School news programs in today's school can range from highly sophisticated productions which employ the use advanced broadcasting technology to simple productions that use a video camera. My school uses the latter. Our media specialist is responsible for producing the school news. This has been the case for several other elementary schools I've visited. My media specialist is not very technologically savvy and actually detests this chore. Since it is not one of her favorite tasks our school news reflects her ability and interest. Our news program is presented daily and must be no longer than 10 minutes. It is one of the privileges of being a fifth grader. The pledge, weather, lunch menu, calendar math information, teacher announcements, and school events are the basic content of each program. At the beginning of each school year she makes a presentation to the fifth graders about the school news. Those interested complete an application and indicate which position they would like to take on. She reviews applications and divides the students into different teams. Each team has two sessions to share the news. Sessions last 2-3 weeks. There are 5 student jobs: anchor, announcer, menu/weather person, props, and camera. The props person sets up the new back drop, anchor desk, flag, and computer. They set up the power point and handle the music that plays during the opening of the new program. The camera person simply turns on the camera and make sure it stays on the tripod. The media specialist types the script each week for the anchor and announcer to read. The media clerk prints out the lunch menu for the menu/weather person. This student must use the newspaper to find the daily weather. There is one other teacher who assists the media specialist with the morning news. Either the media specialist or teacher will handle the switch box. This box allows the media specialist to switch from the Power Point to digital camera images and things of that sort.
Problems with our morning news program are student focused rather than technical. Occasionally there are problems with cables not being pushed in or issues with the switch box. However, the students themselves pose more problems. The media specialist has found that some students become disinterested and don't show up or come late. She has also had to deal with replacing students due to academic or behavioral concerns. The only other problem she noted was time. She said it's hard to get all of the information in within her allotted ten minutes. Especially when teachers come up at the last minute with something that they are just dying to share.
As a future media specialist, I look forward to presenting a morning news broadcast. I think that it can be an invaluable too for students and teachers. I like how the school in Stockbridge didn't simply use their news to be a place to share announcements. This is similar to what is done at the high school level and gives students in the school a sense of ownership. Although I know nothing about broadcasting and using multiple forms of equipment I look forward to learning on the go to produce an noteworthy school news program.
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This is exactly how CNN at my daughter's school is run, but fortunately, with a lot more enthusiasm than at your school, apparently (how sad!). The fourth graders do the "grunt/research" work that your media clerk and SLMS are doing, and they really vibrate with excitement.
ReplyDeleteWith the TigerNews, though the production was slick, 2 minutes on the lunch menu seemed a little extensive. Can you imagine the portfolio a student who had been working on that show would have to turn in for their college application? Wow.
I like the fact that the elementary school in Stockbridge is willing to share their templates, especially for new media specialists like us who don't know where to start. I know that as a beginning journalism teacher/yearbook adviser, I had to rely HEAVILY on what other teachers were willing to share in order to even survive this year. We always stand on the shoulders of giants, no matter what new endeavor we venture into.
Your school news sounds just like my son’s school, Midland. The library media specialist is also responsible for the school news. The unfortunate difference is that she has top-of-the-line equipment. This equipment is being wasted because she doesn’t feel that it should be her job. ALL of the problems you mentioned happen at Midland. I know this isn’t a good sign because if there are issues with these 2 schools, there are bound to be more out there. I feel it all goes back to the fact that we are all so overwhelmed!
ReplyDeleteMidland has an abundance of parental involvement. Get the parents involved. I’m sure it would be time consuming in the beginning to train a rotation of parents to do the news, but in the end it may be worth it. Midland is also within walking distance (less than 2 min.) from the middle school. Maybe have a rotation of the students in the middle school to come help with the news. Lastly, reward the 5th grade students for doing a good job, showing up on time and doing what is expected of them. I know the job itself should be a reward but the students don’t always think that way.
I’m sure you will do a great job…fresh minds, always a good thing.
I think, as many of you said as well, that I enjoyed the article and the involvement of students on so many levels. Looking at other news programs - you really do see quite a range but I do think that is good...shows you where to start and where you can finish.
ReplyDeleteI think that the SLMS can be the leading member but getting input and help from so many levels and teachers can truly create a collaborative tool. I think so many of us are still om the mode as a video camera and that is it - my school has done a great job "growing" the last year but it completely comes from the student government/leadership class and is transitioning to the broadcasting class. I think this may be typical in high schools - where the media specialist really has no role in it.
I am excited about doing this aspect too but I know I need to learn a lot from now until then!