Bridging the Gap To help launch the Lander-driven WLG-TV, 10 Greenwood-area businesses contributed the funds needed to establish a fiber optic network between the university’s television studio and Northland Communications. Each of the following sponsors contributed $1,300 for the project: • Countybank • Elliott Davis • Emerald Ink & Stitches • Steifle’s Appliances • Town & Country Property Management • Garrett Law Firm • Technesis • David A. Crotts & Associates • The Briar Patch on 34 • Self Regional Healthcare
Top photo: Miya Mayes of Greenville, left, is a regular guest in the mornings on XLR Lander Radio. She also co-hosts her own show twice a week titled The Lunchtime Divas. Also pictured is Ryan “Rhino” Wiley of Greenwood, host of Rhino’s Beach Party. 1. Among the many changes to Lander’s mass communication area, it has become a common occurrence to see students out with cameras and microphones, interviewing classmates, as well as university faculty, staff and administrators. Here, mass communication major Kayla Blackwell of Greenwood, left, interviews classmate Corbin Childs of Elberton, Ga., on the Centennial Hall lawn. 2. Timothy “Big Tuna” Thomas of Trenton, right, brings a lot to the Lander radio station. He is in and out of the studio regularly throughout each day and hosts his own show on Friday and Saturday nights titled Critical Damage with Big Tuna. 3. Students in the John Sydney Abney Media Center’s control room practice their skills at cueing up lights, sound, teleprompters and cameras. Pictured, from left, are: Marvell Blanding of Williamston, Jemeisha Lyde of Florence and Amy Becker of Beaufort.
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Lander Magazine • Spring 2011
from the beginning if an applicant doesn’t have the applied experience.” WLG-TV isn’t the only outlet through which Lander mass communication students are getting real-world experience. For instance, XLR Lander Radio has been broadcasting since 2009. They also enjoy a cozy and professional studio space in the mass communication wing of Lander’s Learning Center. Through the station, students get daily hands-on experience working with station manager and university emerging media specialist Paul Crutcher in the production of live shows, station ads and more. The lineup includes almost 30 shows by Lander students, alumni, faculty and staff. And whether listeners are tuning in five days a week for their wake-up call from The Breakfast Club with Paul Crutcher, or enjoying the sounds of Metal during the Friday and Saturday evening show Critical Damage with Big Tuna, they are hearing – and experiencing – Lander students as they develop necessary skills for a career in radio production. The mass communication area has continued to produce the campus newspaper, The Forum, which also has an online component. Faculty are giving students hands-on experience with Web writing and advertisement through social media outlets such as blogs, Facebook and
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