This month the Northern Essex Community College Marketing Communications Department is launching NECC Now, a podcast designed to highlight members of the college community who are doing exciting things within and outside the college.

Each month, Marc Lemay, a veteran broadcast journalist, will interview a member of the college’s faculty or staff, a student, an alumni or a community partner on a timely topic of interest.

The 28-minute broadcast is currently available on the college’s website,  Apple Podcasts,  Spotify, and other platforms.

Scheduled for release on Wednesday, February 16, the first episode features Joshua Stokel, director of the NECC Police Academy, who discusses the changing definition of “community policing,” what a day is like for student officers at the academy, and the challenges of creating a police force that reflects its community.

The podcast is designed to amplify newsroom content, said Ernie Greenslade, director of public relations. “It’s another channel for sharing our college news.”

The college plans to highlight topics that have broad appeal, attracting audiences from the college and the community.

Podcast usage is growing, according to recent statistics. In early 2021, 41% of the United States population reported that they had listened to a podcast in the past month, a three-fold increase over ten years before.

The podcast will be produced once a month and aired on the third Wednesday.

Goals include highlighting Northern Essex programs and their relevance to the community, showcasing Northern Essex student and alumni success stories, and positioning Northern Essex as a vital community partner, helping to improve the quality of live in the Merrimack Valley through innovative educational, workforce development, and cultural programs.

If you have suggestions for upcoming shows, please reach out to Melissa Bouse in Marketing Communications, mbouse@necc.mass.edu.