Upgrading a School TV News Show
Jolaine Sims, Media Specialist
Buchanan Elementary School, Buchanan, Ga.

One of my favorite activities as a media Specialist is producing a morning TV news show. For eight years I’ve worked with the 5th graders at Buchanan Elementary School as we produce WBES-TV. One of our biggest challenges is keeping the show fresh and interesting. Each year I make a point of attending at least one session at GaETC related to school news shows in hopes of getting new ideas for my school’s show.

This year I learned a lot at a session taught by Keith Kyker and Christopher Curchy. Keith and Christopher are two of my favorite presenters at GaETC. They are both Media Specialists, have been presenting at conferences for years and host a very informative Web site, www.schooltv.com. They’ve also written several books related to television production that can be purchased from the site.

One of the things they talked about was including as many students in the school as possible in the broadcast. One of the ways they did this was to record videos of the students in each homeroom saying the Pledge of Allegiance to the American flag. Each homeroom’s video would have a turn to be played on the TV show to lead the school in reciting the pledge. As each video is played, the mixer can be used to show the words of the pledge on the bottom of the screen.

I decided to implement this idea by beginning with our third grade homerooms. Since they are the youngest students in our school they have the fewest opportunities to be on the TV show. I’ve begun recording the classes while they are in the Media Center when their class comes to check out books. The students have been excited and have cooperated well during the taping. One of the teachers emailed me the following: “My class really enjoyed it. They liked being on TV and were talking about what a good job they had done. We liked the words on the bottom of the screen.”

Other ideas to include students in the show included videoing special projects from a class, video book reports, or interviewing a “Student of the Week”. I’m hoping to implement some of these ideas, also, beginning with the video book reports.

Another idea from the session that I’ve begun implementing is the use of backdrops for a simple set design. They suggested using flats covered with quilting muslin or big sheets of insulation. These would then be painted to go along with the various segments of the show. Either of these backdrops could be moved in and out for variety. I’m planning on purchasing some sheets of the blue insulation to use as backdrops. Until I can do this I’m adapting their idea in the reading area of our Media Center. We have covered the wall with blue paper and have made a simple back drop to enhance the set design. I’ve talked to our TV crew and they are making plans to change the anchor background monthly.

I always learn a lot at the GaETC conferences. There are many informative sessions related to all aspects of education and technology. I always come away from the conferences with ideas that I can use with the teachers and students at my school.

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