Kids provide newscast

By MIRIAM MOELLER, Journal Staff Writer
 

ISHPEMING — Every day during sixth hour at C.L. Phelps Middle School, students get in front of the camera and practice their on-the-air skills.

On Thursday, Ishpeming eighth-graders Esteban Atondo and Tony Williams, both 13, played the anchors, sitting in front of the camera of Panther TV — the school’s all-student produced news channel. The school gets to watch the channel every day at 2:45 p.m.

“They (the students) do announcements for the day, usually the weather, trivia, interesting historical facts, Powerpoint (presentations) on different educational topics, some do school polls,” said broadcasting instructor Heather Swanson. “They have a segment called ‘Where in school is Caleb?’ Last week Caleb was in the garbage can down the hall.”

Swanson explained that the students give out clues as to where the character Caleb has been photographed and students guess where he is.

While the students enjoy themselves, taping the two-minute broadcast every day is not all fun. Swanson said the kids have to learn technical skills, communication skills, and how to work in teams. The overall show director also had to learn everybody else’s job — the camera person, anchor, sound technician, transition technician and writer.

“My director has to have a real strong personality to direct the crew,” Swanson said. “At the middle school level it’s hard to find students who assert themselves and direct in a diplomatic way.”

Margaret Loman, 13, of Ishpeming is the director for this year’s TV show. She said knowing everyone’s job, so she can fill for a missing student, is the hardest part of her duties. Getting to tell people what to do, she said, is the most fun part.

The class is divided into two groups. One group researches and prepares the script, while the other group tapes the broadcast and supervises the transitions and sound. And, of course the anchors need to practice.

Atondo, who speaks Spanish, decided to include a Spanish greeting into Thursday’s broadcast. He said, “Hola a todos! — Hello Everyone!”

“I like talking to people,” he said. “Sometimes I stutter, but I just try to not think about it.”

Atondo was originally cameraman but then switched to anchor. After being on TV a couple of times, he said he likes it.

“I think it’s kind of easy,” he said. “All you have to do is not be embarrassed.”

Swanson said this is the third year that she’s been working with the students on the TV show. She purchased the broadcasting equipment through a grant, and in the past, the recordings were live. Now the students tape the broadcast an hour before Panther TV is aired.

“That’s the nice thing,” Swanson said. “We can go over it again, if we have to.”