CMAC's workshops train members on how to learn various different mediums of media production. Photo contributed

Community Media Access Collaborative (CMAC) works hands-on with community members in workshops and training for various media productions.

CMAC is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization created to help citizens, schools, non-profits, public agencies and others better connect with the community through the use of media.

CMAC offers different workshops, from how to come up with an idea to creating a media project and distributing it to an audience. For example, a workshop coming up focuses on producing short-form video content for Instagram and TikTok.

These workshops are open to everyone and are either free with an annual CMAC membership or $10 per session for non-members. Private training is also offered for a separate fee.

There are other benefits to having a CMAC membership, including access to recording studios at the Downtown Fresno community media center, production equipment rentals and consultations with CMAC’s professional staff.

“We provide these services in order for people to create media content that is shared with our community on our cable TV channels and streaming apps,” said Executive Director Bryan Harley.

The community media team at CMAC is responsible for teaching many of the workshops. Part of that team is Alex Soto, media education specialist. Soto has several years of production experience and is a graduate of the media, communications and journalism department at Fresno State. They also engage local creative professionals willing to share their expertise by teaching workshops.

CMAC works with people of all ages, backgrounds and skill levels. According to Harley, membership is 50% under age 34, 32% between 35-54, and 18% over 55. Six in 10 identify as people of color. The nonprofit also often works with employees of other community benefit organizations looking to build their communications skills.

Through CMAC’s workshops, Harley said people have gone on to produce podcasts and talk shows, short films and documentaries, cooking shows, music videos, coverage of community events and public service announcements, to name a few.

“There’s pretty much no limit to what type of content you can create, as long as it’s noncommercial. For businesses, this means educating your audience on a topic rather than directly promoting your product or service,” said Harley.

CMAC has helped businesses through workshops, professional production facilities and equipment, and free airtime on CMAC’s TV channels and streaming platforms to share local news and information with the community.

“While our mission is rooted in training and empowering people to create media themselves, we also provide production services for hire to produce noncommercial media. We do a lot of work with other nonprofits, businesses, schools and local governments,” said Harley.

Students of the Central Valley can also get involved through CMAC’s services. If students are engaged in media classes or clubs at their school or create media on their own, they can submit that content to be broadcast on the local cable TV channels and shared on their streaming apps.

Students can also sign up for workshops and become CMAC members to access the media center and production equipment. The nonprofit offers volunteer opportunities for students to build their media production skills. It has a paid internship program in partnership with Fresno State and Fresno Unified, where youth can gain valuable media industry experience.

 

CMAC also has a summer program called Youth Voices for students ages 18 and under where they can learn how to create short documentary films and earn a stipend. For students and others over the age of 18, they have a program called The Big Tell that offers mentorship and grant funds to produce documentary films.

Their 2023 recap highlights the eventful year CMAC had. Harley said of all the highlights there is to talk about, one thing in particular is something he believes stands out: CMAC’s special training projects with local nonprofits.

In February, CMAC trained a group of black youth to help the African American Historical and Cultural Museum of the San Joaquin Valley by documenting their annual trailblazers event and interviewing their honorees. In April, they trained a group of Sikh youth to conduct oral history interviews and make videos with Sikh elders and community members in partnership with the Fresno County Historical Society.

In June, CMAC partnered with the Fresno County Public Library to offer free workshops on creating videos with mobile devices for kids ages 8-13 at 12 library branches. In August, they partnered with Arte Americas and the Latino Cultural Center to train their staff to create a video tour of their Resonant Valley art exhibit.

In October, they partnered with the Fresno Housing Authority to do digital literacy training with senior citizens at several housing sites. Harley said that’s just skimming the surface regarding the various training programs and events.

In 2024, Harley looks forward to continuing the various programs and services and creating more opportunities for residents to become media literate, empowered to develop their content and share stories about the community and all the things that bring people together to make a positive impact and change.