It’s practically common knowledge by now that large-scale media publications influence public opinion. But what about on a local level? Does a high school media class have the ability to impact the masses?

  Granite Bay High School students certainly seem to think so.

  “So I’m making my first movie right now and I’m directing it,” senior and Advanced Media’s current Content Creator Ian Mackey said.

  But rewind to a few years back – success is seldom found without a load of hard work done first.

  “(Back where I lived in Austin, Texas) there were no opportunities for the arts, so coming here is like a land of opportunity,” Mackey said. “You can truly do anything at this campus and in this community that you can’t find elsewhere.”

  After two and a half years as GBTV Studio Director, Mackey is now working on a full-length feature film concerning mental health and high school culture.

  “My inspiration to start this project really starts at my own mental health problems and the problems I’ve seen my peers struggle with. We all have our own issues and I want to break the stigma (surrounding) mental health disorders,” Mackey said.

  While some students are spreading messages through outside creative projects, many are busy at work inside the Advanced Media classroom too.

  Junior and GBTV Content Producer Martelle Jackson spends most days coordinating with the other media departments and scheduling and approving the content of the campus-famous weekly bulletins.

  “I feel like naturally people really enjoy hearing stories and seeing them come alive. (Members of Advanced Media) have the opportunity to hit such a deep level with people when we can give them both visual and verbal content to help make the information stick with them on a personal level,” Jackson said. “A really good video can resonate with people and make a strong impact. It’s also really efficient and we’re able to update the news on GBTV quickly so everyone stays up to date.”

  Jackson also mentioned how GBTV acts as a platform of communication and interaction among GBHS students influencing the ways they perceive school culture.

  Serving as a catalyst for discussion and as a representation of the school’s atmosphere, the weekly bulletins prove to impact – in some way, shape, or form – the lot of its viewers.

  Sophomore and Producer of the Bulletin Lindsey Zabell oversees the bulletin production process and makes sure the quality is up to par.

  Zabell says she is especially wary of media’s ability to showcase diversity.

  “I mostly enjoy working on stories that highlight different students on campus because I love getting the chance to learn about the background of different students,” Zabell said. “It’s really special to be able to create a video that will be shown to everyone so they can see a more in depth view of their peers rather than what they just see on a daily basis.”

  Like Jackson, Zabell said she views Advanced Media’s resources as an efficient and effective medium to disperse information to students in an exciting way.

   “I think our class has a big impact on our school in the way that we are able to reach so many students and get the information out to the school. We are one of the major sources of communication at GBHS and we also are able to promote a positive school culture within our bulletin,” Zabell said.

  With respect to (perceived) accessibility and effort, many students find it easier to watch a lively video than do their own personal (draining) research.

  “I think what makes media different than other information platforms at our school is that it’s a lot easier for students to watch a video rather than search to find information they need,” Zabell said. “It’s a lot more effective to have students all just watch the bulletin together in one class rather than expect them to find the same information elsewhere, whether it be from our school’s social media accounts or posters around the school.”

  While each Media student’s story differs from the next, there seems to be a trend that most come out of the program having gained some new useful knowledge and, perhaps, the discovery of a newfound hobby.

  “My experience within the media program has been very fluid. At many times it was good and others it was bad,” Mackey said. “There’s a lot of reasons to blame about that, but, at the end of the day, the class helped me discover my passion.”