The Broadcasting program at New Castle Career Center (NCCC) has evolved into the Mass Media program, providing high school students with a comprehensive education on today’s media landscape.
The new approach reflects the changing nature of media and its influence on society. The curriculum introduces students to the history and purpose of media, along with the production elements of radio, video, and podcasts. The course also explores the roles of social media, advertising, and journalism.
Teach Students Through Expert Instruction
The program is led by C. Kevin Weinman, Mass Media Instructor and WKPW 90.7 FM Station Manager. Weinman brings over four decades of broadcast experience and a career in radio. His career highlights include co-hosting the Jim, Deb & Kevin morning show on WFMS 95.5 in Indianapolis for more than ten years.
Weinman received awards from the Country Music Association (CMA), Academy of Country Music (ACM), and Indiana Broadcasters Association (IBA). CMA named him Broadcast Personality of the Year four times. He received the award three times from the ACM and three times from the IBA. Supported by a nine-member advisory board with experts in radio, social media, voice acting, sports announcing, and station ownership, students benefit from practical, real-world experience.
Mass Media Program Overview
The Mass Media program combines theory with hands-on training across various platforms. Students study a variety of subjects, including radio broadcasting fundamentals, remote sports broadcasting, podcasting, social media, scriptwriting, and video production and editing. Students also learn to operate digital audio workstations and automation systems - a lesson that prepares them with the technical skills necessary for today’s media industry.
Currently, eight students are enrolled in the morning program and ten students attend in the afternoon. Students represent seven local high schools: New Castle, Knightstown, Eastern Hancock, Tri, Blue River Valley, Hagerstown, and Shenandoah. Additionally, three Knightstown sophomores are enrolled in a one-hour Introduction to Communication class, which offers an overview of the Mass Media curriculum and encourages them to pursue the full course later.
Future Opportunities in Mass Media Careers
By the end of the program, Mass Media students will be able to define and differentiate between radio broadcasting, video production, and podcasting, and identify key roles within each of these media production processes. They learn to explain the impact of social media in communications, analyze advertising strategies and their effectiveness, and understand the principles of ethical journalism and why it matters.
“If a high school student has a dream of becoming the next star podcaster, social media influencer, or voice actor, Mass Media at NCCC is the perfect place to get started,” said Weinman. “Each student will get hands-on experience with state-of-the-art equipment, while also earning college credit from Vincennes University.”
Early Semester Highlights
In just the first month of the semester, students have:
Launched 13 podcast episodes (with 141 downloads and counting)
Maintained 14 hours of daily broadcasting (7 a.m. - 9 p.m.), mixing live and voice-tracked shows on WKPW 90.7 FM
Anchored 10 daily news, sports, and weather reports
Recorded 16 promotional spots
Produced 2 daily posts on WKPW’s Instagram account
Recorded 4 Coach’s Corner shows with Coach Taylor of Knightstown
Produced 4 Beyond the Scoreboard shows
Created 2 Community Spotlight shows
The overall goal of the Mass Media program is to inspire an appreciation for career paths available in the mass media field. To learn more about the program and listen to the program’s live broadcast, visit https://www.nccareercenter.org/o/nccc/page/broadcasting-wkpw-fm.