Atlantic Cape Media Day Introduces South Jersey Students to AI, Esports and Careers in Digital Media

MAYS LANDING — Nearly 100 students from four local high schools attended the Atlantic Cape Community College Early College Program’s Annual Media Day at the Mays Landing campus on March 6, 2026. 

They learned about the latest innovations in media and communication technology, from artificial intelligence (AI) and drones to educational programs and the many exciting career opportunities available in an ever-changing world.

CISM Professor Dr. Bojan Zilovic moderated a panel discussion and highlighted the benefits of an Atlantic Cape media studies education to students in attendance from Absegami, Cedar Creek, Egg Harbor Township and Oakcrest high schools.

“At Atlantic Cape, we have adopted the latest artificial intelligence technologies. We offer classes in digital video and audio production. We also teach web design, social media and management for business, marketing, public relations and public speaking — a lot of cool things involving media and technology as well,” Zilovic said. “Nearly 60% of our students receive some form of federal financial aid, making us an extremely affordable option. The program is very hands-on. We have cameras, radio and television studios, we do indoor and outdoor production, and we also have an esports arena.”

Media Day began with a panel discussion featuring local media professionals Rob Schwartz, co-founder of ACX1 Studios; Ernie Isgro, a photojournalist with NBC Philadelphia; and Dr. Susan Adelizzi-Schmidt, CEO of Suasion Communications Group. The panelists fielded questions from Zilovic and students before breaking into smaller groups for workshops.

During the program’s one-hour workshops, students learned how to operate a Steadicam and explored its impact on the filmmaking industry; visited the college’s radio station to see how it operates; received an inside look at the esports program and its state-of-the-art gaming lab in the Innovation Center; and tapped into their creativity by developing handmade zines (mini magazines).

Students in English Professor Rich Russell’s creative writing and book art workshop said they value using their imagination, despite the widespread presence of AI technology in daily life, to produce written content.

“I've always been able to put my creativity and my thoughts into words and pictures. I've been a creative person since I was young, and I think that stems from my parents,” said Absegami High School junior Margaux Wynne. “I feel like everyone has their own thought process and their own way of creating things in their minds, and they shouldn’t have to depend on technology to do that.”

Egg Harbor Township High School junior Breyona Henderson agreed.

“Creative writing is about creativity — just writing whatever is on your mind. I watch a lot of shows and movies, so there’s always something, or I can ask people what they think. You find natural ways to get inspiration,” Henderson said.

As the owner of a local public relations and marketing firm, Adelizzi-Schmidt stressed that strong writing skills are essential for students pursuing careers in public relations, communications, marketing and media. She also acknowledged that AI is here to stay and should be embraced as a tool.

“There are going to be times when you need to write without relying on tools like ChatGPT, and that’s why strong writing skills are so important,” she said. “Students who develop communication skills can do anything. But with AI, I’m all about it — it’s an awesome tool, and we use it at my agency. It’s going to be everywhere in the future.”

High school teachers are now tasked with nurturing students’ creativity while preparing them to use AI responsibly. Egg Harbor Township High School Communications Academy teacher Tyler Gardner said he incorporates AI into his screenwriting class to highlight both its capabilities and limitations.

“It’s very easy to tell when AI is used in screenwriting because the format is so specific,” Gardner said. “I have students generate scripts using AI and then compare them to properly formatted screenplays. This helps them see that AI can’t always capture nuance and that they need to understand the craft themselves.”

Egg Harbor Township High School Broadcast Journalism and News Production teacher Denise Steet said students and educators must learn to coexist with AI while maintaining the human element.

“It’s about managing its use as a tool, but also recognizing that it can’t replace the human element,” Steet said. “Developing skills that support that human element is what we need to emphasize.”

Atlantic Cape’s Early College Program partners with local high schools to give students the opportunity to earn college credit while still in high school through dual credit, concurrent courses, articulated credit and associate pathways. These programs help students reduce the time and cost of earning a degree.

Visit atlanticcape.edu/earlycollege to learn more.

Visit atlanticcape.edu/pathways to learn more about these and many other academic programs available at Atlantic Cape.

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