Haverhill Community Television Earns Top Award

HAVERHILL, Mass. - April 1, 2013 - PRLog -- Haverhill Community Television and Haverhill High School’s Violence Intervention and Prevention Program Earn “Community Impact” Award

Haverhill, MA- The Alliance for Community Media-Northeast Region (ACM-NE) recently announced that Haverhill Community Television’s Chris Bowden, program director, will be awarded first place in the category of “Community Impact” at the 13th Annual Northeast Video Festival scheduled for Saturday, April 13th at the Methuen Memorial Music Hall.  The Northeast Region encompasses Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, Rhode Island and Vermont. The ten-minute video titled “Weapon Violence” was created and produced in collaboration with the Violence Intervention and Prevention (VIP) program at Haverhill High School.

“I was very fortunate to work closely with the VIP team to produce an impactful public service announcement that focuses on the devastating consequences of choosing violence over other conflict resolutions,” said Bowden. “VIP came up with the concept, and I produced and directed the piece according to their goals and vision.”

The VIP team is made up of a diverse group of students in grades 9 - 12 who are committed to preventing violence and promoting peace and respect within their school and community.  Lori Curry, co-advisor with Carol Ireland, has turned to HCTV for six years for guidance and support to create meaningful anti-violence videos. “This year we chose weapon violence as our focus because we were witnessing an increasing amount of coverage around tragic school events both locally and nationally,” said Curry.  “According to the 2010 Youth Risk Behavior Survey, 18% of students will carry a gun to school within a 30 day period.  It is our goal to get students to think about their decisions and to understand that violence is never the right choice.”

The ACM-NE rated all video submission on the following criteria: content, creativity, technical elements, and the viewer’s overall reaction.  “We didn’t sugar coat what violence can do and how ugly it can be,” said Bowden.  “As the director, I felt it was important to make this video realistic and to send a visually memorable message.  I believe we accomplished that goal.”

The video was created during the summer with students enrolled in the VIP’s “Safe Summer for Youth” program.  “The entire video took approximately 3 weeks,” said Bowden.   “It was very rewarding working on this project because the students in this program are really working hard to make a difference.  Some have even expressed an interest in video production, and that is especially exciting with the tremendous opportunities offered to them here at HCTV.  They can learn the craft in a supportive, encouraging, and creative environment.”

Bowden was first exposed to HCTV as a student in the video production class offered by Northern Essex Community College and held in the station’s training room.  “Chris started out with us as a volunteer and then we hired him as a production assistant,” said Darlene Beal, Executive Director. “He quickly worked his way up to program director and is now a full-time employee.”

According to Bowden, it is because of HCTV that he has been so successful.  “I really don’t know where I would be if it were not for HCTV and the doors that volunteering and working here have opened for me.”

Bowden grew up in Ipswich, MA and currently lives in Seabrook, NH.

To view “Weapon Violence” visit: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NTeFTKsc7Z0



About Haverhill Community Television: Haverhill Community Television is a non-profit corporation developed to promote and sponsor public access television in Haverhill, MA. The mission of the station is to provide Haverhill residents and Haverhill based non-profit institutions access to the powerful medium of television.

Haverhill Community Television was incorporated as an independent non-profit organization in 1988.  HCTV operates three local television channels – Public (TV22), Education (TV99), and Government (TV9). HCTV offers video & television production classes, equipment and facility resources and production assistance free of charge to Haverhill residents.  The station also serves as the media training facility for students from Northern Essex Community College.  To learn more: http://www.haverhillcommunitytv.org