Tyson Davis, McPherson, celebrates with Robert Klein, Sterling, after a successful film of the HCC news show. It required teamwork for a production to properly come together.
Lights, Camera, Action Alan Benander, Hutchinson; Randy Goertz, South Hutchinson; and Josh Burnett, Scott City, joke together to calm their nerves before shooting the HCC news show. Students involved with the show did not have a practice session before they filmed the real deal.
From the press box to the sidelines and stands, the Media and Broadcasting program is hard at work in the studio as well as during every home football game. Laurie Moody, broadcast technology coordinator, has her own play-by-play crew made entirely of students. They set up, run the electronic video board at Gowans Stadium, broadcast game commentary via radio, and capture all the action on the field. Aside from videotaping sports events, students in the program work on many productions throughout the year. “We do weekly shows. We produce the HCC News Show and The HCC Experience, which is the interview show with Dr. Berger. This year we have also worked on a live streaming preshow project at the Kansas State Fair,” Moody said. Students obtain skills needed to produce shows through a number of courses the program offers. Video productions I and II covers all the basics from camera operations, to lighting, to audio, and studio productions. In the script writing class, students learn how to write scripts for commercials, documentaries, and even short screenplays. The program offers three lab classes including the broadcast news lab, broadcast
Dragon’s Tale
practicum lab, and the radio lab where students work on shows. “Every year we pick a nonprofit agency and produce a video for them. This year we have done one for Interfaith Housing and Big Brothers/Big Sisters,” Moody said. Another aspect of the program is that students get to learn all positions in the newsroom. They have tryouts to pick the news anchors and then they take turns each week being the producer, technical director, camera operators, and co-directors. This rotation demonstrates how vital good communication skills are on and off the camera. "My favorite position is the producer because I like getting to put everything together and assigning the things to do," John Harvey, Hutchinson, said. "Our program is not just for radio and TV," said Moody. "Corporations and businesses need media people also. A lot of our students get to go work for advertising agencies and video production companies." Students in this program get the opportunity to influence other people with their ideas and creative skills. The exposure from a traditional newsroom to the football sidelines prepares students for what they will face in their future career.
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