If you have old or unused camera equipment you would like to donate to Akron Community Studios please send to 540 South Main Street, Akron, Ohio 44311 or call 330-576-8495 for free pickup from anywhere in Northeast Ohio. Photography, media classes and writing workshops for Akron area middle school and high school students are starting soon. Workshops for citizen journalists have already started. Help support the mission to improve community communication by giving aspiring journalists and future community leaders the media skills needed to make an impact.

Akron Community Studios is a non-profit organization, registered with the State of Ohio and 501(c)(3) status approved by the IRS. The primary mission is to help individuals find their voice and learn how to create content that elevates Akron.

WAOH Television, in partnership with Mosher Media and Jumpstart Video, is launching a non-profit entity that will own and operate a content creation media studio specifically for use by Akron area non-profits, students, citizen journalists, community activists and aspiring creators. This 501(c)(3) has been established as “Akron Community Studios”. Its mission will be to provide studio recording time and media training to individuals and organizations for the purpose of creating content that serves the Akron community. Through a membership program, participating content creators will receive free training on the operation of the studio equipment. New members will be supported by experienced media professionals and local media students. Members will work with professionals, volunteers and stakeholders to create content that educates, enlightens and amplifies the voice of Akronites who are passionate about building up our community. All viewpoints and voices will be welcomed and included. All members will work to advance the skills of all participants with the shared goal of elevating voices for community education, enlightenment and attention to issues members and content creators deem worthy. Akron Community Studios will help individuals find their voice and create inspiring content for the benefit of the entire Akron community.

Akron Community Studios will offer programs and services that benefit Akron including:

Photography and video production workshops for aspiring journalists and storytellers.

Simplified video production studio facilities to allow non-profit and community organizations to create broadcast quality content themselves, allowing for use on local television and other professional media outlets.

A multi-camera podcast video recording studio maintained for use by members of the program for community content creation.

Introduction to media production workshops for individuals considering a career in media, journalism or communications.

Advanced writing workshops for aspiring content creators with a desire to learn AP style and effective social media post writing.

Free training programs and learning opportunities for individuals seeking entry in to the media industry who are financially disadvantaged, including providing access to camera equipment, computers, editing software and media techniques training they would not otherwise have access to.

Akron Community Studios will partner with local school districts that do not have a media training program or broadcast video production classes to offer students workshops and learning opportunities in media production.

Presentation skills and broadcast voice workshops for individuals who want to be effective in communicating on podcasts or radio and television interviews.

WAOH Television will initially provide space for Akron Community Studios to operate until permanent studios can be built. Mosher Media and Jumpstart Video will donate cameras and computers. Volunteers and staff from WAOH Television along with media partners and industry professionals will lead workshops and training sessions.

WAOH Television will donate airtime to Akron Community Studios and air programs that meet broadcast standards.

Recently we assisted a member with some marketing work for a nonprofit. Their website was complete but what they really needed help with was the work of setting up a professional email attached to their domain and setting up their Google places page. For some this may seem simple but for most nonprofit leaders this is not their area of expertise. Setting up everything and connecting everything properly, from MX records to the roles and permissions on a YouTube channel needs to be done with thought, care and attention to detail.

All of this is what makes the Akron Community Studios proposition interesting. Every day we continue to learn more. We learn more about members. We learn more about other platforms and CMS we have never used. We learn to adapt and meet people where they are. Some need a little help, others need a lot. Either way, the team at Akron Community Studios is here to for all.