Writing For Broadcast: Who Is Jerry?
Tom shares his presentation on writing for news by introducing “Jerry.” This presentation was toured throughout 2023-2024 in Georgia, Alabama, and Tennessee.
Is Your Program The REcipe For Great French Toast?
In April, I went to Mobile Alabama for the first time. It had never been a destination for me (not a fan of heat or humidity). Honestly, it still isn’t a destination for me with the exception of educational events and a little experiment that I set forth in April.
Myth Busted: Hollyland Wireless Does Work When People Show Up!
Tom shares his experience with the Hollyland C1 as he tried to bust the myth about the device only working in the perfect scenarios.
Starting Over and Moving Forward
“If I had known then what I know now” those words from one of my favorite Pearl Jam songs have been echoing in my head for the last two months. The “then” in this case was late February 2010, when I started my first job in education. I was hired as a Program Assistant for a federal grant at a small school in South Georgia. I was 24 years old and I had no idea what I was doing.
The Year I was A Spy… How to make your news room better
Espionage is often the key to success for your mission. Tom has been a spy for a year now and is sharing his findings with you on how to best run a newsroom and get the most from your students.
Teaching To The Test Pattern: EP108 - Bill Phelps
In episode 108 of Teaching To The Test Pattern, Tom talks with Bill Phelps from Harrison High School. Phelps and his students produce two studio shows - Hoya Vision and HSPN - on their YouTube channel:
Broadcast Studio of Future - Mount Royal University Responds
Calgary’s Mount Royal University is committed to its communication programs - their Broadcast Media Studies Program has been running since 1961. For most of that time, it was a two-year diploma; in 2016 it became a 4-year communications degree. The MRU Broadcast Media Studies Program operates both as a modern media organization and a learning laboratory where students apply their skills to serve the wider campus community.
Introducing The Unofficial Guide to NDI
The Unofficial Guide to NDI is the perfect book for anyone interested in the future of video production. NDI (Network Device Interface) is quickly changing the world of video. With the potential to eliminate the need for custom cabling, interfaces, capture cards, and other additional hardware, NDI provides a versatile solution for sharing, recording, displaying, and broadcasting video over standard ethernet networks.
EditMentor: The Hands-On Way to Teach Video Editing
EditMentor is a web-based program that allows you to walk your students through the production process via an interface that is simple to use and editing software agnostic.
How Video Teachers Define Industry Standard Equipment
The following message is a call to arms for video production educators throughout the world. It may be a wake-up call for some. It may be a shot in the arm for others. It may upset some yet put some at ease. The following message is to be used as the surfboard to help you crest the wave of 2021 and beyond because frankly —nothing will ever be the same for you.
The Tech That Makes Remote Student Newscasts Possible
That’s where I found my greatest use of Loom. The students could record themselves reading a script, send me a link, and I could pull them together for a show. Since Loom is a web-based app, the students only have to send the link.
Why School Newsrooms Are Moving To PTZ Workflows
A school tv-station needs to reflect and emulate real-world studios in an effort to realistically prepare students for the workforce. Since the late 1990s, there has been an upswing of PTZ camera-based newsrooms popping up all over the world. Following suit, schools have also been switching to PTZ workflows. PTZ-based school newsrooms offer high-quality video, use the same technology as the professionals, and increase consistency and efficiency.
Q&A: How To Hone Your Skills As An Interviewer
Why is it that late night talk-show hosts can make their conversations with guests sound so effortless? How are news commentators able to cut to the chase on controversial topics? If you found yourself in an elevator with a celebrity you admire, what’s the one question you could ask to leave an indelible impression?
Train Your Students on the Same Software Used by Professional Broadcast Crews
When student journalists lose the “student” predecessor, you want them to be as prepared as possible to take on the professional world of journalism. Ross Inception News Academic newsroom editorial system offers a scalable broadcast production system to schools that’s right on par with what professional broadcast crews use. Ross Video created an educationally-priced version of their pro system to give students the training they need for a seamless transition.
TV Reporters and Social Distancing
Reporters are faced with a dilemma in the current environment of social distancing. How can they capture clear audio during an interview while maintaining a safe separation? Parabolic microphones, used primarily for sports, may provide a great alternative. Parabolic microphones provide a mechanical amplification for the sound coming from in front of the dish. This allows a person speaking at a normal level to be recorded from six to ten feet using a parabolic microphone only nine inches in diameter.
Middle School Teacher Keeps His School’s Newscast Alive Remotely
Happy Valley Middle School’s Media Arts teacher Steve Oliver was quick to act when his school switched to the online model during the COVID-19 crisis. He runs the school newscast to help lift the spirits of his school’s community. With the help of teachers, he has successfully increased viewership, engaged fellow teachers and students, and provided a therapeutic outlet for himself and others. It is not too often that middle schools offer a media arts program let alone have a news cast. Stream Semester spoke with Steve about his unique middle school news cast.
School News Gets Social
When your students wake up in the morning, they probably check their phones before they even roll out of bed. Catawba Ridge High School’s news team was quick to take advantage of that morning routine. They post daily news updates on Instagram, Twitter, and Snapchat so followers know exactly what to expect for the school day ahead.
Working from Home as a Student and Journalist
Who is running toward the fire and not away? I have asked myself that question a hundred times and I wanted, more than anything, to be included on that list. Which brings me to where we are now (roughly). On Tuesday, March 24, 2020, Cronkite News made history. After three days of trial and error with my friends and colleagues Tina Giuliano and Veronica Galvin, we released a completely virtual, at-home newscast with anchors, graphics, weather, commercials...the whole thing. I am still beaming just thinking about it.
Sophomore Slump: It’s Not the Class, It’s You
We all do it. We all get so frustrated that we say something we shouldn’t or handle a situation in a way we shouldn’t. It happens. I tell my students that I still have to work on my teacher filter. Sometimes it works harder than others. Last week, I must have needed a firmware update because the filter didn’t work.
What Video Production Careers Can I Get?
As a Video Production educator I often am asked, “How can I make money doing this?” That is a great question and worthy of an answer. Often times when people think of careers in Video Production their focus is narrowed into a small corner of the industry. In actuality there exists a wide gamut of jobs that are viable and realistic career options for those that wish to pursue them. This short article will list some of these options and hopefully pursue them in greater detail in the future.