For Students, By Students: Wesleyan’s New Digital Production Course Launches "The Howl"

There’s something new to howl about at Wesleyan College!

Students, staff and faculty recently gathered for the premiere of "The Howl" - a new student-produced podcast and the featured project of Wolfpack Media, a student-led production company created through Wesleyan’s new Digital Production course.

Wolfpack Media gives students the opportunity to move beyond learning about media production and actually create it. Students collaborate to produce podcasts, videos, promotional content, campus features and other original media while taking on roles in hosting, audio production, editing, technical production and marketing.

For Culture, Literature & Media major Charlie Cainion '28, being part of the new course means having the opportunity to help create something at Wesleyan from the ground up.

"I feel like I’m making history by participating in this, and that’s nice," Cainion said. "I like that students can showcase their talents, what they can do, and also gain skills."

Those skills extend well beyond podcasting. Students have different responsibilities within Wolfpack Media and work together much like they would in a professional production environment.

Advertising, Marketing & Communication major Abby Gleaton '28 described the new class as operating "almost like an ad agency...We get clients, and we promote them," she shared.

The idea for Wolfpack Media began with Dr. Melissa Williams, who teaches MST 387: Digital Production. Because the course allows flexibility in the types of media students can produce, Williams began thinking about how students could make use of Wesleyan’s existing resources.

"When I knew that the library had a podcast room, I said, 'Why not?'" Williams said.

With 22 students enrolled in the course, Williams quickly realized there was an opportunity to think bigger. Rather than focusing solely on a podcast, the class developed into a production company, with "The Howl" serving as one of its signature projects. Students also support the promotion of the podcast and are expected to work with other areas of campus on future projects.

The approach gives students ownership of their work while allowing them to discover and develop their individual strengths.

Cainion, who serves as a technical producer, said students are learning from one another even as they specialize in different areas. In her role, she helps troubleshoot technical issues and assists with editing when needed.

"The Howl" will bring student voices to conversations about life at Wesleyan, including campus stories, interviews, athletics, announcements, entertainment and other topics students want to explore.

The first episode features Simone Russell '26, who discusses her experience at Wesleyan and the transition from being a student to becoming a staff member.  Future episodes and Wolfpack Media projects will continue to evolve based in part on suggestions from the campus community.

"The Howl is here," Williams said. “We are going to have some outstanding shows, and we need suggestions. We want to know: What do the students at Wesleyan want to know?” If you have suggestions, email her at mwilliams@wesleyancollege.edu.

For students, by students, "The Howl" gives Wesleyan students another opportunity to raise their voices, while developing the skills to help others tell their stories, too.

Episodes of "The Howl" are available on YouTube through Wolfpack Media.