/WRAL Community Fund of the Triangle Community Foundation.  The gift supports the broadcast/video production concentration of Barton’s mass communications program as it completes its transition to high definition.

In addition to the new WRAL.com Media Lab, the gift will include six new editing bays and 12 new student workstations, complementing four updated workstations already in place. Equipment and software upgrades, including new Mac computers and Final Cut Pro software, will further enhance the production of student projects in high definition.

“Technology is rapidly changing, and students require access to the latest equipment to prepare them for entry into the competitive field of broadcasting,” said James F. Goodmon, President and CEO of Capitol Broadcasting Company, Inc.

An initial gift from the CBC/WRAL Community Fund in 2008 funded digital equipment needs for the Broadcast/Video Production concentration of Barton’s communications program through 2009. The gift provided new equipment and upgrades necessary for both the teaching facility and television control room and advanced the facility’s transition from analog to digital to HD. This project culminated in the naming of the Phyllis Parish Howard Television Control Room, in honor of Barton alumna, trustee, and longtime WRAL-TV employee Phyllis Parish Howard.

This second gift in 2011 continues to support the vision of providing Barton College’s Broadcast/Video Production majors with an outstanding educational facility. The renovation, coupled with equipment and software upgrades, will bring Barton’s computer/media lab up to industry standards and will strengthen the recruitment of mass communications majors to the College as these students prepare for successful careers in the broadcasting industry.

“The Phyllis Parish Howard Control Room continues to serve as the heart of the broadcast/video production concentration in mass communications at Barton College, and with the CBC/WRAL Community Fund’s latest gift, the College will make great strides in our transition to high definition,” shared Dr. Norval C. Kneten, president of Barton College. “We are grateful for the generosity of the CBC/WRAL Community Fund as they continue to support the College’s commitment to provide the best in engaged experiential learning.”

These increased resources for the Broadcast/Video Production concentration of Barton’s communications program will significantly enhance the already successful program at Barton College. And, the installation of the preferred technology and improved learning environment in the WRAL.com Media Lab will ensure that Barton successfully continues to attract qualified students into the program and prepares them to be highly proficient practitioners in the broadcast industry.

For additional information about Barton College, visit http://www.barton.edu and for additional information about the CBC/WRAL Community Fund of the Triangle Community Foundation, visit http://www.trianglecf.org.

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Questions? Please contact Kathy Daughety, director of public relations, at 252-399-6529 or email: kdaughety@barton.edu.