Final Essay

     Going into Broadcast Practicum, I was not exactly sure what to expect. Of course I knew I would be learning about Broadcast Journalism, but I had no idea of the expectations of me. After a few classes I seemed to catch on. My first semester of Broadcast Practicum has taught me teamwork, how to interview people, how to use equipment, and exposed me to a real news show.

     A big part of getting so much out of this class is working with others. If it had not been for other students and learning from them, I would not have learned half of what I did. Working in teams was really helpful because of all the steps required in putting together a package. First you need to find people to interview, usually an expert and someone with personal experience on the topic. Next you need to schedule an interview and get the equipment together. Then you need to have questions ready to ask and then edit the footage after. All of these steps would be a lot to handle for one amateur, like me.

     Another thing I learned during this class is how to interview people. I can be shy at times so this was an area that definitely needed improvement. Going to interviews with other, more experienced, people was a big help. I learned to always have some questions prepared and then, based on their responses, to continue asking more questions. Other students, like Rachel and Tracy, taught me to never put the person being interviewed directly in the middle of the frame, but off the the side. They also taught me to not have the person looking directly into the camera, but off to the side as well.

     Knowing how to use the equipment is a big part of broadcast. Although I am still learning, I now know a lot more than I originally did. With the help of other students I learned how to set a tri-pod, a microphone, the camera itself, and more. Before this class I had no clue how to do any of these things.

     Going to the news show recordings every couple of weeks was another thing I had never experienced before. I learned so much from just sitting there and observing what was going on around me. I learned how to use the teleprompter, and how to adjust the soundboard. I also got to see the anchor, Austen Snodgrass, gathering some last minute details before filming. 

     In terms of improvement, I think this class could use just a little. For older and more experienced students I think it is an outstanding class. But I think that for newer students, like me, it would be helpful to get some kind of packet or book with equipment information in it. Just some pictures of equipment with instructions and their purpose would be extremely helpful. Although I did learn a lot from other students, I think this method would be useful for new students with less knowledge of the subject.

     This class was my first real look at Broadcast Journalism. Beyond any doubt, it exposed me to people, experiences, and equipment I had never encountered before.