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Youth take on PR roles Arviat media team spreads message about health initiatives
Miranda Scotland
Northern News Services
Published Wednesday, July 24, 2013
ARVIAT
Four youth involved in the Arviat Film Society have been given a chance to put what they've learned into practice this summer.
Curtis Konek, left, Corinna Tugak, Shelton Nipisar and Patrick Pingushat make up a media team for healthy initiatives being run in Arviat. - photo courtesy of Jamie Bell |
The teens are acting as the media team on a number of health initiatives being carried out in the community, including a project to build portable greenhouses for families to use. As part of their roles they are required to write press releases, create posters, conduct interviews and film videos.
"It's a way to really kind of introduce them to what it's like to work in a media and communications environment where you have different campaigns and different issues and different projects," said Jamie Bell, who is mentoring the youth. "You've got to be able to multitask."
Corrina Tugak found out about the positions from her school counsellor.
She said she decided to apply because of her interest in media and computers.
"I like working with technology," said Tugak.
Her favourite activity so far has been designing posters about what can and can't be composted.
The next step, Tugak said, will be to create a commercial for Co-op cable on how to make compost and where to bring it.
Meanwhile, some of her fellow team members are filming a how-to video about building portable greenhouses. The film will be aired on Arviat's new TV station in the fall.
One of the main motivations for hiring the youth media team is so the information reaches as many people as possible, said Bell.
"A really big thing that we've always been trying to stress here in the community is being able to share what they're learning and to be able to share what they're doing with other communities so that other communities can do it too," said Bell, adding Cape Dorset has already enquired about one of the projects.
By encouraging healthier lifestyles in the North they're improving communities and building confidence among residents, he said.
The students are also learning transferable skills that will help them get ahead in their education.
Bell said he would love to see the youth take up journalism, graphic design, photography or join some other aspect of the media industry.
"There's something there for each one of their interests."
However, Tugak said she still isn't sure if that's what she wants. For now she plans to take management studies in Rankin Inlet.
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