The University of New Mexico Department of Communication and Journalism has a new revamped live streaming studio that can be used by students and faculty alike. The studio has been available for booking since Aug. 19.
Santi Colmenero, audio-visual technician for the communication and journalism department, said they wanted to make use of old dormant equipment lying around. They aimed to create a studio that met modern and contemporary needs, according to UNM Newsroom, and began working on developing the studio space in September 2023.
The studio was regularly used about 15 years ago and was still in use by the time the COVID-19 pandemic began in 2020. Students would often use the studio for broadcast journalism projects. In the aftermath of the pandemic, student use of the space declined significantly, according to Colmenero.
Students can use the studio for anything — from completing public speaking assignments to livestreams, Colmenero said. High-quality videos can be streamed to Youtube and Facebook Live. The room can also be used to host Zoom conferences and can be rented for any time period from 15 minutes to three hours.
When asked about accommodating platforms more widely used by Gen Z such as TikTok or Instagram, Colmenero said that content from long-form video podcasts can be edited or formatted to better suit platforms like TikTok.
The studio features a green screen area and a newsroom background.
One of the biggest challenges for Colmenero was learning how the gear worked, they said, and next steps include finding the balance between old and new technology and incorporating it all.
As of now, not many students have used the space, but Colmenero has started to receive inquiries from students and instructors. They expect the space to get more use as students are given more assignments or tests.
“I anticipate later on that Public Speaking will have a class where they have to film themselves,” Colmenero said.
The process of setting up the studio was a collaborative effort involving student managers, faculty members, department chairs and administrators, according to Colmenero.
“The department overall has been very supportive to me; I can take the lead on this project,” Colmenero said.
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The studio has significant audio-mixing capabilities, according to Colmenero. The setup of microphones that can transmit to receivers hooked up to an audio mixer means that four audio inputs can be controlled at once.
The possible uses for the studio could go beyond its anticipated uses. Communication and Journalism Associate Professor Michael Lechuga, for example, has a virtual reality research project that his team can use the space for, according to Colmenero.
Colmenero is also open to working with students on further updates to the studio, they said.
“Should we want to further develop the studio in terms of looks, in terms of gear, I am more than happy to work on that,” Colmenero said. “It’s our beginning, and I want to see where we go from here.
Shin Thant Hlaing is a freelance reporter for the Daily Lobo. She can be reached at news@dailylobo.com or on X @dailylobo
