Farmington High School's new broadcast journalism suite is giving students hands-on experiences to produce student-driven videos, news casts and live streaming using top of the line technology and equipment.
As a charter conversion school, Farmington High School received a large grant to purchase technology and equipment for several courses of study. The high school spent around $125,000 for the broadcast station and the equipment sat in storage for about a year, waiting for the new school to open. The old journalism classroom just didn't have a place for it.
Another $110,000 of the grant was used to purchase technology for the broadcast program.
The new journalism space has a large classroom with tables and chairs and stations with Apple computers. The broadcast suite is two separate rooms adjoining the regular classroom. One is the control booth and the other is a large studio room with a camera and green screen.
The biggest difference from the old high school to the new building is that students now have an actual control room and actual studio, said Carol Bundsgaard, who teaches broadcast Journalism 1 and 2.
"We have students in front of the camera, students behind the camera and students in the control booth," Bundsgaard said.
Much of it is a work in progress because students are learning how to use their computer software and new equipment as they go along. Bundsgaard said she's been impressed with how quickly they are learning their way around it.
"In all honesty, they are teaching me. I'm a digital immigrant. They are digital natives," she said.
Her contribution, she said, will be teaching students to take this new technology and equipment and use it to tell stories.
Students are helping with live streaming Farmington sports. They produce a morning news show every Friday for the school, with plans to add more packages to their broadcasts with stories from throughout school.
Receiving the hands-on experience with broadcast journalism will benefit students for the future, Bundsgaard said.
"I think there are going to be so many niche jobs where video experience will be important. If it sinks in and they grab a hold of it, there are many opportunities out there for them."
Brian Dean is audio/visual coordinator for the broadcast part of the program and he comes to Farmington High with a degree in broadcast journalism from the University of Arkansas and has television and radio experience.
"The technology we have here is first class," Dean said. "This gives our students a great perspective and offers them a launching pad for those who want to go into this field."
Through the class, students will be able to build a portfolio that can be submitted to a college, tech program or for a position out in the work field.
"Our goal is to have them career ready after graduation," Dean added.
Broadcast journalism experience can be used in many ways. Besides working for a TV or radio station, students can freelance, be a video editor, or go into marketing, advertising, public relations, or work directly for companies that need these skills.
"There are so many ways this education and technology knowledge can pay dividends for them, depending on which path they want to take."
Several seniors in the class this year are looking forward to using their skills in the future.
Ryan Robinson said he's become interested in broadcast since taking the class.
Another senior, Sam Prestridge, noted the difference from what the class had at the old high school to the new one is impressive.
"It's crazy how far we've progressed as a school," Prestridge said.
He's interested in being an English teacher but now wants to pursue the broadcast side of it as well.
"This is definitely fun and something I want to do."
General News on 11/22/2017