THE HARVARD MEDIA COOPERATIVE

VISION STATEMENT

The Harvard Media Cooperative’s main objective is to provide our community with an information destination, media and communications education, and community access to the latest communication technologies and resources.

In 2024, Harvard Cable TV rebranded as the Harvard Media Cooperative. We believe this name expresses our expanding mission to collaborate with our community in the ever-changing world of media and communication. In the coming years, the role of the Harvard Media Cooperative will continually and dramatically evolve, while remaining true to its primary mission of serving the Harvard community by providing media education and audiovisual services. While technology may shape much of our evolution, the needs and objectives of our local audience will play a vital role in defining our mission. For example, the COVID-19 pandemic created a surge in the demand for recording and remote viewing of community events, town government meetings, and committee meetings. Even as the pandemic subsided, the demand and appeal of expanded video coverage, more video recording and archiving, and interactive video conferencing versus in-person meetings has remained high. The Harvard Media Cooperative gladly met this increased demand and continues to serve a growing list of community clients seeking video coverage.

The Harvard Media Cooperative also continues to grow and expand its educational outreach to the schools and has successfully taught dozens of high school students video production and editing. The communication services we provide help encourage the free flow of ideas, knowledge and interaction, while nurturing community involvement in local government, arts and information vital to a thriving democracy. We will continue to find more ways to teach and collaborate with students and our community, while expanding our partnerships with the COA, the Harvard Press, Fivesparks, and other organizations and individuals in Harvard.

As new technologies emerge to engage and involve more members of the community in town matters, events and other happenings, the Harvard Media Cooperative enthusiastically looks forward to meeting — and exceeding — the needs and aspirations of our community. Looking back 10 years, it would’ve been difficult to predict the rapid rise of 4K video, podcasts, or the power of social media influencers. These are just a few examples of current media technologies and trends the Harvard Media Cooperative aspires to embrace. In the coming years, Augmented Reality (AR), Virtual Reality (VR), and Artificial Intelligence (AI) will likely reshape the entire media landscape.

The Harvard Media Cooperative seeks to be at the forefront of these changes, and any other transformational communication technology or idea that can improve our quality of life, help us to better communicate with each other, and encourage creativity and collaboration in Harvard.